The Rook's Guide to C++
rooksguide.org
The Rook's Guide to C++
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Re: The Rook's Guide to C++
#2Anyone know the background. Is it worth a read compared to more traditional books, like Stroustrup's book?
Re: The Rook's Guide to C++
#3Anyone know the background. Is it worth a read compared to more traditional books, like Stroustrup's book?
I first was a backer and then the main guy behind it asked if any of the backers had experience with LaTeX. So I volunteered as a technical editor.
The book seems to be written for those that have _some_ but not extensive programming experience, and have a desire to learn C++ as a real first or second (not fifth) language.
It is still rough, but it has all the content proposed now put together.
For those that don't know programming, but want to get into it: You might want to wait a bit, but it should give a gist of what code can be like.
For those that know programming but not C++: this should be a simple book that you can skim through and start writing (valid) C++ code like a college freshman.
For those that know C++ well: Skip this, this won't teach you anything new. You won't learn the internals of how inheritance works at runtime and how virtual methods are called or anything else cool like that.
Within the next week the repo should be opened up for those that wish to contribute.
Re: The Rook's Guide to C++
#4Well I just skimmed the book but it seems to be incomplete.
Even though it is referring to C++11 it is not talking about language features like:
- lambdas
- Templates (it's referring to the STL at the end though)
Which since this is a contribution based book is not a bad thing. However this book still needs quite some work. Writing a C++ book is not easy. From all the C++ books I know there's less than a handful which are actually not full of errors and wrong advices.
Re: The Rook's Guide to C++
#5Well I just skimmed the book but it seems to be incomplete. Even though it is referring to C++11 it is not talking about language features like: - lambdas - Templates (it's referring to the STL at the end though) Which since this is a contribution based book is not a bad thing. However this book still needs quite some work. Writing a C++ book is not easy. From all the C++ books I know there's less than a handful whic…
Which books could you personally recommend? I am still searching for a book which gives good advice for trickier problems.
Re: The Rook's Guide to C++
#6C++ is a programming language that is used in modern applications primarily for low level tasks like hardware interaction/embedded, games etc. This involves much dedication while learning, and a proper coverage of computer architecture aspects. This is why I do not see much point in learning C++ in a "For Rookies" way "in 21 days". If you want to be a C++ programmer, go find a good introductory C book which properly covers the aspects of memory management and pointers (like the Deitel's "C How to Program"). Then, gradually start C++ with something like Shildt, or again the Deitels. Then, maybe, one day you will want to look at the Stroustrup's book.
Otherwise, learn C# or Java or whatever quacks like a duck.
Re: The Rook's Guide to C++
#7Holy crap i know a lot more c++ then i thought i did.
Re: The Rook's Guide to C++
#8C++ is a programming language that is used in modern applications primarily for low level tasks like hardware interaction/embedded, games etc. This involves much dedication while learning, and a proper coverage of computer architecture aspects. This is why I do not see much point in learning C++ in a "For Rookies" way "in 21 days". If you want to be a C++ programmer, go find a good introductory C book which properly…
That is really bad advice. C style memory management is useless in the presence of exceptions, and a nightmare to get right even in C. Choose a book that teaches RAII from the beginning, and leaves C style memory management to a late, advanced chapter.
Accelerated C++ used to be that book, don't know if there is a newer and better replacement.
Re: The Rook's Guide to C++
#9Anyone know the background. Is it worth a read compared to more traditional books, like Stroustrup's book?
Pretty basic, but a good place to start with.
It definitely is for beginners. The things you learn in the first month, in your first programming class, in your freshman year.
It doesn't get going until chapter 19, but it suddenly cuts off.
Re: The Rook's Guide to C++
#10Well I just skimmed the book but it seems to be incomplete. Even though it is referring to C++11 it is not talking about language features like: - lambdas - Templates (it's referring to the STL at the end though) Which since this is a contribution based book is not a bad thing. However this book still needs quite some work. Writing a C++ book is not easy. From all the C++ books I know there's less than a handful whic…
Which books could you personally recommend? I am still searching for a book which gives good advice for trickier problems.
Well it depends on where you stand.
For beginners a very good book from my experience is C++ Primer by Stanley B. Lippman, Josée LaJoie, Barbara E. Moo. The 5th edition even goes into the newer topics like the aforementioned lambdas, also variadic templates. A nice thing is that it comes with exercises, which in my particular case was how I learned programming. I found a new feature of the language, or a class new to me and I played with it until I understood how it works.
Another good book for beginners is Programming -- Principles and Practice Using C++ by Bjarne Stroustrup, from what I read, he wrote this book with the background of teaching programming at the university and wanted to write a good book which uses a good approach which can be used for teaching students programming in C++.
If you are already further in and not at the beginning of learning C++ there is a list of books I recommend as further readings:
- Effective C++ by Scott Meyers
- More Effective C++ by Scott Meyers
- Effective STL by Scott Meyers
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- Exceptional C++ by Herb Sutter
- More Exceptional C++ by Herb Sutter
- Exceptional C++ Style by Herb Sutter
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- C++ Templates - The Complete Guide by David Vandevoorde and Nicolai M. Josuttis
- Modern C++ Design - By Andrei Alexandrescu
- C++ Coding Standards by Herb Sutter and Andrei Alexandrescu
Last but not least, reading the C++ Standard is the last bit on the topic of C++
This is the list of books which I recommend anyone who really wants to become great in C++
HTH :-)
Edit: I should probably mention The C++ Programming Language (4th Edition) by Bjarne Stroustrup as a must have as well ;)