recommended books for c/c++

[deedummy]

wondering if any you guys could recommend me an informative yet practical book(s) for learning c/c++... i'm interested in a book that provides relatively clear explanations and end-of-the-chapter practice problems... i have very little knowledge in programming currently, but i'm serious about learning it... i'm starting out with a book called Java Software Solutions by John Lewis and William Loftus... it seems enjoyable thus far... any books pertaining to c/c++ with similar style of instructions would be appreciated...
tia

[gamblor01]

I just bought this book for reference because I'm already pretty familiar with Java and C++, but knew my C++ skills were just a little lacking, but I think this is a really good C++ book:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=6B8M3s4DG2&isbn=0672327112&itm=1

That's actually a newer version of the one I have, but I'm sure it's probably still good. It should be very useful for the beginner too. :)


Also, if you want to look at a webpage for a class I took a while back at UT, go to http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/downing/cs378/elements/index.html

If you're really that new at programming though, your probably going to get lost after the first few pages of each section. But hey, maybe you'll pick up really quickly on allocating your own memory and using function adapters! :p

[tecknophreak]

Deitel & Deitel C++ how to program, they also make one for C. It's a great book with lots of end of book qs. I think if you do a search on this site for your q, it'll be in there a few times.

[zeroth]

wondering if any you guys could recommend me an informative yet practical book(s) for learning c/c++... i'm interested in a book that provides relatively clear explanations and end-of-the-chapter practice problems... i have very little knowledge in programming currently, but i'm serious about learning it... i'm starting out with a book called Java Software Solutions by John Lewis and William Loftus... it seems enjoyable thus far... any books pertaining to c/c++ with similar style of instructions would be appreciated...
tia

I highly recommend "A Book on C" by Al kelley and Ira Pohl

thats how I learned C. Or, you could go for the books written by the language's creators, "Programming in C" and "Programming in C++"

I cant vouch for these two books because I haven't read them, but I hear they are absolute guides to the languages, are a little difficult for complete newbies, and the syntax the authors use in the code is commonly disliked.

Learn C before you learn C++, you might find that you like it better, and if you don't you'll have a deeper understanding of C++.

[jakobb]

"Teach Yourself C++": This is the book I started out with. I think its good for beginners, and has lots of examples and quiz's at the end of chapters.

"The C++ Standard Library": Explains the stl in lots of detail. Not really good for beginners, or as an introduction to the language, but is a pretty good reference.

"C++ In A Nutshell": I really like this book. It is an excellent C++ reference manual. The entire C++ library(and std c lib) is laid out by header, and has some great explanations and examples. This book is always nearby when I'm working in C++, definately recomend picking it up

As a side note you should probably cover your ears, make loud noises, and run away any time someone starts with the "learn c first" stuff. :)

[zeroth]

As a side note you should probably cover your ears, make loud noises, and run away any time someone starts with the "learn c first" stuff. :)

Everything C can do, C++ can do. Any given C++ book is just as thick as a C book, which leads me to believe they aren't telling you all there is to know.

C is a procedural language.
C++ is object oriented.

Given that, C is an easier concept to gasp.

Also, If you go from C++ to C you're going to feel very limited -- like a linux guru sitting in front of a dos prompt -- not that they are related, but it will take a long time to quit the brain farts.

C > C++; /* In my humble opinion */

[evac-q8r]

Different books appeal to different people. I suppose that's the reason why several authors write books on the same subject material in the first place. I suggest you just explore for yourself and go with the one you find tickles your fancy the most. This usually includes more than one book as their treatment of various topics can be more or less comprehensive in certain respects.

EVAC

[voidinit]

Check out an individual account at Safari Books Online (http://www.safaribooksonline.com). A subscription is only like $14.99 a month and it gives you access to a ton of books on a ton of topics (they have a free trial).

Basically it works like this. You have a "bookshelf" that has 10 slots. Once you place a book in your "bookshelf" it must stay in a slot for a couple of days. Then you can remove it and replace it with another book.

I think the $14.99 a month is worth the price, consider you are building a slightly advanced web application in J2EE. It would be nice to have a book on EJB, XML, CSS, HTML, Hibernate, etc. etc. All of these books would be well over $100 to buy outright, plus once the next new version of an API came out, you might need to update your library.

In short, it's like netflix for tech books.

You might want to check out the free trial and see if they have the kind of books you are interested in. If they have 4 books that you are interested in, and those four books retail for $45 each, then that just paid for an entire year of Safari. Also, sometimes in the middle of a project, or in the planning of a project you don't always know everything you need in advance. I just hop on my safari account and "check out" a book on that unforseen topic with no additional cost.

BTW, the publishers whose books are available on Safari are here: http://www.safaribooksonline.com/publishers/overview.asp

[webwolf]

Although they are not really meant for beginners three that I highly recommend are:

Goto C++ Programming from addison westley

The C++ Programming Language ( this is a must for anyone who seriously wants to code in C++ )

STL Tutorial and Referance Guide.

Sorry I don't have any links but a search in google, Amazon, or your local library should bring something up.

Jeremy

[jakobb]

Also, If you go from C++ to C you're going to feel very limited -- like a linux guru sitting in front of a dos prompt -- not that they are related, but it will take a long time to quit the brain farts.

C > C++; /* In my humble opinion */

Did you just compare C++ to a linux guru, C to a dos prompt, and then say C > C++? :D

[zeroth]

Did you just compare C++ to a linux guru, C to a dos prompt, and then say C > C++? :D

that is quite funny, but thats not the message I was trying to send. I'm sure you're aware, but I'm only trying to make an analogy to "brain farts" (typing unix commands in a dos shell as to typing C++-only functionality in a C program)

[jakobb]

that is quite funny, but thats not the message I was trying to send. I'm sure you're aware, but I'm only trying to make an analogy to "brain farts" (typing unix commands in a dos shell as to typing C++-only functionality in a C program)

Actually your post was quite unclear. You seem to think a C++ manual should be much larger than a C manual. From this I assume you then believe that a C++ manual should also be/contain a C manual? Thats just plain silly if you ask me.

About which is an easier concept to grasp, pure OOP or pure procedural, thats going to vary from person to person.

I'm not really sure what your trying to say with the whole 'brain fart' buisness...

And about whether you should learn C first...

Stroustrap - The C++ Programming Language:
In the continuing debate on whether one needs to learn C before C++, I am firmly convinced that it is best to go directly to C++. C++ is safer, more expressive, and reduces the need to focus on low-level techniques. It is easier for you to learn the trickier parts of C that are needed to compensate for its lack of higher-level facilities after you have been exposed to the common subset of C and C++ and to some of the higher-level techniques supported directly in C++.

Stroustrap - The C++ Programming Language:
Knowing C is not a prerequisite for learning C++. Programming in C encourages many techniques and tricks that are rendered unnecessary by C++ language features.

Stroustrap - The C++ Programming Language:
The better one knows C, the harder it seems to be to avoid writing C++ in C style, thereby losing some of the potential benifits of C++.

When I see someone say things like 'C > C++' I tend to not trust there opinion because its obvious they are quite biased and are probably not looking at things with an open mind.

This is getting way off topic though, and I doubt its very helpful to guy who started this thread.

[vurdlak]

There are many sites to find, I also run one... but think you will have much profit if you browse google for free e-books i found a great one, but think its warez and copyrighted so wont publish it here. also try code box a part of box netoworks (where astalavista.box, neworder.box and simmilar are... think its code.box.sk not shue...