Browse Books

Reviewer: Ann E. Fleury

The authors recommend that you read this book sequentially. If you have the patience to persevere through its 799 pages, you will receive all the information you need to safely navigate the rough seas of C++ programming. The book introduces just enough background in object-oriented design to place C++ in context. Each chapter includes a summary of key points, a set of exercises, and a “Putting It All Together” section that develops a program using the new concepts. A CD-ROM contains the examples and solutions to the exercises. The first chapter introduces object-oriented design, including Object Modeling Technique (OMT) notation, using snippets of code to highlight the relationship between object-oriented design and C++. The second chapter presents the language primitives of C++, including such subtleties as the difference between variable declarations and variable definitions and the consequences of where the keyword const is placed. It includes all you will ever want to know about casts and operators. It even includes the goto statement, although the authors suggest that exception handling be used instead. The third chapter covers functions, including recursive functions and member functions. It also introduces storage classes, namespaces, and dynamic memory allocation. Chapters 4 and 5 explain C++ classes, the use of classes for encapsulation, and concepts needed to use classes effectively. They discuss member function calls, the this pointer, copy constructors, and member initialization lists. They explain the use of static objects, pointers, friend classes, and nested classes for designing even more useful classes. Chapter 6 covers function overloading. Chapter 7 builds on the previous chapters to present a boilerplate for class design and demonstrates this boilerplate by constructing a string class and a range of integers class. Chapter 8 considers the allocation and deallocation of dynamic memory. Chapters 9 and 10 present template functions and template classes. Chapter 11 introduces inheritance, using the realistic example of a shipping company that mails packages of various types. This chapter covers not only the commonly used concept of public derivation, but also private derivation and protected derivation. Finally, the chapter introduces polymorphism, illustrating it with a hierarchy of shapes. Chapter 12 introduces runtime type identification as a tool in designing portable class libraries. Chapter 13 explores exception handling, emphasizing the need to make error handling part of the design process. Chapter 14 discusses the controversial topic of multiple inheritance. Appendices summarize the IOStream Library, the Standard Template Library, and operator precedence. Thoroughness is only one strength of the book. The authors illustrate common errors as well as correct code. They carefully cross-reference the sections where more details are available on the current topic. They successfully remove much of the mystery from C++ programming by explaining the purpose of seemingly arbitrary rules of syntax and style. Whenever relevant, they explain the algorithms used by the compiler. The only error I discovered was an incorrect three-dimensional storage map equation (p. 101). The authors attempt “to provide a C++ reference book, a tutorial for C++ beginners, and an advanced book—all in one” (p. xix). This is an exceptional advanced book that will double as a reference book. If you are a beginner, however, I would suggest finding another introductory text. After you have written some C++ programs, you will be able to return to this book with enough background to appreciate its strengths.