Customer Reviews

Sams' Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days: Complete Compiler Edition

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

[I rate most modern programming guides much lower than this, so curve my rating accordingly!]

My Background: Graduate computer science student nearing graduation. Have used about 10 languages in the last 15 years.

PROS OF THE BOOK: (1) all source code available off the web!! (2) progressive examples of classes with more and more options built in (3) source code compiles with little effort using MS VISUAL STUDIO (C++) (4) down to earth discussion of class design: this is the most productive book on C++ classes that I have read

CONS OF THE BOOK: (1) errata et corrigenda: <iostreams.h> should be <iostream.h> (2) no discussion of basic class connections to access low level pixel operations: it seems to me that in this graphics intensive marketplace a discussion of basic graphics classes is a must, especially as an object is required in (MS VISUAL STUDIO) C++ to access the pixel operations. (How can you not love pixels?) (3) No one can learn C++ in 21 days! The syntax of the language is simple (for those who know C) but the design of classes remains a black hole of ignorance in modern computer science curricula (undergraduate and graduate)--you cannot find any course dealing with the subject, and almost no theoretical research has been done on the design of efficient (reusable) classes. Unfortunately, many of the books on the market ASSUME the superiority of a certain design process, and there is no hardcore evidence for such opinions. Jesse Liberty steers clear of this wild wild west area of modern program ming and sticks to very practical guidelines. Still, learning to think in classes is a radically different skill which is not learnable in such a short time. When I am forced to produce a full-blown dual level neural network in 2.5 weeks, or an advanced AI solution in 2 weeks, class design requires containerization and probably multiple inheritance levels. Rewriting a string class is utterly trivial in comparison! My Point: Modern class design theory (in popular ! books) may be passable for the average "real life" programmer who has only a bachelor's and is 15 years behind the cutting edge of design theory, but this usual presentation of class design theory is hopelessly simplistic and deficient for the graduate level student.

The great saving characteristic of popular C++ books is that MS's on-line documentation is much, MUCH worse!

Jesse Liberty's book is welcome on my center shelf.

I started a long time ago to try and learn C++, but with all of the tutorials online, it was hard, because I had nothing that I could easily go back to. This book makes it possible to write useful C++ programs for yourself and others, and teach you things that most other tutorials on the net won't. This book is excellent!! In addition, including the compiler with the book allows the person to get started right away, with no delays.

This book is better used as a door stop. This book was very badly organized and very hard to understand. It'll take you about 21 weeks to finally make sense of this book. Very outdated. I wish I never bought it.

I have found Jesse Liberty's book the absolute best when it comes to learning C++. I love the by-example approach, tips, and clear writing. I wish Jesse would write an equally lucid book about the art of class design.

This book could have been organized better (in my humble newbie opinion) but i learned enough of the basics to go on to Java in just 12 days! The Borland compiler works well with little difficulty. Pointers and references (which are in no way easy to understand) are still confusing, but everything else is well taught.

I read the second edition and learned
alot about proper programing techniques
and classes which i previously new little about
two things a new programmer may like is the fact that the output is printed in the book
Also it is written to compile on most compilers

I am a high-school mathematics/computer programming instructor. I have used this book as the text for our C++ programming course for two years and have found the benefits to be overwhelming. Students tend to pick up on C++ much more quickly when they have this book as a reference. I would like to personally thank Mr. Jesse Liberty for giving us such a concise, thorough explanation of C++ in a language that my students and I can understand! Thanks Again, Jason

This book is great for someone first starting out in programming, in that it covers C++ throughly, accurately, and makes it easy to underatand. Once you finish this it, you'll never need another C++ book to fill the holes that other books have. It would have recieved 5 stars if it was organized better as a reference too. My suggestion: BUY IT.

Sams' teach yourself C++ in 21 days is a great book, that covers a great deal of C++, with a lot of examples and explanations. The author explains the difficult parts of the language with real life examples, and that makes it easy to understand. The book not only talks about the syntax of the language, but explains how to design your C++ program before you start writing the code, and how to think like a programmer. This book is excellent, and the only reason I didn't gave it 5 stars, is that this book requires a little programming background, so you can understand some of the more complex C++ topics. I truly recommend this book for those who has some programming background.

I think the book was an excellent jump start for the first time user of Visual C++. I encountered a problem in Chapter 16 (Building your own library) in that "excpt.h : C2143 Line36" would not let the library build.