Product Description

Unlike other C++ programming books, C++ For Dummies considers the "why" just as important as the "how." The features of C++ are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Rather than just present the features, this book will help you to really understand how they fit together. After you finish this book, you′ll be able to write a reasonable C++ program, and, just as important, you′ll understand why and how it works.

C++, as the name implies, is the next generation of the C programming language. The experienced C programmer will find C++ both exciting and frustrating. This book will help you get from C to C++ as painlessly as possible; however, C++ For Dummies, 4th Edition, doesn′t assume that the reader knows anything about C language. Anyone, from any programming background, will quickly discover how to

• Write your first program
• Create source code
• Use the Visual C++ help system
• Build objects
• Develop C++ pointers
• Debug your programs

This fourth edition of C++ For Dummies begins with basic programming concepts. The book works its way through simple syntax into the care and feeding of basic programs right into object–oriented concepts. Once you′ve digested the entire content of the book, you should have no trouble impressing your friends and acquaintances at parties. You′ll find coverage of all these topics, and more:

• Declaring variables
• Performing logical operations
• Executing loops in a program
• Writing and using functions
• Passing pointers to functions
• Passing objects to functions
• Using constructors and destructors
• Declaring static member functions
• Implementing abstract classes
• Overloading the assignment operator

C++ For Dummies does not cover Windows programming. Finding out how to program Windows in C++ is really a two–step process. First, you need to master C++. That accomplished, you can move on to Windows programming.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #240902 in Books
• Published on: 2000-07-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 425 pages

From the Back Cover
GNU compiler and all code from the book on CD–ROM

Object–oriented programming — explained in plain English

Your first aid kit^® for building and debugging your programs Now updated to cover the latest ANSI C++ standards, this friendly guide gives you a C++ jump start with expanded coverage of beginning programming techniques. From classes and hierarchies to libraries, the easy–to–follow explanations of object–oriented and non–object–oriented C++ concepts and the step–by–step instructions will have you programming in no time. all this on the bonus CD–ROM The C++ GNU compiler, plus all code and programming syntax from the book PC running Windows 95 or later or Windows NT 4 or later. See the About the CD Appendix for further requirements and details.

Discover how to: Write your first program Create source code Use the Visual C++ help system Build objects Develop C++ pointers Debug your programs

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About the Author
Stephen Randy Davis is a software consultant and instructor with Valtech, Inc. He wrote Windows^® 95 Programming For Dummies^® and the previous editions of C++ For Dummies^®.

Customer Reviews

A very good book
In the past if have bought a few of the 'For Dummies' books and each time they have been great. My first one was 'PHP & MySQL' which taught me the basics of web development in a very short time. When I wanted to increase my knowledge base I came back to the 'For Dummies' series.
Again they have not disappointed me. This book starts from the most basic things about variables and how to output text to the screen and moves onto the more complicated areas of 'Object Orientation'. The thing which I found great about this book was it came with a C++ complier. Since this was the first time for me into this area I had no clue where to start, but this book guided me through everything while explaining what I was doing on the way.
It does not go into Windows programming, which is a good thing I believe since you have to get the hang of C++ before moving on. On the CD it has all the example pieces of code which save you typing them if you're of the lazy type.
Final mark for yet another great book is 5/5. I would advice any of you who want to know C++ and don't know where to start to get this book.

OK, but not for beginners
I bought this book a while ago, along with another: "C++: A Beginner's Guide, Second Edition: A Beginner's Guide" by Herbert Schildt. I had a much better experience with the other than with this book. This one dives right in to complex concepts, that a real beginner would never understand, and does not explain the concepts it covers in any way that lends itself to giving a real understanding. It's also extremely Microsoft Windows centric, using Windows only features from the very start and continuing throughout, all fine an well as long as you only ever want to program on and only for Windows, but if that's not the case it becomes quickly annoying.
There are better books out there, especially for real beginners.

Very good
This book is excellant for the beginner (like myself). The general format of the book is firstly the author introduces a new concept. He normally gives a real world metaphor and then also some code. He always explains what each bit of this code means, and why it is there, so you will never be confused.
He also gives example programs which use all you have learnt up to that point.
I would very highly recommend this book to anybody who wants to learn C++.