Customer Reviews

Navigating C++ and Object-Oriented Design (Bk/CD-ROM)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

It's interesting to see how the number of stars given to this book fluctuates wildly - either one star or five. Apparently people either love it or hate it, but to me this implies that people are either ready for it or they aren't.

I bought this book shortly after it was published (1998), and by that time I had already been using C++ professionally for five years. Since then, it has taught me more about C++ than I had learnt in the 5 years before I got it. It has more C++ information than Stroustrup's books (or any other book), and is definitely more readable (but readability never appears to have been one of Stroustrup's literary goals).

Basically, this book is a waste of time for beginners (get an easier book - not this one - and get some actual C++ experience under your belt). For intermediate programmers it is challenging and heavy going, but if you work with it you will get more benefit from it than from any other C++ book on the market. It will take you sailing all the way from intermediate to advanced and right through to guru.

When you get round to reading Scott Meyers books (which you should if you take C++ seriously), you'll find that his 50 and 35 "Ways to Improve Your Programs and Designs" are essentially elaborations on points that had been raised, almost as asides, in this book. That'll probably make you want to re-read this book (which you should do a few times in order to get the most from it).

And here's the bottom line: if you read this book a couple of times and digest it, there isn't one C++ question which an interviewer or a colleague can ask you that you won't be able to answer.

So, I give this book 5 stars by way of thanks to the authors, AND to counter-balance the 1 star reviews from people who shouldn't be reading this book anyway.

(PS. for those who gave this book 1 star, I recommend them to read the book after a few years with C++, and then come and and rate this book again).

Although I don't like the initial layout of this book (putting code at the front of the book that is not understood until several chapters later) I will tell you that this book is one of the best kept secrets I've found. Actually, I had hoped that not many developers would find this book and thereby give me that extra edge above my fellow programmers! To those who had a bad time trying to learn C++ from this book, HANG ON TO THIS BOOK you will be glad you did later! The key to using this book is as a cross reference with some other simpler book. Going back and forth between the two books (or even more books) has the effect that what one book barely mentions, the other one will cover. Or what one author does not explain well, the other might explain very well.

This is how I used this book and with excellent results. This book has the best coverage of templates I have seen anywhere but it was a little weak on inheritance. My other book had excellent coverage of inheritance but was very weak on templates - so cross referencing gave me the full knowledge I needed. If you want to master C++, you might as well resign yourself to buying several books (I have about 20) no single book will give you the complete knowledge you want. Adding this book to your collection was a wise choice even if you don't see that now - you will!

This is the best book I've read so far in terms of systematically illustrating features of C++ at an intermediate (to advanced) level, combined with coverage on OOP. The fact that the book is not seen in the bookstores and out of stock as of now on amazon.com is a very sad affair. Its production and marketing failure by no means reflect the excellent quality (the content, not design/printing) of the book.

There are plenty of other C++ books out there, but with the exception of Stroustrup's and Lippman's "C++ Primer" they do not cover C++ as systematic, comprehensive, logically making sense, well layed out, and at the appropriate (professional) level as this book does. As such they serve us as more of a tutorial than reference. If you want both a tutorial and a reference, you want the language features described with examples, just like this book does. It is true that not every features are commonly used, but for completeness they need to be layed out and explained. As a previous review noted, if you read this book carefully, perhaps a couple times, you'll be in great shape to deal with most interview questions on C++. (I have personal proof of this in a recent pre-interview C++ coding exam that lasted several hours--solving not toy but professional level problems!)

Another criticism on this book is that it has many back and forth references to other pages. Come on now, the book is about a complex programming language, so the cross references are a logical and integral part of the book layout. It appeared to me the people who complained about this followed the references back and forth all the time when they were reading the book. If you go on the web, do you follow each and every link that's available on the page? You'll certainly get lost fast if you do.

This leads to another question: Is this book a good first C++ book? Probably not, if C/C++ is completely new to you. Nor is Lippman's "C++ Primer," even though it has the word "primer" in its title. However, they are the kind of books that last well beyond the first read (versus those, say, learn such and such in 21 days and many others above that level). If one expects to read through this book once to master C++ as well as the basic OOP for the first time, he is either a genius or bound to be disappointed.

In conclusion, this book is a keeper, just like those by Scott Meyers (e.g., Effective C++).

This book is the most complete reference on C++ I've seen. The introduction neatly outlines the chapter topics and the very first chapter gives a concise and very readable discussion of object-oriented design with code examples showing how to implement the design. In the introduction, all readers should read the section "How to Read This Book" so that they can maximize their benefit.

C++ is a difficult language where the compiler performs many operations behind the scenes. The authors cover the material very carefully so that readers will understand how the compiler is handling the code.

There are two recommendations when using this book. Firstly, if you are an absolute beginner (don't know how to program in C) then try out the program examples such as "Listing 2.1" and use those as starting points to examine how the programs work. Secondly, some examples, particularly in later chapters, are using RECENT ADDITIONS to the ANSI C++ standard. If you are using an older compiler, then some of these features will not compile. Finally, the authors are expert teachers who readily answered my e-mail questions regarding C++ code.

There are several great sample code examples (e.g two dimensional arrays, etc) which can be used as part of any C++ programmers library. I was particularly impressed by the Generic Associative Array Class which illustrates how to separate L- and R- values for the overloaded [] operator function (standard template library won't do this). That piece of code is a work of art that illustrates the careful thought that went into making this book as complete as possible with RELEVENT examples which are not found anywhere else. This turned out to be exactly what I needed to implement a two-dimensional array class using hash tables so that it would be seamless to the users.

This book is my primary reference for C++. Beginner programmers will gain much from the chapter on object-oriented design and several complete code listings. For experienced programmers, this book is a must-have because it covers the latest ANSI C++ features and because it includes a library of useful code samples which are not found anywhere else.

Some books may be easier to read but this book is the best complete coverage of C++ there is.

It seems opinions vary wildly regarding this book and I think it is because it is simply not meant for everyone. It is not an introduction to programming and it is not a quick fix, "learn C++ in 20 days" that will will leave you with a lot of "Hello World" type programs when you're finished. It is, however, a great way to learn C++ as it applies to object oriented design.

The problem today is that many people are using C++ in old-fashioned, procedural ways and don't really understand the power and elegance of C++'s object oriented architecture. This book conveys that power in an understandable, detailed format. Each page has references to sections throughout the book where related topics are discussed. While some people seem to have found this annoying, I found it incredibly helpful as it encouraged an integrated knowledge of what's really going on in C++.

In addition the book is quite flexible. There are two chapters that cover just the basics of C++ which a person could read as a stand-alone introduction or refresher. The introduction to the book points out that selected chapters can be read to gain an overview of C++ and objects and the other chapters can be read later to fill in the gaps. On the other hand, the book functions very well as a reference. It contains an exhaustive index and because the information is so detailed and up-to-date I have yet to go looking in it and not find what I needed to know.

Like I said, this is not a book for everyone. Someone with little programming experience would find it difficult. True object oriented design is not an easy thing to pick up--it is abstract and requires a way of thinking which is different from what many programmers are used to. This book provides a good entry point into that mindset and leaves a person with a real appreciation for the language.

This is a very complete textbook with complete code examples for Intermediate/Advanced C++. A new comer may find it too hard to digest. If you are looking for a "Learn C++ in 24hrs or 14days", don't buy this one. But, if you already have some C programming(any level) and have used "struct", this book is very "meaty" ,covering alots of material where many books left off. The section on polymorphism and multiple inheritance was one of the most complete I have seen. Also,covers completely pointers to functions and overloading new and delete. Template functions and classes are complete with simple to sophisticated examples. I recommended this book as a standard college textbook or even a good shelf reference for any C++ programmers.

The book can improved on an early chapter on transition from C to C++: coupling,cohesion,client/server paradigm. Also an Appendix on using mixed C/C++ headers,coding standards.

This is the most comprehensive and up-to-date reference book on C++ I have seen so far. I had a bacground in C; I have been programming in C++ for about a year now and whenever I need to look up a feature, it is there, well explained and illustrated with examples. Even some issues discussed in Meyers' book are dealt with. Wonderful. A reminder though: This is a serious book for serious programmers. Not a beginners' book. For the start, get another book (such as Practical C++ Programming by Oualline) to get you going and then pick up this one. You will be glad that you did.

This book is for the *programmer*, the individual whounderstands and appreciates the *art* of programming. The bookpresents each feature of the C++ language in a progressive, methodical manner allowing the would-be expert to accomplish that goal. And yet, each chapter stands alone; presenting its topic in a complete and concise manner with references to related information in other chapters of the book. Technical, real-world examples assist the reader in really understanding each feature of the language allowing the book to serve as a reference text also.

Every, serious, C++ programmer should have this book; this is not for the C++ in three weeks crowd (but they're not serious programmers anyway). Once finished, the reader/expert can expect to develop/construct efficient/effective C++ programs that serve their immediate purpose and possible re-use later. Don't be frightened away by the reviews of other readers; this is an excellent book. Buy it!

It is unfair how some people underrated this book simply because they did not comprehend the topics presented. Do not believe the bad reviews this book is great.

I purchased a copy of this book and read it thoroughly. Though you must have some previous C++ experience to understand some things quite well. I was very satisfied since the authors carefully presented the material in a way for me to remember them easily. Every topic was so clearly explained. Believe me. Take a look at a bookstore for yourself. I believe this book should be among the best books published in intermediate C++.

I was surprised how my favorite book got so flamed in amazon. I am writing this review to tell the reviewers this book simply is great period. Don't believe the bad reviews about this book, they maybe competing authors of different C++ books that can't sell. If you want to learn C++ effectively grab a copy of this book and thank me later on how wonderful this book is.

It is simply the best langugage book I have ever used.

If you want to be a C++ expert, dont miss it.

The people who gave 1 simply could not apprieciate the fine details of the language. You dont need people tell you how to use if-else. You want a book to tell what is behind the surface and that's whole lot of fun by just reading and knowing these details. This is the book about.