Effective C++ CD: 85 Specific Ways to Improve Your Programs and Designs (Map)

~ Scott Meyers (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

On the Effective C++ CD, well-known C++ guru Scott Meyers combines the complete text of two of his books, Effective C++ and More Effective C++. Since the format of these two books provides a laundry list of tips for improving C++ code (Effective C++ contains 50 tips, while More Effective C++ adds 35 more), the CD-ROM format is a natural fit and a convenient way to read both titles. The CD-ROM format adds extra material, including several magazine articles and an annotated list of books for further reading.

A handy full-text search engine lets you cross-reference material from both books. (Alternatively, you can just browse and read at your own pace.) The CD-ROM provides full control of image size and other options, making it useful for virtually any system, from desktop to laptop. (It requires only Netscape 4 or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 browsers or later). While the author himself writes that he likes printed books, this CD-ROM makes good use of the greater flexibility of HTML. The additional material makes this electronic version even more comprehensive than the two previous titles combined. --Richard Dragan

Review

"Wow! All I can say is Wow!... If you are a C++ programmer, get this book" -- C/C++ Users Journal

I am happy to report that Scott Meyers has broken the logjam of fat books, higher prices, and thin CD-ROMs with Effective C++ CD" -- Windows Developers Journal

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Product Details

• Map
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional; Cdr edition (December 22, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201310155
• ISBN-13: 978-0201310153
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #901,188 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for every C++ programmer, December 4, 1999

By	Herb Sutter (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Even if you already have paper copies of Scott's Effective C++ books -- and you should, if you're a C++ programmer -- you will probably find the online version indispensible. It's a website-on-a-CD containing all of the text of Scott's books, and more.

"Indispensible?" you ask. Yes, that's what I wrote, and I know it's a strong word so let me tell you some reasons why I find it indispensible personally: It's full-text searchable. It's thoroughly cross-hyperlinked. You can create links from other documents, such as your development team's coding standards (hint hint), directly to specific pages and paragraphs in the CD -- and this is especially useful if you put the CD on your LAN. And you'll get information you won't find in the paper versions, including late-breaking information in magazine articles from people like Tom Cargill, Jack Reeves, and other past and present writers for C++ Report -- including some of Scott's own later articles. (Disclaimer: Yes, one of my articles also appears there, but I get no benefit from recommending this CD because I don't get a penny if you buy it. I'm recommending it because I personally love it and use it routinely, and I think you will do the same. My fondest wish is that I can get other books, including my own, available in this format... Scott and Addison-Wesley are working on this and some other very cool related ideas.)

In short: Run, don't walk, and pick up this essential reading for every C++ programmer. Even if you already have paper copies, there's a lot more here for you from one of the world's leading consulting experts on the C++ language, Scott Meyers. He is regularly consulted by everyone from defense companies to the producers of the world's best and fastest electronic games. Through his books, you will get the same benefits in the comfort of your home -- and now, in the comfort of your LAN or laptop.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The natural choice after learning the basics, September 21, 2000

By	Robert Gamble (Falmouth, MA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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Not a primer, not a tutorial, this book (CD-ROM actually) is invaluable for any C++ programmer. Most books will touch on some of the pitfalls or meanings behind many different concepts. Effective C++ focuses on particularly tricky concepts that could create huge problems for the inexperienced programmer. I particularly like that the author doesn't simply state "This is how you do it." Instead, he usually states a problem, gives an 'obvious solution' (as in, how most programmers straight out of the average primer would write it) and then proceeds to explain how it will blow up in the programmer's face. This is followed by the 'why' of the resulting explosion, and finally how to fix it.

The writing style is lucid and even amusing at times, and the CD-ROM makes it easy to jump from related topic to related topic. While each piece can stand alone, taking the links in the book will allow more complete understanding of the concepts.

Finally, the addition of some magazine articles involving Exception Handling are excellent and possibly worth the price of the book by itself.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must buy - even if you already have the books, July 1, 2001

By	Shaun Fielder (Box Hill, Melbourne Australia) - See all my reviews

The Effective C++ series should be in the library of every professional C++ developer; the practical value of Scott's advice is undisputed.

The effort that has gone into this CD is clear and the end result is a very easy to use product making the valuable information even more accessible.

I'm a long time user of these books, but I can't remember everthing in them. While coding I'll often recall something mentioned in one of the items and I find that the CD is proving the quickest and easiest way to find and review the material.

The inherent (item based) nature of Scott's books lends itself very well to this format. In fact, for the first time in my life, I find myself preferring to use an on-line version over printed media!