Review of C++ for Dummies (Paperback)

I've been looking for just the right introduction to programming for some time. I've spent more than a dozen hours combing through the shelves in my local Borders and B&N, skimming over 50 so-called"introductory" texts, looking for one that I could really learnfrom. By way of background, I am an advanced computer user/tinkerer, butI'm completely inexperienced in the field of programming -- never so muchas typed a lick of code.

In reviewing other books, I didn't want to startwith a book about C, because conventional wisdom says that it's a bad ideato start with C (a procedural language) if you plan to use it to jumpstarta study of C++ or java (hybrid OOP languages). I also didn't want to startwith a book on QBasic, because it seems to me that the language is prettymuch obsolete. For me, I wanted to learn OOP, and that meant a commitmentto C++ and/or java (preferably both, as each has its strengths andweaknesses, and they are similar and popular enough to studytogether).

That said, I looked at somewhat advanced introductory books byDeitel, Savitch, and Horton, all of which are extremely well-reviewed hereon Amazon. I also looked at several books from Microsoft Press, as Iplanned on learning by using components of the Visual Studio. Horton'sBeginning C++ came close, but its massive size and more advanced approachleft me looking for a different introductory text (I plan on returning toHorton's book though, to supplement what I learn from Mr. Davis'book).

Finally, this new edition of C++ for Dummies came out just intime. This book really hits the mark on many levels: (1) it assumes noknowledge of programming; (2) it does a great job of explaining trulycomplex topics without going overboard or hitting you over the head; (3) itis clear and entertaining; and (4) it is new and compliant with the lateststandards, which is more than I can say for books written, say, pre-1998.

Do yourself a favor -- if you have no programming experience and want tolearn a cutting edge OOP language like C++ or java, start here, then usethat knowledge to branch out to more advanced material. Personally, I'msupplementing this reading with Horton's Beginning C++ and Beginning Java 2(JDK 1.3 Version), and Bruce Eckel's highly praised Thinking inJava.

Good luck!

Product Description
* This revision of the bestseller covers the popular object-oriented programming language C++ from the ground up, enabling beginners to become functional programmers and intermediate programmers to fine-tune their skills
* Thirty percent new material includes updates on the most recent ANSI standard, the new public domain C++ compiler, standards information on namespaces, new library functions, and complete coverage of the standard template library
* Covers topics like building and debugging C++ programs, creating source code, using the Visual C++ help system, building objects, learning the standard template library, and much more
* The CD-ROM contains all the code from the book, in addition to an updated GNU-C++ and a new C++ compiler

Click Here to see more reviews about: C++ for Dummies (Paperback)

Review of C++ Weekend Crash Course (Paperback)

Although the "C++ Weekend Crash Course" is a decent starting point for C++, it doesn't deliver as promised. Digesting the content of the book will take much more than the proposed 24 hours. Triple or quadruplethat if you've never programmed with C++ before and you'll have an accurateestimate as to how long it takes to complete this book.

Good points: 1 -includes DJGPP and RHIDE (a compiler and environment) so that you can workon coding right away. 2 - covers classes quite thoroughly, and devotesseveral chapters to debugging. I can say quite confidently that I can debugmy own code properly. 3 - 500 pages of info is bound to benefit you.

Badpoints: 1 - The code contains errors. Once you figure out how to workaround them (use "cin >> whatever" instead of "cin> whatever") you'll have a lot more success. It -is- frustratingfor the novice, however. 2 - There's no real reference in the book. Unlikesome titles, there's no decent list of functions, variable types, etc.You'll need to invest in something like that separately. 3 - Most sectionsare fairly chaotic. Although the author does have a basic pattern to hischapters consisting of "introduction of topic, practical coding,conclusion/summary", the practical coding section is a mishmash ofcoding and an assortment of unorganized points that the author couldn't putinto a chapter.

Overall, some readers may feel confused after having readthis book. A complete novice to C++ may still not know when to use apointer instead of a global variable, and there were sections in the bookthat were too advanced for the time they were presented (such as bitwiseoperations). If you're already a programmer fluent in another language,this book might work for you. If you need to review C++ before an exam,this is your book. For complete newbies, however, skip this one.

Product Description

• Includes an introduction to C++ as used in Microsoft's new .NET platform, including Managed Extensions, and the new Visual C++ .NET compiler.
• Updated for the new ISO C++ Standard.
• The valuable CD-ROM includes new Windows XP-compatible compilers, source code and examples, and assessment software to help readers guage their progress.
  
  

From the Publisher
BONUS CD-ROM INCLUDES:

GNU C++ compiler
All code and auxiliary files for the sample programs
Assessment software to help gauge your progress!--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Click Here to see more reviews about: C++ Weekend Crash Course (Paperback)

Review of C# 2005 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) (Paperback)

Seems like I've been ending up with a number of C# books in my review pile lately.The most recent one is C# 2005 For Dummies by Stephen Randy Davis and Chuck Sphar.As with many programming language books in the Dummies series, it's a solid coverage of the material for those who are looking for a broad coverage of the material for a first exposure...

Contents:
Part 1 - Creating Your First C# Programs: Creating Your First C# Windows Program; Creating Your First C# Console Application
Part 2 - Basic C# Programming: Living with Variability - Declaring Value-Type Variables; Smooth Operators; Controlling Program Flow
Part 3 - Object-Based Programming: Collecting Data - The Class and the Array; Putting on Some High-Class Functions; Class Methods; Stringing in the Key of C#
Part 4 - Object-Oriented Programming: Object-Oriented Programming - What's It All About?; Holding a Class Responsible; Inheritance - Is That All I Get?; Poly-what-ism?
Part 5 - Beyond Basic Classes: What a Class Isn't a Class - The Interface and the Structure; Asking Your Pharmacist about Generics
Part 6 - The Part of Ten: The 10 Most Common Build Errors (And How to Fix Them); The 10 Most Significant Differences between C# and C++
Appendix: About the CD
Bonus Chapters on the CD: Some Exceptional Exceptions; Handling Files and Libraries in C#; Stepping through Collections; Using the Visual Studio Interface; C# on the Cheap
Index

As I've mentioned in other places, I like Dummies books for the ability to allow me to figure out what I don't know about a subject.If I didn't know Java at all (C# is very close to Java in many, many respects) and wanted to get my feet wet in C#, this book would help me get the foundational skills I need.As someone who *does* already know Java, I think I was more interested in the bonus material on the CD.I really didn't know much about Mono, the open-source implementation of .Net.Nor did I know that there are non-Microsoft imitations of Visual Studio that you can use if you want to code in C# without spending hundreds of dollars for the VS IDE.Cool stuff!This probably wouldn't be the book you'd keep around as your main reference source if you are going to be a C# code-slinger, but it will help you figure out where the gun goes and how to put the holster on...

Product Description
C# 2005 for Dummies is a thorough update of the original C# for Dummies title. The new edition brings the book up to date on C# features added in the C# 2.0 version that ships with Microsoft's new Visual Studio 2005. The book's friendly, conversational approach brings C# and new features like generics and iterators down to earth "for the rest of us." Readers with little or no programming experience can get a good start here. Readers with more experience will find this a congenial way to acquire a fine new language. Virtually every page of the original book has been updated or sometimes replaced to give you the latest cool stuff.Earlier versions of C# gave us "collections"--objects for storing lots of similar things. Now, C# 2.0 gives us the ability to write our own collections using generic constructs. Explore generics by helping OOPs, Inc., compete with its rival package shippers using their new generic priority queue collection. In C# 1.0, you could write your own iterator--an object that makes it easy to loop through a collection item by item. Now, C# 2.0 makes writing iterators much, much easier. Explore iterators by iterating anything that will hold still long enough. C# 2005 for Dummies thoroughly covers generics, iterators, and other new C# features and introduces many new features of Microsoft Visual Studio.As a bonus, you get tons of sample programs, five extra chapters, including one on using "C# on the Cheap," plus three nifty, valuable utility programs you can install and use for your own programming. And, to accompany and supplement C# 2005 for Dummies, there's a new Web site at CSharp102.com and a companion blog at CSharp102.blogspot.com. Visit soon.

From the Publisher
C# 2005 for Dummies is a thorough update of the original C# for Dummies title. The new edition brings the book up to date on C# features added in the C# 2.0 version that ships with Microsoft's new Visual Studio 2005. The book's friendly, conversational approach brings C# and new features like generics and iterators down to earth "for the rest of us." Readers with little or no programming experience can get a good start here. Readers with more experience will find this a congenial way to acquire a fine new language. Virtually every page of the original book has been updated or sometimes replaced to give you the latest cool stuff.Earlier versions of C# gave us "collections"--objects for storing lots of similar things. Now, C# 2.0 gives us the ability to write our own collections using generic constructs. Explore generics by helping OOPs, Inc., compete with its rival package shippers using their new generic priority queue collection. In C# 1.0, you could write your own iterator--an object that makes it easy to loop through a collection item by item. Now, C# 2.0 makes writing iterators much, much easier. Explore iterators by iterating anything that will hold still long enough. C# 2005 for Dummies thoroughly covers generics, iterators, and other new C# features and introduces many new features of Microsoft Visual Studio.As a bonus, you get tons of sample programs, five extra chapters, including one on using "C# on the Cheap," plus three nifty, valuable utility programs you can install and use for your own programming. And, to accompany and supplement C# 2005 for Dummies, there's a new Web site at CSharp102.com and a companion blog at CSharp102.blogspot.com. Visit soon.

Click Here to see more reviews about: C# 2005 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) (Paperback)