Customer Reviews

Sams Teach Yourself Data Structures and Algorithms in 24 Hours

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have several other books on data structures, and algorithms. This one presents the subjects in a very straightforward, and understandable manner, but is targeted at beginners (and says so). It doesn't cover the subjects in much detail, but is sufficient to give the reader a pretty good understanding of the subjects presented.

Some of the workshop applets don't work very well, and there is no source code available for them so as to allow the reader to fix them. They are also very slow in loading, probably due to the fact that they are Java applets.

The book omits some fairly basic infomation- for example, it mentions that Trees are a form of a more general family of structures called graphs, but doesn't explain what these are. Trees are some of the most widely used data structures, and any good programmer needs a complete understanding of them. The book presents several different kinds of trees, complete with C++ code, but admits that deleting nodes is complicated and beyond the scope of the book. No code is presented for the reader to understand how complicated the operation is, or how to accomplish it. Without this information, the programmer probably can't use trees. All of my other books on the subject contain this information.

If you're looking for a book on the Standard Template Library, this isn't it. The author says that the reader will have a better understanding of the STLs workings and applications for having the information contained in the book, and that's true.

I would recommend this book for a beginning programmer looking for an overview of what some common data structures and alogirthms are, but not one who wants a book to get his hands dirty and experiment with them. It's by far the lowest priced programming-related book I've purchased in years (but that's not reason enough to buy it).

I bought 'Introduction to Algorithm' by Thomas Cormen, and could't understand anything in it. So I looked for easier book, and bought this one. This book use OOP concept to describe the data structures and algorithm. I found all the explanation very clear. It teaches you basic knowledge about algorithm before you move to more advanced books. I also found that the java applets (included on CD with the book) they used to describe the algorithm theory were very helpful. It was just like having a private teacher explaining them for you.

I admit that it is not very complete, like it explains Red-Black Tree but there is no source code, and also no source code for deletion on Binary Tree, you have to get a more advanced book for those. But this book has done its job very well!

If you are majoring computer science, and can't get your teacher explanation about basic algorithms and data structures (ex. Big-Oh notation, quicksort, etc), GET THIS BOOK!

As always, Robert Lafore has written a book which is always to be kept in one's library. This book has two qualities; 1) written by Robert Lafore, and 2) published by SAMS.

The best quality of Robert Lafore is that he answers the questions exactly the same time when they are rising in your mind.

SAMS has a history of publishing books for novices, making them experts.

I found this book a great help with my Computer Science classes. It is was easy to follow and understand. Binary, bubble, linked lists, its all here.

I consider myself a "technician level" programmer.. in other words, my main job title is somewhere in the realm of "make this electronic device functional" and "the network died.. fix it", with the responsibility for the odd bit of utility programming now and then. Considering this, I use this book as basically a brush-up on elementary algorithms and data structures that come into play when doing that bit of utility code. Computer science types will likely consider this book "Data Structures and Algorithms Lite" as it eschews the grinding proofs and NP discussions in favor of actual code in more of a cook book style. Not a bad book for technicians, though I would have preferred some pseucocode and less language specific stuff, but I suppose that defies the nature of this type of book in the first place.

The easiest and quickest way to learn data strcutures and algorithms! A really great book, friendly, easy to understand, and greeaatly helpful in understanding the underlying concepts. The data structures and algorithms are very well described and very well explained. Robert Lafore like his great book "Object Oriented Programming in C++" greatly excels here too. He is a great author indeed, with full understanding of what the reader wants to know, when, and how to tell him the in most straightforward and convincing way.

The performance characterisitics (Big Oh) of data structures and algorithms are clealrly specified. The last chapter describes when to use which data structure or algorithm, together with the Big Oh for algorithms and data structures summarized in tables. This makes it really helpful particularly for a quick revision. The companion CD has great stuff itself, to understand how data structures and algorithms work with the visual aid.

Highly recommended!

(Note: as the title suggests this book is only for novice/beginners, not for advanced readers)

A while ago, I told a more experienced programmer friend of mine that I wanted to study algorithms,he laughed at me. He also gave me a book to read. After the first chapter I realized why he laughed. This is definitely not an easy subject.But when I came across TYS DS and Algorithms I finally got a chance to understand the topic. I have a lot of algorithms books but if you have no experience and need to learn the subject in a short time, then this is the book for you. I am a self taught programmer and I needed to learn about algorithms real fast.This book put me on the right track.Now I think I am ready for the more difficult books.

This is a very good & easy to understand Data Structure & Algorithm book in C++. Lafore does a very good job by explaining difficult concepts of Stacks & Linked Lists in as simple as possible manner. Though the book says you need not know C++ to understand these concepts, I strongly disagree. You must have a GOOD C++ background to understand these difficult concepts specially for the first timers peeking into Data Structure & Algorithm. The accompanying CD is excellent. It steps you through the inner workings of the concepts discussed in the book. First try out these Appletes as instructed, see the inner workings, then go through the book. If you are new to C++ programming, get hold of a good C++ begining book then buy this book.

When I told a more experienced programmer friend of mine that I wanted to study algorithms,he laughed at me. He also gave me a book to read. After the first chapter I realized why he laughed. This is definitely not an easy subject.But when I came across TYS DS and Algorithms I finally got a chance to understand the topic. I have a lot of algorithms books but if you have no experience and need to learn the subject in a short time, then this is the book for you. I am a self taught programmer and I needed to learn about algorithms real fast.This book put me on the right track.Now I think I am ready for the more difficult books.

This is an excellent book. You will be able to do and use everything Robert LaFore describes. He is a world class author, clear, intelligent, non-patronizing, non-condescending. One of the best C++ explainers on the planet. C++ is a complicated language. Some programmers suggest that complexity implies chaotic -- which is why we have such dumbed-down languages as Visual Basic and Java. If you find C++ challenging, read LaFore! C++ is the most powerful langauge on a computer.