Rating:  - The finest tutorial style introductory book for C++
C++ is such a flexible and powerful programming language with a lot of features and rather peculiar ways to get things done in the proper fashion. As a result, most introductory books attempt to comprehensively cover the materials, inevitably becoming encyclopedic in their size.
Accelerated C++, on the other hand, covers the most important concepts of C++ programming very concisely. The purpose of tutorial is clearly addressed in the beginning of a chapter, making it easier to understand the motivation that leads to mostly short and easy-to-understand (but very appropriate) code examples, which the authors sequentially build up with new implementation after introducing new concepts as the lessons move on.
The authors always follow their codes with detailed, (almost) line-by-line explanations of what is being done at a particular moment in the code in question. In fact, the dissection of examples are done so meticulously that for those reasonably comfortable in reading the codes may find some explanations redundant. Nevertheless, the reader should not miss any of discussions where the programming *concepts* are illuminated (Beware, the reader might miss those if she makes a habit of skipping sentences where the codes are explained). Understanding such concepts as template (which may be given a weaker coverage), defining types, memory management, and its abstraction becomes essential when moving on to more advanced books.
However, a pure programming novice might find this book hard to follow in grasping concepts in a more fundamental sense, since much of the book is about the C++ language, not necessarily programming in general. Moderately experienced programmers in any other languages may be able to appreciate the elegant solutions and abstraction the Standard Library provides right from the start, and one of the virtues of the book lies in the early introduction of the library. I am not sure to what extent a student can appreciate such a useful tool if she starts out by "taking it for granted," in a sense. To start learning C++ with this book, a minimal amount of programming experience in some other languages seems essential.
Personally, after a lot of procedural programming and a bit of OOP with Java, Accelerated C++ provided me with such a pleasurable experience in familiarizing myself with C++. I first tried jumping right into Stroustrup's The C++ Programming Language, but after spending a few days with this book, I am making much more out of reading Stroustrup in a shorter time.
Rating:  - Peruse before you buy
I found this book tedious and disappointing (given its rating).
I suspect that many experienced programmers risk feeling the
same sentiments upon reading the book; in contrast, the book
might well suit those with just a little programming experience.
There are some valuable observations even for the more
experienced, but these are infrequent and hidden in tracts of
uninteresting/dull text.
Being british, I found that certain stylistic aspects grated.
Before buying check to see if you like their way of explaining
(e.g. pages 172-173 seem to make a mountain out of a molehill).
Rating: - great C++ tutorial
This is a great C++ tutorial for someone having some programming knowledge and wanting to learn C++ quickly. There is much explanation for the beginner. From the start, the authors use high-level data structures from the STL. With this approach, the authors can present example programs which are much more interesting than those found in other introductory texts. Another nice feature of the book is that the authors present revised solutions to earlier examples as they illustrate new language features. With this approach, the reader readily sees the usefulness of the new feature because of having earlier experience with the problem. This is not a reference, and the authors recommend some great references in "Where do we go from here".
Rating:  - A great book, but don't stop here.
I'll add my voice to the those praising Andrew Koenig and Barbara Moo for their terrific introductory book on C++. But, after you read this book, you must immediately read Herb Sutter's "Exceptional C++". Why? Because "Accelerated C++" teaches you the basics of using try, catch, and throw, without teaching you the disciplines you need to write exception safe code. If you actually tried to use "Accelerated C++"'s culminating example of a smart pointer in a real program, you'd be creating a bug farm. "Exceptional C++" brings you the missing lessons. However, you can 't read the Sutter book unless you understand the material in "Accelerated C++".
Rating: - The Learning Process
For a person brand new to programming-it's a daunting process. No matter how good any book on the subject might be where they give clear definitions and then an example in code; this way of presentation is next to useless if you don't program full time & many of us want to-but don't have a four year MIS degree.
Let me use an anology-something 95% of computer book authors have never heard in their role as "teachers." If you had never been on a saiboat, or had not even the slightest notion of what one looked like & I were to write a book on this subject with its strange nomenclature but with excellent explanations-if I didn't take you atleast on a virtual sail in a virtual boat within the pages-whatgood or how useful would this book be. Need I answer this question?
Programming-should I say learning how to-is one of the few subjects which does not relate to the experiential world-it relates only to the internal architecture ( and not always simply or well) of a hardware specification(how a CPU works internally).
All that said-the authors of Accelerated C++ are to be lauded for useng examples in parallel to explaining terminology. It should be obvious that another cross reference to C++ is needed. Isn't that why there are numerous dictionaries for spoken languages?
This is a well written, excellent book for anyone wanting to get beyond the bricks & mortar of C++. Using C++ entails more than just being a bricklayer. It involves perhaps making a plan, drafting the plan, and refining the original plan. This book-better than practically all- helps gets you there.
|
