Effective C++: 55 Specific Ways to Improve Your Programs and Designs (3rd Edition) 3rd Edition

by Scott Meyers (Author)

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ISBN-13: 978-0321334879

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“Every C++ professional needs a copy of Effective C++. It is an absolute must-read for anyone thinking of doing serious C++ development. If you’ve never read Effective C++ and you think you know everything about C++, think again.”
— Steve Schirripa, Software Engineer, Google

“C++ and the C++ community have grown up in the last fifteen years, and the third edition of Effective C++ reflects this. The clear and precise style of the book is evidence of Scott’s deep insight and distinctive ability to impart knowledge.”
— Gerhard Kreuzer, Research and Development Engineer, Siemens AG

The first two editions of Effective C++ were embraced by hundreds of thousands of programmers worldwide. The reason is clear: Scott Meyers’ practical approach to C++ describes the rules of thumb used by the experts — the things they almost always do or almost always avoid doing — to produce clear, correct, efficient code.

The book is organized around 55 specific guidelines, each of which describes a way to write better C++. Each is backed by concrete examples. For this third edition, more than half the content is new, including added chapters on managing resources and using templates. Topics from the second edition have been extensively revised to reflect modern design considerations, including exceptions, design patterns, and multithreading.

Important features of Effective C++ include:

Expert guidance on the design of effective classes, functions, templates, and inheritance hierarchies.
Applications of new “TR1” standard library functionality, along with comparisons to existing standard library components.
Insights into differences between C++ and other languages (e.g., Java, C#, C) that help developers from those languages assimilate “the C++ way” of doing things.

Effective C++: 55 Specific Ways to Improve Your Programs and Designs (3rd Edition)

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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"Every C++ professional needs a copy of "Effective C++." It is an absolute must-read for anyone thinking of doing serious C++ development. If you've never read "Effective C++" and you think you know everything about C++, think again."
- Steve Schirripa, Software Engineer, Google "C++ and the C++ community have grown up in the last fifteen years, and the third edition of "Effective C++" reflects this. The clear and precise style of the book is evidence of Scott's deep insight and distinctive ability to impart knowledge."
- Gerhard Kreuzer, Research and Development Engineer, Siemens AG The first two editions of "Effective C++" were embraced by hundreds of thousands of programmers worldwide. The reason is clear: Scott Meyers' practical approach to C++ describes the rules of thumb used by the experts - the things they almost always do or almost always avoid doing - to produce clear, correct, efficient code. The book is organized around 55 specific guidelines, each of which describes a way to write better C++. Each is backed by concrete examples. For this third edition, more than half the content is new, including added chapters on managing resources and using templates. Topics from the second edition have been extensively revised to reflect modern design considerations, including exceptions, design patterns, and multithreading. Important features of "Effective C++" include:

Expert guidance on the design of effective classes, functions, templates, and inheritance hierarchies.
Applications of new "TR1" standard library functionality, along with comparisons to existing standard library components.
Insights into differences between C++ and other languages (e.g., Java, C#, ethat help developers from those languages assimilate "the C++ way" of doing things.

About the Author

Scott Meyers is one of the world's foremost authorities on C++, providing training and consulting services to clients worldwide. He is the author of the best-selling Effective C++ series of books (Effective C++, More Effective C++, and Effective STL) and of the innovative Effective C++ CD. He is consulting editor for Addison Wesley's Effective Software Development Series and is a founding member of the Advisory Board for The C++ Source (http://www.artima.com/cppsource). He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Brown University. His web site is http://www.aristeia.com.

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Product details

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional; 3 edition (May 22, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0321334876
ISBN-13: 978-0321334879
Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.9 x 8.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 131 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,280 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Microsoft Programming > C & C++ Windows Programming
- #11 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Languages & Tools > C & C++ > C++
- #87 in Books > Textbooks > Computer Science > Programming Languages

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Customer reviews

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Top customer reviews

Good read

BySean P. Richardson December 23, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book is a really great book. However, I make one observation before I recommend you reading this. You must have attempted or completed at least one very large c++ program. You must be familiar with various design patterns. Have attempted to use said design patters at least one or twice.

C/C++ to me is about your progression in learning the language. Most people start out small begin learning and slow progress to much larger programs. As you make your way to these larger programs you run into some fundamental logic flaws (or design flaws). This book helps shed some very useful and en lighting information on these flaws. Be it you think it's a language flaw or design flaw in your programming. This book will give you some very useful tools to be used medium to large scale c++ programs. It is a most definitely on my recommendation of books to read for a C++ programmer.

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I knew some of them but they explain the details of each and give good examples of WHY things should be done specific ways

ByCireSnaveon November 7, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Every C++ programmer should learn the items in this book. I knew some of them but they explain the details of each and give good examples of WHY things should be done specific ways. I've been programming in C++ for over 15 years and I still gained a lot of valuable knowledge from this book.

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Effective C++: making C++ development a low risk, high reward environment

ByKangarooDruon August 12, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This book is a game changer, for me personally. For example, coming off of some recent Java development, manual memory management seems like a correctness/maintenance nightmare, especially when dynamic allocation must be used outside of a constructor, and various errors and exceptions can lead to partially initialized states. Effective C++ introduces "smart pointers" and RAII concepts, which effectively (and non-obstrusively!) resolve these issues.

Of course, this book contains much more than just smart pointers and RAII. It is dense with "oh snap!" and "twist!" moments, when some lesser-known or edge case C++ behavior is revealed. It also introduces you to various other relatively new features of C++ that are already available to you through Boost. The majority of the book is directly applicable to everyday C++ development, with a few sections devoted to topics which you can skip/skim if you do not immediately need them.

Sections you can safely skip:
1) Parts of Chapter 7: Templates and Generic Programming, especially the sections on traits and template metaprogramming.
2) Chapter 8: Customizing new and delete.

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did, and use it to quickly become an expert, or at least advanced, C++ developer. My last warning to you is that the companion book, More Effective C++: 35 New Ways to Improve Your Programs and Designs, is 9 years older than this book, and as such is not nearly as relevant. Some of the content, for example that related to compiler implementations and performance of various C++ constructs, should probably be viewed with suspicion.

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Best Book Out If You're Looking For An Advanced C++ Style Guide!

ByAndrew Oliveron March 13, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

In learning programming, different textbooks suit different purposes ...

Let's divide up the task of becoming a C++ software engineer specialising in programming challenging systems ...

(1) learning the essentials of programming;
(2) learning the essentials of low level programming with its bit fiddling logical operators and implementation issues;
(3) learning C++ syntax;
(4) learning C++ development tools;
(5) picking up knowledge of the situational logic of software engineering;
(6) picking up knowledge of object oriented and procedural and other approaches to programming solutions to given problems and picking up the common sense to know the best approach to a given problem;
(7) learning C++ libraries;
(8) learning STL the standard template library;
(9) picking up knowledge so that one can develop an appropriate C++ style to the task at hand, whatever the task at hand may be ... knowing that educational miniprojects and real medium sized to large systems have different needs in this respect.

In this matter I am trying to distinguish knowledge and skills. I maintain that this book essentially deals with topics (2) (5) (6) (7) and (9) as outlined above, with application to the perculiarities of C++. In other words, this is an advanced work and should not be the first C++ book a first year university student should buy! First things first you need to buy a language primer ...

Nevertheless once one has mastered the basics of C++ this is an excellent work to start picking up rules of C++ style. Helpfully the author includes a number of items which describe typical C++ blunders that result from inadequate mastery of the basics of C++. Therefore after learning the basics of C++ most students would benefit by reading this book cover to cover! The explanations are clear and terse and if contemplated will enable many a conceptual misunderstanding of typical C++ semantics in C++ typical implementations to be clarified.

From earlier editions some of the advice has changed. There is a helpful table pp277-9 that describes a mapping of relevant items between the 2nd and 3rd editions! That the author has consolidated and clarified his advice on good C++ style is a good thing given how often he is cited in both industry and academia. Some advice has been updated to deal with the C++ 11 standard adopted two years ago; some has been updated to deal with the latest in C++ development technologies and libraries ...

Well worth reading even for the experienced programmer. Well worth buying even if you have an earlier edition. I really must find time now to read this properly cover to cover ... as I've read two of his earlier works!

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It is hard to address the role of this book.

ByErnest Clayton Cordell, Jr.on June 18, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I spoke to Scott Meyers about this series at a time when he was in doubt about it. He has been criticized as one who has not held a production programming job. He openly admits to this and summarises relevant credentials in his discussion on this subject. I praised the work and thanked him for his contribution for this reason: In production programming we become known for specific routines, and despite our higher proficiency in other areas, we are hired again and again to solve the same or similar problems. We have lists, sometimes good agenda and at other times mental intentions that are rarely addressed. He takes the time to look for issues that "bite back" and to write those small, sample programs to which we never get around and those that might change our way of doing things if we were only to know the result. Enrolment in his courses demonstrates that he has a knack for teaching and his clear and insightful explanations and examples highlight that pedagogical virtue in his texts.

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Five Stars

The book is very good.

Published 3 days ago by Bùi Huy Thắng

Five Stars

good book indeed

Published 2 months ago by YAQOUB HABBAS RAJAAN

A great reference.

A good book that provides explanations and thought processes for improving your coding technique.

Published 2 months ago by Anon

Five Stars

an item as expected,

Published 9 months ago by John

Five Stars

Really awesome book. Covers c++ in nooks and crannies and with practical examples. Money best spent for me

Published 10 months ago by A. LOTHE

Many of these seem like common sense

Many of these seem like common sense, but maybe that's no so common these days...so someone should point them out.

Published 10 months ago by Tom Betka

One Star

Now i knoow how to write extra c's

Published 1 year ago by Wait, What?

Great book by a great programmer.

Scott Meyers: Fabulous Books, Fabulous hair. A great read for anyone who wants to go noodle mining.

Published 1 year ago by Amazon Customer

Extremely well written.

Clear and straight to the point, with tons of hints and tricks.

Published 1 year ago by js

Great book, and a good addition to any references ...

Great book, and a good addition to any references you may already have. I love the explanations of why some designs are better than others.

Published 1 year ago by JIMLODGES

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