Customer Reviews

Jamsa's C/C++/C# Programmer's Bible

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought this book after doing some research for a good C++ book. I had decided on a completely different title when I discovered this one on the shelf and I bought it instead.

This book is not "light reading" by any stretch of the imagination. It is instead almost 1200 pages of fact after fact about C, C++ and C#. It is divided up into sections and subsections, covering first the C language, then moving on to C++, and finally introducing C#. Under each language the author has gone into very deep details about even some of the most obsure topics, making everything very accessible with example code and detailed explanations about the topics he is addressing. The reader will be hard-pressed to come away with a lack of understanding.

The coverage of standard language constructs is very deep. The C++ coverage includes a lengthy section for STL topics, writing your own templates. These are hot topics and the coverage will not disappoint.

Where this book really shines is, as stated above, its depth in coverage. While not exhaustive, it covers some topics in so much detail that a reader will have no doubts regarding the functionality available.

Some of the material is very dated. For example, there is a hefty section about memory model programming, dating back to the 16-bit OS days. For a huge majority of us, this information is historical in value. Anyone still working in the 16-bit world will benefit more. Another section that shows its age involves direct screen writes, again going back to the days prior to 32-bit Windows.

This book has one flaw, in my opinion, and it's that it's geared towards Windows developers. I suppose the C# aspect is indicative of that for now, but other more fundamental operations, such as spawning child processes, are discussed in a very Windows-centric way. I think the book would have been perfect if there was some contrasting information for the way UNIX and Mac handle this kind of operation.

For the Windows developer, there are several sections adding up to over 250 pages that discuss Windows application development. AFTER that, it plunges into .NET topics, giving an excellent primer.

Although this book is geared towards Windows developers, much of it can be applied to other platforms. It is an outstanding book for its coverage of the languages it targets and should be considered when searching for a book on C or C++.

The book covers all three programming languages. I have been programming in C under Unix. The book provides over 800 tips that examine all aspects of C. I used the 400+ tips on C++ to get up and running with classes, exceptions, ... I'm moving to C# next.

The C++ compiler on the CD is great.

The book is huge ... I already know C and C++. My focus is on C#. However, the book provides a complete doc set for everything you could want to know on C and C++. The C# content is about 1/5 of the book. It builds on the C++ object info making it quite complete.

All the examples are easy to use and work. Good info on C#. Lots of low-level code on object reflection and the use of meta data.

This book covers C and C++ programming in a topic by topic fashion (each topic is about half a page). It starts out with C then C++ then finally C#. By far the best coverage is of C then C++ then C#. I suspect that the book was ment to be used in class rooms for teaching C, and I believe that you can actually learn C and C++ using this book and make programs that works but the topic organisation makes this book even better for the working (windows) programmer. All OS dependent examples are for windows and as a topic manual it is quite good (MSDN is in my oppinion awfull when it comes to topics). It is one of the books I read on a regular basis when I need an idea for something I don't know or remember how to do. For C# the book is useless I wish that Jamsa would have included more MFC and managed .NET instead of C#, C# and the .NET framework is too massive for a book like this and all you get is an intro to the language (nothing usefull). He might as well have included Java :-) Put in another 1000 pages and make it cover advanced subjects also and it would be the only book you need. Overall for beginners to intermediate it is a good learners book for advanced programmers it is a good reference book

If you are looking for programming examples, you must have this book. The CD-ROM has over 1,000 programs. I've made my way through the first 500 C programs using the compiler provided on the CD.

Good stuff.

I just purchased this book and already it proven invaluable learning resource. I especially like the string handling techniques.Some of these techniques should be used in college courses as they can prove to be techniques students would use frequently.

If you are going to code in C, there are two books you need to read, this one and K&R 'The C programming language.' This book is a sweet reference for C++ as well.

Finally, a book that addresses threads in a meaningful way. Lots of working code examples that launch, synchronize, and prioritize threads.

I last wrote C in the mid 80s and wanted to learn C++ to write some software that had been on my mind for about 10 years....after a few other books and a few weeks learning a bit about C++ I happened across Kris' book. The great point for me was this was the first book I read that took a C person through the transition to C++ in an understandable fashion. The depth and breadth of the book is far in excess of the others that I bought.

And the book worked....I've written the piece of software I wanted and have even sold copies of it!!! An investment in a book doesn't get any better than that!!!

Had to take a course on C. The textbook was awlful(C by Dissection). This book saved me. Thanks again JAMSA!!