Product Description

This book provides students with an introduction to C++ that enlists their Java programming skills to get them comfortably programming in C++. It is an appropriate supplement for any upper-level course in which students are required to program in C++, or for anyone with experience in Java who is interested in an introduction to C++. The text starts off by teaching how to perform tasks in C++ that are inherent in Java, such as pointers and memory management. It then builds upon their Java experience to teach language features like class definitions and polymorphism, which are slightly different in C++. Finally, aspects of C++ that have no correlation in Java — as well as those aspects of Java not found in C++ — are presented.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1032997 in Books
• Published on: 1999-05-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 290 pages

From the Back Cover

 

In C++ for Java Programmers, the student gets an introduction to C++ that enlists their Java programming skills to get them comfortably programming in C++. This title is an appropriate supplement for any upper level course in which students are required to program in C++, or for anyone with experience in Java who is interested in an introduction to C++. The text first walks the Java programmer through features controlled by the Java language but left to the programmer in C++ (e.g., the use of pointers, controlling memory management). It then builds upon their Java experience to teach language features that are slightly different (e.g., the structure of a class definition, polymorphism). Characteristics of C++ that have no correlation in Java are then presented.

Features

• "Test Your Understanding" questions at the end of each chapter
• Four chapter-long case studies
• walked-through examples of C++ language features
• A price point and length that makes this an ideal title for students who need to learn C++ for their coursework

0201612461B04062001

About the Author

Timothy A. Budd is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Oregon State University. Budd received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from Western Washington University, and his masters and doctorate degrees in computer science from Yale University. His research interests include multi-paradigm programming languages, programming environments, compiler implementation and optimization techniques.

0201612461AB04062001

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Customer Reviews

Excellent
The other reviewers seem to expect this book to teach them C++. It will not do that, and it does not claim to.

I have to program regularly in both C++ and Java. The syntaxes are almost identical, but the *behaviour* is very different. Therefore it is easy to get confused between them. This book clearly explains the differences. For anyone who needs to be aware of the differences between these two very similar languages, this book is wonderful.

This book is not for beginners
Let me start by saying that this book doesn't really deserve the full 5 stars, it's closer to 4. But the number of 1 star reviews that have already been given are dragging the average down too much, so this should help fix that.

This book serves its purpose very well, and that is explaining the differences between C++ and Java. But you need to be a good programmer, not just someone who knows some Java.

This book assumes you can read C++ code and work out what it is doing, which you should be able to do if you are a good programmer and you know Java, because they are syntactically very similar. It also assumes you know OO-terminology, like polymorphism and overloading.

If you are new to programming, not just new to C++, then buy a different book.

Good first step
A good start to learning C++ for those already confident in Java.

Topics covered are class definition, pointers, memory management, operator overloading, and the C++ standard library. Language features that are exclusive to or different in C++ are discussed in varying levels of depth, while features held in common with Java are omitted completely. Three case studies review much of the material in context.

The explanations are fairly technical, and need a background in programming languages or compilers (especially an understanding of the difference between stack and heap allocation) to make much sense.

A chapter on the philosophy of the design behind both languages is interesting and gives insight into the rest of the book.

Not bad, but needs to be accompanied by a full C++ reference for the areas that are skimmed over.