C++ Without Fear: A Beginner's Guide That Makes You Feel Smart

by Brian Overland

If you've always wanted to learn how to program a computer, or to learn the popular C++ programming language in particular, this book offers an ideal way to get you started. You'll find here everything you need, patiently explained and clearly illustrated, from general programming concepts and techniques to the particulars of the C++ language. In no time, you'll be writing and showing off your own programs! Yes, programming can be a complex task, and C++ is a language often used by professionals. In fact, many of the coolest games, graphics, and Internet applications are created with C++, and it's even been used on the Mars rovers. But the language, like the monster pictured on the cover, need not be all that fearsome. Broken down to its essentials, and enhanced by simple examples and practical exercises, you'll be amazed at the quick progress you can make. With C++ Without Fear, Second Edition, you will * Learn the basics of C++ programming * Get started writing your own programs * See how and why each piece of a program does what it does * Create useful and reusable program code * Understand object-oriented programming for once explained in simple, down-to-earth terms New and Improved While compatible with nearly every version of the C++ language, this second edition has been updated to cover important features of the newest and greatest C++ standard. In addition, it now includes * Even more figures, examples, and exercises * Even more puzzles and games * An expanded 70-page language reference * Instructions for downloading free C++ software Whether you wish to learn C++ programming for pleasure--and you'll discover here how much fun it can be--or you're considering a career in programming, this book is an intelligent first step.

Genres: Programming, Nonfiction

581 pages, Paperback

First published September 14, 2004

Reviews

[Andrew Obrigewitsch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent introduction to C++ programming for people that already know computer logic and how to program in another language.

[John Jaramillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

With programming, practice makes perfect, and this book is an excellent practice resource.

[Evander]

Revising the basics

[William Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

C++ Without Fear by Brian Overland teaches programming in the language known as C++. Now, I never took a single course in programming, but this book assumes very little in what the reader knows. Basically, it starts out with a lot of hand-holding, but this is good for me. Although I have tried to learn to program, for some reason the basic ideas don’t lead me to have excellent advanced ideas. I can do it as a hobby since I don’t think that I will be able to be employed as a programmer.

The book starts with the most basic ideas of programming; the ideas of proper syntax. Computers are not magical machines that can do anything and everything you demand of them. As the old adage goes, Garbage in, Garbage out. To be more specific, the computer can only do the things that you tell it to do: no more, no less. In that sense, there has to be a lot of peculiar rules and systems in place so that the computer understands you. Computers all over the world speak the same language, that of binary digits or bits. The book begins by explaining this. C++ is much like the C programming language, but it allows you to use Object-Oriented Programming. The book is kind enough to explain what that is.

Once you are ready to make your first program, the book talks about different compilers and which ones to use. You get to make the basic print output program and so on. Now if you are sufficiently advanced in programming, you could certainly skip a few chapters. This is something the author wholeheartedly recommends. Then again, the book states that it is a book for beginners, so you know how that goes. While I say that, the book does cover up to Polymorphism, so I don’t really know if that is super advanced or not.

With plenty of examples and practice programs, this book is quite excellent. It even contains some explanations of the programs line by line. If you are starting out, this book is probably pretty good for you. It also covers C++0x and some of the new features included in there, but the book is copyright 2011 so I don’t know if there has been a massive paradigm shift in programming since then. Now this book lends itself better to people that participate in the activities, but I am not that kind of guy. This is mainly because my setup is a bit awkward, and I don’t like cracking the spine of the book for no reason. Also, I am not a perfect touch typist.

[Nelson Muntz]

So far so good!

[Gabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great intro into object-oriented programming through C++