Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming, An (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This slender volume provides a great first taste of object- oriented concepts such as encapsulation and inheritance. An Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming explains all the key technical concepts and goes on to explore the "whys" of programming, such as why a program that one programmer could write in two months probably couldn't be written by two programmers in one month. The reason? Complexity.

As a textbook, An Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming does what you would expect--it explains all the key object-orientation concepts clearly and understandably. This book then goes beyond the basics to show why the object concept is strong in terms of design and economics, allowing readers to grasp more than just the technical aspects of the subject. Because examples are in C++, SmallTalk, Objective C, and Object Pascal, this book works well if you're trying to learn object orientation generally, without focusing too much on the mechanics of a particular language. An added attraction is that this book has been recently revised to include some Java information, helping readers to see how object orientation works on the cutting edge as well as in more established languages. This book is useful if you have some experience in programming, but want to expand your knowledge into object orientation by way of clear examples and technical but far-reaching prose. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

B> In An Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming, Timothy Budd provides a language-independent presentation of object-oriented principles, such as objects, methods, inheritance (including multiple inheritance) and polymorphism. Examples are drawn from several different languages, including (among others) C++, C#, Java, CLOS, Delphi, Eiffel, Objective-C and Smalltalk. By examining many languages, the reader is better able to appreciate the general principles that lie beyond the syntax of the individual languages. This new edition presents examples drawn from a wider range of languages, including Eiffel, CLOS, and Python in addition to the mainstream languages, as well as extensive comparisons between C++, C# and Java. Case studies explore the application of polymorphism in the STL in C++ and the AWT in Java. UML notation and diagrams are integrated and utilized throughout. The book also features advanced sections on design patterns, reflection and introspection, network programming, and the implementation of object-oriented languages. This book is appropriate for programmers looking to read about the theory behind and functionality of a variety of object-oriented programming languages. It is also useful as a reference. /*@ISBN = 0-201-76031-2@MAINCAT = Object Technologies@DATALINE1 = 2002, 450 pges, 6 3/8 x 9 1/4 @DATALINE2 = Cloth, $45.00k*/

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Product Details

• Paperback: 648 pages
• Publisher: Addison Wesley; 3 edition (October 22, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201760312
• ISBN-13: 978-0201760316
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #406,279 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good practical interlingual introduction to OOP concepts., December 29, 1997

By	Stephen Bloch (New York City) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: An Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (Hardcover)

I used this text for an OOP course I taught to college sophomores whose previous background was Pascal and C. I chose this book because, almost uniquely in the field, it was NOT tied to one specific language and that language's OOP idiom, but rather pointed out significant differences among C++, Java, Smalltalk, Objective-C, and two different Object Pascals in their views of OOP. (I was disappointed by the absence of multi-dispatch languages such as CLOS from the list.) Budd introduces each major principle and programming construct in practical but language-independent terms, then illustrates how that construct is specified in several different languages.

I found Budd's treatment of the basic concepts much simpler, clearer, and less jargon-laden than that in Booch. My students had some trouble, but they got through much of the book, whereas I can't imagine them wading through Booch at all. I still like the interlingual approach, but I would advise teachers using the book to pick two or three of the languages and simply ignore the rest of the examples, to avoid confusing students too much.

I haven't found the ideal text for this course, but Budd is at least a pretty good one.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Introduction to OOP, March 5, 2003

By	David C. Veeneman (Lincolnshire, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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I've read a number of introductions to object-oriented design and programming. This one is the best all-around introduction that I have seen. It starts in the real world, with a discussion of how one plans and organizes a task (sending flowers to a significant other) that requires more than a single person to get done. That's a pleasant change from texts that begin with Dauntingly Dry Definitions ("encapsulation", "inheritance", and my favorite, "polymorphism").

To the author's credit, he avoids launching into inheritance until Chapter 8, by which time he has laid enough groundwork to reduce the concept to common sense. Other concepts are presented in a similar manner.

Note that this book is a survey book, not an in-depth programming manual. You won't learn C++ or Delphi, or any of the other half-dozen languages used for the book's examples. And the book focuses on concepts, rather than implementation. you won't learn how to implement a Singleton pattern in C#, although you will learn what it is and why it is useful. Finally, the book assumes familiarity with traditional, procedural programming. This is not a Programming 101 text.

I would recommend this book enthusiastically as a starting point for anyone making the transition from traditional programming to OOP. If you are moving to the DotNet platform, I have created a list ("So you'd like to ... Transition to DotNet") with some other recommended texts.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great as a first book on object-oriented programming, January 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: An Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed this book. The author covers all the important oo concepts in several languages. This allows you to get an excellent perspective on each concept without being distracted by each language's implemention of that concept. I also appreciated the writing skills of the author. He was always clear and precise. A lot of information is packed into a relatively slim volume. Of several introductory oo books I've recently read, this one easily tops my list.