Skip to content

Latest commit

 

History

History
90 lines (71 loc) · 6.18 KB

CppBooks.md

File metadata and controls

90 lines (71 loc) · 6.18 KB
Raw

(C++) Which books should I read when I learn C++?

There are many C++ books for starters. I would recommend to start with a book you just like the writing style of. However, there are many programming books out there that get you into bad habits. When selecting for a book, pay attention to the following:

 

  • It should use 'int main' instead of 'void main' [1-5]
  • It should use 'string', instead of 'char *' [6-10]
  • It should use 'vector', instead of arrays [6-10]
  • It should use 'cout', instead of 'printf' (which is an unsafe C function)
  • It should not encourage the use of macro's [11,12]
  • It should encourage the use of const[13-17]

A book that does all of the above is 'Thinking C++' by Bruce Eckel, can be downloaded for free. Try Google!

When getting the hang of programming and wondering about 'good practices', 'good naming conventions' and so on, I strongly recommend 'C++ coding standards: 101 rules, guidelines, and best practices'[6]. Put it under your pillow, read some pages once in a while and gain huge benfits.

To deepen your knowledge about C++, I'd recommend 'The C++ Programming Language' [10] from Bjarne Stroustrup.

To improve you class design using design patterns, I'd recommend the book 'Design Patterns' [18].

To deepen your insight about the philosphy behind C++, read 'The design and evolution of C++' [19], also from Bjarne Stroustrup.

The most important C++ books ...ever

The most important C++ books are (according to [20]):

External links

References

  1. C++. International Standard. ISO/IEC 14882. Second edition. Paragraph 3.6.1.2
  2. From http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lite/newbie.html\#faq-29.3:

main() must return int. Not void, not bool, not float. int. Just int, nothing but int, only int. Some compilers accept void main(), but that is non-standard and shouldn't be used. Instead use int main().  

  1. Herb Sutter. Exceptional C++. ISBN:0-201-61562-2. Item 21: void main() is nonstandard and nonportable.
  2. From Bjarne Stroustrup's homepage (http://www.research.att.com/\~bs/bs\_faq2.html\#void-main):

The definition

void main() { /* ... */ }

is not and never has been C++, nor has it even been C  

  1. From the The alt.comp.lang.learn.c-c++ FAQ: http://ma.rtij.nl/acllc-c++.FAQ.html\#q3.4: 3.4: Why does everyone make so much fuss about "void main()"?

Because the return type of the main() function must be int in both C and C++. Anything else is undefined.

Bottom line - don't try to start a thread about this in alt.comp.lang.learn.c-c++ as it has already been discussed many, many times and generates more flamage than any other topic.

  1. Herb Sutter and Andrei Alexandrescu. C++ coding standards: 101 rules, guidelines, and best practices. ISBN: 0-32-111358-6. Chapter 77: 'Use vector and string instead of arrays
  2. Bjarne Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language (3rd edition).ISBN: 0-201-88954-4
  3. Herb Sutter and Andrei Alexandrescu. C++ coding standards: 101 rules, guidelines, and best practices. ISBN: 0-32-111358-6, chapter 76: 'Use vector by default. Otherwise, choose an appropriate container', chapter 77: 'Use vector and string instead of arrays.'
  4. Marshall Cline, Greg Lomow and Mike Girou. C++ FAQs. ISBN:0-201-3098301, FAQ 28.02: 'Are arrays good or evil?' (Answer: 'Arrays are evil')
  5. Bjarne Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language (3rd edition).ISBN: 0-201-88954-4 Chapter C.14.11 'Prefer vector over array'
  6. Bjarne Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language (3rd edition).ISBN: 0-201-88954-4, chapter 7.9.4: 'Avoid macros'
  7. Herb Sutter and Andrei Alexandrescu. C++ coding standards: 101 rules, guidelines, and best practices. ISBN: 0-32-111358-6. Chapter 16: 'Avoid macros'
  8. Bjarne Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language (3rd edition).ISBN: 0-201-88954-4 7.9.3: 'Use const extensively and consistently'
  9. Scott Meyers. Effective C++ (3rd edition).ISBN:0-321-33487-6. Item 3: 'Use const whenever possible'
  10. Jarrod Hollingworth, Bob Swart, Mark Cashman, Paul Gustavson. Sams C++ Builder 6 Developer's Guide. ISBN:0-672-32480-6. Chapter 3: 'Understand and use const in your code'
  11. Jesse Liberty. Sams teach yourself C++ in 24 hours. ISBN:0-672-32224-2. Hour 8, chapter 'Const member functions': 'Use const whenever possible.'
  12. Scott Meyers. Effective C++ (3rd edition).ISBN:0-321-33487-6. Item 2: 'Prefer consts, enums and inlines to #defines'
  13. Erich Gamma, Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson, John Vlissides. Design Patterns. (1st edition) 1995. ISBN: 0201633612
  14. Bjarne Stroustrup. The Design and Evolution of C++ ISBN: 0-201-54330-3
  15. Scott Meyers. The most important C++ books ...ever. 2006. Online at: http://www.artima.com/cppsource/top_cpp_books.html