Starting Out with C++: From Control Structures through Objects (6th Edition) [Paperback]

Tony Gaddis (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0321545885 | ISBN-13: 978-0321545886 | Publication Date: March 29, 2008 | Edition: 6

Tony Gaddis’s accessible, step-by-step presentation helps beginning students understand the important details necessary to become skilled programmers at an introductory level. Gaddis motivates the study of both programming skills and the C++ programming language by presenting all the details needed to understand the “how” and the “why”–but never losing sight of the fact that most beginners struggle with this material. His approach is both gradual and highly accessible, ensuring that students understand the logic behind developing high-quality programs.

In Starting Out with C++: From Control Structures through Objects, Gaddis covers control structures, functions, arrays, and pointers before objects and classes. As with all Gaddis texts, clear and easy-to-read code listings, concise and practical real-world examples, and an abundance of exercises appear in every chapter. This text is intended for either a one-semester accelerated introductory course or a traditional two-semester sequence covering C++ programming.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Great coverage and examples." — Ronald Conway, Bowling Green State University

"I think one of the great strengths is the inclusion of all of the source code files throughout all of the chapters. Also, the variety of supplemental resources (VideoNotes, PowerPoint presentations, Check Point and review questions, test bank questions) are very useful and provide the student with many avenues in acquiring proficiency of the course material." — Jeanette Gibbons, South Dakota State University --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

Introductory Programming / C++

 

Starting Out with C++: From Control Structures through Objects, FIFTH EDITION

Tony Gaddis

 

Previous editions of this book were called “Standard Version of Starting Out with C++”

 

“Gaddis’ Starting Out with C++ is superbly crafted and clearly presents all the necessary technical building blocks in a logical order that breeds confidence and competence in students. I speak for my students and myself in saying thank you, Tony, for these superior texts!”

–Peter van der Goes, Rose State College

 

“I use Starting Out with C++ in my classroom because it does exactly that–starts the student with C++ from the ground up, providing all the tools and answering the tough questions. Without assuming any background knowledge, Gaddis supplies all the essentials for building a strong C++ programmer.”

–Dale Suggs, Campbell University

 

“Starting Out with C++ is a thorough introduction that provides great support and flexibility for both the student and the instructor. I have never had a complaint from a student about this book. Keep up the good work Tony!”

–Jeanne Douglas, University of Vermont

 

Starting Out with C++: From Control Structures through Objects is the favorite textbook of instructors who place an emphasis on problem-solving and program design in their introduction to C++ course. Tony Gaddis’ gradual and accessible approach to teaching programming concepts gives students the right amount of detail needed to master programming skills.

 

Highlights:

• Covers procedural programming–control structures, functions, arrays, and pointers–before objects

• Has a clear and student-friendly writing style with stepped-out explanations that motivate beginning programmers

• Includes concise, practical, real-world examples students can relate to and understand

• Has a wealth of exercises in each chapter so students have the chance to put concepts to work as they learn them

 

MyCodeMate is a Web-based, textbook-specific homework and programming resource for the introduction to programming course. It provides a wide range of tools that students can use to help them learn programming concepts, prepare for tests, and earn better grades. Students can work on programming problems from this text or homework problems created by their professors, and receive guided hints with page references and English explanations of compiler errors. Instructors can assign textbook-specific or self-created homework problems, preset style attributes, view students’ code and class compiler error logs, and track homework completion. A complimentary subscription is offered when an access code is ordered packaged with a new copy of this text. Subscriptions may also be purchased online. For more information visit www.myCodeMate.com.

 

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 1217 pages
• Publisher: Addison Wesley; 6 edition (March 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321545885
• ISBN-13: 978-0321545886
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.9 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,477 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > C
  • #28 in Books > Computers & Technology > Microsoft > Development > C & C++ Windows Programming
  • #60 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Software Design, Testing & Engineering > Object-Oriented Design

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Absolutely Wonderful Introduction to the C++ Language, October 26, 2006

By 

E - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starting Out with C++: From Control Structures through Objects (Formerly "Standard Version") (5th Edition) (Paperback)

We're using 'Starting Out with C++: From Control Structures through Objects' in our freshman C++ class. The author Tony Gaddis has a very nice, lucid writing style that explains the basic fundamentals of the C++ language to a beginning crowd: the text is not bogged down with overly verbose technical language as this is not appropriate for beginners.

But don't think that Gaddis doesn't introduce technical aspects of the language to the reader: he does, and does so in a fresh, clear manner, which makes this text actually very enjoyable in the classroom and even outside of the classroom.

I love the code samples in every chapter which makes for great studying: you can sit down with the text in your lap and type the code examples in your compiler, run it, see the results, and play with it. The author seems to understand that you really learn C++ (or any language for that matter) by not reading the book, but through trying the examples as there are literally TONS of code examples per section in each chapter to try out.

I also really appreciate the checkpoints capping every section to test your knowledge of what you just read, the "gotcha" notes interspersed throughout each chapter, as well as the 'Focus on Software Engineering' asides that introduce beginning programmers to important aspects of code style, comparisons/contrasts between C and C++, what constructs are better to use in certain situations over others, etc.

The text also comes with a CodeMate CD-ROM and sold separately is the Lab Manual but also comes in handy (or is a necessary evil if you have to purchase it anyway for lab like me).

All in all, if you are a computer science/engineering major or minor or you're simply someone who wants to learn how to program from a text that covers material more like a college textbook rather than an O'Reilly overview book, 'Staring Out with C++' is the way to go. If you read through the chapters, do the checkpoints, run the code examples, do the chapter reviews at the end, and pay attention to the 'Focus on Software Engineering' and gotcha asides, you'll be up and programming in C++ in NO TIME. This is a beginner's text but you'll learn about typecasting, creating your own functions, and the chapter on loops and decision-making was the best I've seen in any introductory C++ text yet. Major kudos to Gaddis: keep up the excellent work! FIVE STARS!

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Students--Not for Self-Study, March 9, 2007

By 

Brian Green - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Starting Out with C++: From Control Structures through Objects (Formerly "Standard Version") (5th Edition) (Paperback)

This book is used as the textbook for the class in C++ I am taking. It makes no assumptions about previous knowledge in programming and is very thorough in testing your understanding as each concept is presented. It has obviously been tested in the classroom as it anticipates many of the questions a beginner would have about programming and the C++ language.

The book includes a C++ compiler by Borland so if you have a Windows computer you can follow along with the programming exercises. There is another version of the book that has a Microsoft compiler instead of the Borland compiler, but you have to make a special arrangement with the publisher to purchase it (according to information in the book).

I would recommend this book to people who are new to programming as well as to the C++ language. I have tried to learn C++ on my own with other books and was frustrated--they would start too basic (how to turn the computer on) and would introduce subjects in a haphazard manner ("here is a list of all C++ operators and what they do"). This book develops its topics in digestible chunks of information with each chapter building upon the previous chapter.

This book won't teach you everything you need to know about programming or the C++ language, but it will give you an excellent start.

I would like to add to my review that the book does have errors in the exercises that could seriously frustrate a reader who doesn't have an instructor or other resource for outside help. Some exercises can only be solved using concepts taught in later chapters, which I believe is an important flaw.

There are also typos in the example programs that could derail someone studying without assistance from an instructor. I still believe this is a very good textbook, but now I believe it should either be avoided by people learning programming on their own, or be used with other C++ reference works.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Efficient and Comprehensive, March 14, 2006

By 

Andrew - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Starting Out with C++: From Control Structures through Objects (Formerly "Standard Version") (5th Edition) (Paperback)

Java, C and C++ are the only three popular programming languages that have become requirements for computer science majors in most colleges - so you will probably not be studying C#, FORTRAN, or Visual Basic except as electives. Tony Gaddis does a truly remarkable job in providing a beginner's introduction to C++. This is actually a textbook you can learn from, and it is clear that the author's ability to present his knowledge to beginning programmers is due to his being an actual teacher of college students - and not some trainer-for-hire for large corporations.This makes a tremendous difference in the presentation of material. You only have to compare this text with Deitel's C++ effort to know which author has spent time before a class of students of varying levels of programming experience and which author caters to major corporations seeking to improve already existing employee programming skills