Accelerated C++: Practical Programming by Example at Dominant Systems Book Store

If you don't have a lot of time, but still want to learn the latest in C++, you don't have to learn C first. You might learn more by digging into current language features and classes from the very beginning. That's the approach that's offered by Accelerated C++, a text that delves into more advanced C++ features like templates and Standard Template Library (STL) collection classes early on. This book arguably can get a motivated beginning programmer into C++ more quickly than other available tutorials.

What separates this title from the rest of the pack is that it jumps right in with samples that take advantage of the Standard C++ of today--from streams to built-in container classes, such as vectors and linked lists. Early examples are more complex than in other books, but the thoroughness and relaxed pace of the explanations will bring the novice up to speed. (Although it ships at a slender 350 pages, Accelerated C++ is packed with samples, tips, and example problems; about 10 per chapter.)

After a tour of basic C++, the book looks at more advanced C++ features, such as templates, including built-in support for containers. Besides tapping the strength of Standard C++, you also will learn to design with your own templates. (Other tutorials would defer this material until later on.) The authors have tested the approach in the book in their own teaching, and honed a set of worthwhile examples that will help anyone get familiar with these powerful language features. All examples make use of the command line and console (without GUI programs), but the advantage is that this code should run on any of today's operating systems and compilers. Later sections cover the basics of class design, which include good coverage of operator overloading and inheritance.

With its innovative approach to teaching the language, Accelerated C++ will challenge readers in the right way. It suggests that you don't need to learn C to be productive in C++. Written in an approachable style, it deserves a close look from any C++ novice. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered:

Introduction to C++
Console I/O with stream classes
Basic string handling
Loop and flow-control statements
Arrays
Using functions and methods
Using Standard Template Library (STL) containers (vectors, linked lists, and maps)
Iterators
Sorting and generic functions
Basic class design
Pointers and arrays
File I/O
Memory-management techniques, including statically and dynamically allocated memory
Adding stream support to custom classes
Conversion operators
Operator overloading
Friend functions
Inheritance
Polymorphism and virtual functions
Handle idioms for classes, including reference counting
Quick reference to the C++ language

Customer Reviews & Comments
This is a nice change for the better! Instead of introducing the basics and then going on to class design, inheritance, and polymorphism, Andrew and Barbara delay things such as class design until the latter part of the book and instead launch straight into use of the STL, illustrated with practical examples of how to use STL containers and algorithms to solve programming problems. As far as I am concerned, this is definitely a change for the better. Most programming projects I see heavily abuse inheritance to do things that would have better been done with templates and, as a rule, most C++ projects continue to ignore the STL, even though it is probably the most fundamental contribution to C++ programmer productivity in years. Following this book, readers are encouraged to use STL from the word go, which is as it should be. The language and flow of the book are excellent, and the presentation is very lucid. What really shines through is that both authors are experts on the topic and really know what they are talking about. The explanations of language features are complete, correct, and precise. There is none of the muddled exposition that I find in so many other C++ books. The teaching experience that Andrew and Barbara have gained over the years is truly reflected in the prose. The book anticipates many questions and typically answers them just at the right time, namely, when the question is just about to pop into the reader's head. Information density of the book is high. A lot of information is packed into few words, so the reader has to concentrate on what is being said, and skipping paragraphs is not something that I would recommend. The concentration, however, is well repaid by the large amount of solid knowledge that is imparted: I believe that no other C++ book manages to convey as much information per page as this one. To me, the target audience are people who have done some programming in other languages and do not know C++. (I would not recommend the book for people who have never programmed before, unless they are very determined readers.) More seasoned C++ programmers also will get good value. And, if you are an experienced C++ programmer, but haven't much used the standard library up to now, there is still plenty of meat to be found: there are enough gems of advice in the book for it appeal to people who have considerable C++ experience. This is an excellent effort from two experts in the field. I recommend it!

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