Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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

I am a computer Science student. Like any other computer science curriculum , C++ is the main programming language that is taught in any University .This is an excellent book for anyone who is starting to learn C++ programming. The language , examples and the content of this book are better than any book available in the market . I actually learned C++ reading this book , as prior to this i had no experience in programming. This book will teach you everything that u need to know in C++ programming. Well ofcourse C++ is really vast , you really dont need to know everything that is on the book , so anyone who buys this book should get a syllabus or discuss it with someone who has had prior experience in C++ programming to what to study or what not to .
Highly recommended if you are serious about becoming a programmer.

This book certainly lives up to its name. This book is suitable for people who have never developed in C++ previously and would like to get up to speed on how to do it and still understand core concepts.

However, as this is a beginner's book, its likely not satisfy the burning desire to know even more and i recommend readers to get 2 books, namely:

1) C++ Primer (4th Edition) by Stanley B. Lippman
2) Inside the C++ object model by Stanley B. Lippman

The "C++ Primer" is really for hard-core developers and "Inside the C++ object model" offers a look into the "behind the scenes" but there are content that overlaps "C++ Primer".

Well, My English is not native so I will not write a story.
I will just say that this is the best book you will ever find on C++.
I tried few books on C++ before and I find this book well written, great (and working) examples, great flow charts
and the best approach for explaining the materials.

Tony Gaddis did it again.
keep up the good work.

Starting Out with C++ is the one book I should have purchased to learn C++. The author explains what is important and why and provides in each chapter a number of very detailed examples to help learn the material. At the end of each chapter are many real world problems to help enforce the learning process.

I used this book to prepare for my "IT Foundations" University course alongside the official course material and I am glad that I found it. I chose this edition because it followed my course's logic (from control structures through objects) the only difference being that in my course lists were explained before objects while here they are explained afterwards (infact, one of the things I enjoyed the most in this book is the chapter which explains how to create a class to manage lists). This book is HUGE and it might seem overwhelming but it is very well structured and it makes it easy to use it up to the exact level of detail you need. Or you want: I found myself more often than not to study some subjects more in deep than my syllabus required, which in return helped me a lot to truly understand the basics. In this book there are a lot of good exercises but I had to neglect them in favour of my own course's ones, which I had no problem to solve with what I had learned from the book. On the CD there are also 12 additional PDF "appendix" chapters on different complementary subjects like flowcharting, UML, command line arguments and multi-file programs. The chapter on namespaces and the introduction to Microsoft Visual C++ Express are real time savers for the newbies who want to use Microsoft's tool. My only gripe with this book is its cost but I have to admit that as an investment it paid back.

Packed with examples, step by step explanations, and easy to read. I have read the entire book and was never discouraged enough to stop loving programming. Used this text for my first and second semester programming class.

I'm thankful this book was chosen as the required text for the begining programming class I am in. Without it I know I would have become hopelessly lost. Before purchasing this book, programming seemed completely inaccessible to me. With its cryptic syntax and foreign logic, it seemed you had to be one of the "chosen ones" to actually understand it. I had repeatedly fallen for the gimmicks touted by other books of how programming was so easy, you could learn a whole language in just 24 hours. But they all failed in that they either assumed you already knew basic programming concepts or that you didn't mind NOT having thorough explanations.

This book is different. Using an intuitive, unintimidating style, the author guides you at a gradual pace through each concept. There are no colossal jumps in difficulty from one topic to the next, everything flows smoothly and predictably. The sample programs are also demanding but realistic, with plenty of explanations. Thanks to the author, Tony Gaddis, I just might finally get a firm grasp on the scary, esoteric world of programming! I hope all beginning programming courses use this book or something close to it.