Practical Object-Oriented Development in C++ and Java [Paperback]

Cay S. Horstmann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 7, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0471147672 | ISBN-13: 978-0471147671 | Edition: 1

Practical OO development tips for the C++ and Java programmer

Practical Object-Oriented Development in C++ and Java offers advice on real-world ways to use these powerful programming languages and techniques. Using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) methodology, expert Cay S. Horstmann gives you clear, concise explanations of object-oriented design, C++, and Java in a way that makes these potentially daunting operations more accessible than they've ever been before. Horstmann compares and contrasts features of C++ and Java to give you a deeper understanding of OO design. He separates the genuinely useful C++, Java, and UML features from the less effective and potentially harmful ones.

Horstmann shows you how to determine the best programming practice for whatever application you're in; provides the kind of eye-opening design tips and style rules that can only come from experience; and demystifies advanced topics like frameworks and object persistence.

Dozens of illuminating programming examples are readily accessible through the accompanying Web site. Useful code is available for smart pointers, easy output formatting in C++ and Java, a set of classes that makes STL safe to use, and a nifty utility that automatically extracts header files. This unique book:
* Offers over 100 practical design hints for good class design
* Covers the essential OO features of Java 1.1-like serialization and reflection
* Uses the C++ Standard Template Library (STL) throughout
* Covers CRC cards in addition to UML

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Today's programmers need to learn to build applications using both C++ and Java. Unfortunately, most available books on object-oriented design are highly theoretical and not much help in the real world. This book actually deals with object-oriented programming as it is practiced, giving readers a concise course in Java essentials and Booch Lite notation. It also helps programmers determine which language works best for certain applications, and covers more advanced topics like frameworks, smart pointers, and object persistence. Numerous examples are provided to demonstrate the techniques and tips discussed. Includes companion Web Site with ... * All the code found in the book that is all real, unlike the "toy code" that other books use. * A design style guide for the reader to use and modify.

From the Back Cover

Practical OO development tips for the C++ and Java programmer

Practical Object-Oriented Development in C++ and Java offers advice on real-world ways to use these powerful programming languages and techniques. Using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) methodology, expert Cay S. Horstmann gives you clear, concise explanations of object-oriented design, C++, and Java in a way that makes these potentially daunting operations more accessible than they've ever been before. Horstmann compares and contrasts features of C++ and Java to give you a deeper understanding of OO design. He separates the genuinely useful C++, Java, and UML features from the less effective and potentially harmful ones.

Horstmann shows you how to determine the best programming practice for whatever application you're in; provides the kind of eye-opening design tips and style rules that can only come from experience; and demystifies advanced topics like frameworks and object persistence.

Dozens of illuminating programming examples are readily accessible through the accompanying Web site. Useful code is available for smart pointers, easy output formatting in C++ and Java, a set of classes that makes STL safe to use, and a nifty utility that automatically extracts header files. This unique book:
* Offers over 100 practical design hints for good class design
* Covers the essential OO features of Java 1.1-like serialization and reflection
* Uses the C++ Standard Template Library (STL) throughout
* Covers CRC cards in addition to UML

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (April 7, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471147672
• ISBN-13: 978-0471147671
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,145,999 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Cay S. Horstmann is also coauthor of Core JavaServer Faces, Second Edition (Prentice Hall, 2007). Cay is a professor of computer science at San Jose State University, a Java Champion, and a frequent speaker at computer industry conferences.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worked for me, September 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Practical Object-Oriented Development in C++ and Java (Paperback)

This is an excellent second book on C++ or Java. Although I was an experienced Fortran programmer, I needed to learn C++ in a hurry for a career change. I read Kernighan & Ritchie, another book (which I never look at) and this one. I'm constantly referring back to this book in my work. It is strong on OO concepts, and good programming practices. It even shows you work arounds that allow you to emulate OO Java features that don't exist in C++, like virtual construction. I'm crazy about this book!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reasonable book for intermediate developers, August 1, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Practical Object-Oriented Development in C++ and Java (Paperback)

Useful for its comparison of how OOD models are translated into C++ and Java.
An okay book for developers who have had some experience of OOD and C++ or Java development. However, for the experienced designer/developer there are better books that deal with OOD/UML and C++/Java separately (authors that come to mind are Fowler, Gamma et al, Meyers, Murray, Booch, Rumbaugh and, of course, Stroustrup)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost perfect, May 19, 2001

By 

jackofsometrades "jackofsometrades" (Finland, EU) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Practical Object-Oriented Development in C++ and Java (Paperback)

I am a student of Information Systems Science and few weeks ago got my first job as a software developer (Java). During college courses I often wondered how the courses and textbooks would actually map to real life work as a professional programmer.

Now that I have some experience as a new pro, I know that many books and courses just don't deliver as far as real work is concerned. But I noticed that there were couple of books that were of constant help during a(ny) day at the office. Those books were the Core Java 2 books and Core JSP book of the Core series edited and partly written by Horstmann.

After finishing my first programming task, I noticed that knowing the syntax was far from enough in my job: I was not just a programmer "monkey" implementing someone's design. I was hired to be a developer who had to design his stuff from scratch, often without any help from the company staff. I began to hunt for a good yet simple design and architechture book that would explain a simple design process and also give pointers on how to implement the design into decent code. The Rational Unified Process that was explained to us in lectures was way too huge a system for me to use on small scale projects.

I had hard time finding books that would fill the bill, but I managed to find some. Because I had good experiences from Horstmann's previous work, I bought this book.

Good news: the book is good and does it's job more than adequately.

Bad news: even the title has 'Java' in it, this book does everything in C++. It wouldn't matter so much if the book was mostly about design issues, but it covers lots of C++ specific details like STL, memory management, multiple inheritance, etc. It also has two moot chapters: A C++ crash course and a Java crash course. Who buys this book to learn either of these languages? The preface says this is a book for the reader who knows the syntax already!

So, I would have given the book 5 stars, but I want to drop 1 or 1.5 stars because I had to skip entire chapters because the book was not a match with it's title.

I would have loved to exchange the language crash course chapters for a couple more detailed design and architechture chapters or some sample projects.

For a C++ programmer with basic understanding of syntax: a five star recommendation, for a Java programmer with basic understanding of syntax, 3.5 star recommendation.