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

by Scott Meyers (Author)

131 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0321334879

ISBN-10: 0321334876

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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.

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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: 7.4 x 0.9 x 9.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 131 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,579 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Microsoft Programming > C & C++ Windows Programming
- #5 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Languages & Tools > C & C++ > C++
- #49 in Books > Textbooks > Computer Science > Programming Languages

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Sean Richards

Good read

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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Andrew Oliver

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

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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Ernest Clayton Cordell, Jr.

It is hard to address the role of this book.

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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Why learn this stuff the hard way?

June 18, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I'm a C++ developer and should have read this book a long time ago. It was very helpful in improving my C++ knowledge. I knew I didn't know everything about C++ and needed to learn more and this book and a couple of others (mentioned below) got me on my way to learning more. Of course I still don't know everything about C++, and probably never will, but I've definitely increased my C++ knowledge with this book and the others that I've recently read.

First, I recommend starting with some FREE books you can find on the Internet - called "Thinking in C++" by Bruce Eckel. There are 2 volumes and I recommend both. You can buy the print versions but I used the electronic versions.

I then read this book - Effective C++. Of course there is some repetition, but I like it as it helps 'drive stuff into my head'.

The next book I'll read is Effective STL: 50 Specific Ways to Improve Your Use of the Standard Template Library.

I bought Effective C++ Third Edition in May 2013 from Amazon as the seller, and received the thirteenth printing (March 2013)

While some of this stuff seems dated in 2013, I think 98% of it is still quite relevant, though I do wish they would keep the books a bit more updated (no more than 4 or 5 years old).

I do plan on looking into a book on C++11 in the near future.

Bottom line for this book is that I found it well worth the price. It's much easier and cheaper to learn the stuff in this book by reading it instead of having to 'learn it the hard way'.

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Most recent customer reviews

Mrussell

Great book to further your knowledge!

Great book for someone who is ready to improve their C++ programming skills! Sometimes is a bit hard to understand and grasp some of the concepts.Read more

Published 1 month ago

Engmmhegazy

Perfect book

Perfect book , very usefull

Published 1 month ago

Vic in Seattle

Essential C++ is a keeper

This is my favorite C++ book so far. It’s not a reference or a beginner-how-to book, but if you’re learning this book will definitely help improve your code.

Published 2 months ago

YAQOUB HABBAS RAJAAN

Five Stars

good book indeed

Published 8 months ago

Anon

A great reference.

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

Published 9 months ago

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

Published 1 year ago

CireSnave

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

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...Read more

Published 1 year ago

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 1 year ago

ReviewerRanking#56,439,345

One Star

Now i knoow how to write extra c's

Published 1 year ago

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