Best C++ Book to get?

Nemanja Trifunovic

The_Great_Gonzo

Being a bit tight (:-D) I always look on line when starting out with a language so if I find it's not for me then I don't have a book gathering dust. When I started C++ I used Thinking In C++ (Bruce Eckle) found here. It was a good book which gounded me well before heading off to other books most of which mentioned above. Hope it helps

Oh, uh, good question. Now technically speaking, uhh, let's say, put me down as a... 'Whatever'?

Sarath C

One more. C++: a hands on approach by Eric Nagler

-Sarath_._ "Great hopes make everything great possible" - Benjamin Franklin

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jean genie

"C++ Primer Plus" by Stephen Prata is well worth considering.

ednrgc

That book is a great reference, but not so great to learn the language from scratch. I would recommend getting another beginners book along with "The C++ Programming Language". Reading them side by side will be beneficial. One book that I find is a great reference also is C++ Nuts and Bolts. It's a small concise book that has been in my library for many years. If you're a programmer in another language, this book will also help you. I find myself going back to it whenever I go back into C++.

Stick

While all the books mentioned by others are great books, without a doubt, I have a better book for you if you are learning C++, and want to learn the "why" underneth the "how" which will cement your learning as you discover how each feature solves a problem. This knowledge will give you a fundemental understanding of not only how to write code (form statements and objects), but why you write it a certain way. C++ Primer Plus - Fifth Edition[^] by Stephen Prata Also, this is not enough. While you will no doubt have a very firm foundation on coding in C++, you will then need to learn OO design in order not to be simply be coding procedurally with C designs in C++. To achieve that, I highly (x10) recommend: [Head First Design Patterns](http://Head First Design Patterns)[[^](http://Head First Design Patterns "New Window")] By Eric Freeman, Elisabeth Freeman, Kathy Sierra, Bert Bates Now, while this book is in Java, the exercise of "translating" to C++ and actually writing and compiling the code will cement your earlier learning and how to really use proper OO design to solve real problems. Moreover, it will introduce you to patterns from the beginning. Then, you can tackle the STL. Good luck, Patrick

Tom Delany

I liked "The Waite Group's C++ Primer Plus". Alas, I don't think it is in print any longer, although you might be able to snag a used copy. :(

WE ARE DYSLEXIC OF BORG. Refutance is systile. Your a$$ will be laminated.

Alan Balkany

Three of the four books I was going to recommend have already been mentioned. "C++ The Complete Reference" by Herbert Schildt is easy to follow, and complete as the title suggests. If you could only have one C++ book, this would be it. After you know the basics, there are essential and powerful concepts that make you a more effective C++ programmer, which are covered in Scott Meyers' "Effective" series. They're all good: "Effective C++" by Scott Meyers, "More Effective C++" by Scott Meyers, and "Effective STL" by Scott Meyers. (STL is a powerful toolset that every C++ programmer should know, and this book gives you what you need to really understand it.)

AKAJamie

"C++ Primer" by Lippman and Lajoie. Nothing else will do.

bje990

I found a book called Beginning C++ Game Programming by Michael Dawson Which wasnt to bad. The book teaches you not about game programming, but understanding the C++ language (The name seems misleading) . It seemed like a pretty fun read and the example in the book were pretty neat too. I bought a copy and gave it to my nephew who is just getting into programming and he loves it. I'm actually surprised because within a month of reading the book, he was being very creative with his code. I mean creative for a 14 year old. He also understands the basic concepts of O.O. Programming. Good luck in your search.

Keep Coding

Garland Frye

I recommend "Thinking In C++" by Bruce Eckel. I read several C and C++ books when I first started programming some years ago. I wanted to start with C because I figured if I couldn't code with the best then I didn't need to be a programmer. Looking back that was sort of naive approach that was fueled by the bravado that comes with youth... but I digress. The background is important because as you can see I had little programming knowlege at all but it clicked when I read "Thinking In C++" 1 & 2 by Bruce Eckel. The books are written to target an audience moving from C but they are at the same time insightful enough to cater to the people that are learning their first programming language. Granted I knew a little VB at the time but like I said "first programming language". Another good thing but not the best thing about these books is they are free online at: http://mindview.net/Books/TICPP/ThinkingInCPP2e.html If you prefer you can buy them in print form as well. Garland R. Frye

Lowell Boggs

Pardon the shameless plug of my website, but I tried to put down some of my own ideas on what it takes to become a good C++ programmer. If you are interested, see http://www.bordoon.com/Programming/index.html[^] Look under C++ Advice. Regards, Lowell

MSoulia

I agree that the Scott Meyers books are great after the basics. I've been teaching a 2nd year college programming course for several years using Absolute C++, Walter Savitch, Addison-Wesley. They've just released a 3rd edition. I usually jump from Ch 1, Basics right to Ch 6, Classes. The book is pricey, but it's comprehensive and easy to digest (taking small gulps of the 930 pages) - OOP, STLs, etc. - and it has great on-line support. I still have my old Dewhurst and Stark from the last century (shutter). From the above, I'ld check out Modern C++ Design, Generic Programming and Design Patterns Applied, Alexandrescu, Addison-Wesley along with any of the previously mentioned Meyers' books.

rbaus

I would highly recommend C++ Primer Plus by Stephen Prata (5th ed.) It is an excellent book with a reasonable amount of pictures and a lot of sidebar discussions on why things are like this or that. It is one of the few books (that I have found) that can provide basic instruction as well as advanced insight and techniques. It also covers multiple platforms (it does in the older version I own.) You can find it on amazon, bookpool, or a local B&N or Borders.

MSoulia

BTW, in regards to whether C++ is a "good" language to learn... if you ever need to integrate legacy C++ code (or any language) into the .NET stuff, you'ld be well off to have a good background in C++/CLI. I also have my students use C++ Express.NET as an IDE.

Jerry Fragapane

I have at least 10 C++ books; and only two that really matter: "Inside the C++ Object Model" by Stan Lippman will show you how objects are laid out in memory, which is fundamental to truly understanding your code. "C++ Primer", also by Stan Lippman. I have a coworker who just started learning C++. Like me he's an old embedded guy who is used to working with low-level code like drivers. I lent him my "C++ Object Model" book and he loved it so much he bought his own, as well as the Primer, and he's writing better C++ code than some of the other folks here. Stan Lippman not only knows the language (he helped write the compiler when he worked with Bjarne) but he knows how to teach. Do a web search of his name and you'll find countless articles as well. Stan is the man. Jerry Fragapane

gomez38

The best programming book I've ever read is Bruce Eckel's "Thinking in C++". I bought the first edition several years ago and have lent it out a few times...in fact, it is out of my office right now. Bruce's website is http://www.BruceEckel.com[^] and the second edition is downloadable for free at http://mindview.net/Books/TICPP/ThinkingInCPP2e.html[^] Another good book (I don't know if it is in print, but probably can be found in a used bookstore for cheap) is--don't laugh at the name--is "Jesse Liberty's Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days" http://books.google.com/books?id=Qs-6bP_4etUC&dq=jesse+liberty+c%2B%2B+in+21+days&pg=PP1&ots=Rnmd_vinxW&sig=OfVyOf9OuUd20YPeK4C4pG3HkOk&prev=http://www.google.com/search%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3Djesse%2Bliberty%2Bc%252B%252B%2Bin%2B21%2Bdays&sa=X&oi=print&ct=result&cd=1#PPA408,M1[^]

krishnar78

The books I found most helpful for learning C++ programming were "Thinking in C++", by Bruce Eckel. The e-versions are available free on his website, and the print volumes are pretty cheap too, I think. http://www.mindview.net/Books/DownloadSites/[^]

Brian Wildrick

I learned C++ from two separate editions of "C++ How to Program" from Deitel & Deitel. Wonderful book to learn from, and not too shabby as a example reference after you've got it down.

ggraham412

Those are all great books and have a place in my library, so I'm going to mention an oddball choice: C+C++: Programming With Objects in C and C++ by Allen Holub (McGraw-Hill, 1992). If you happen to have a background in C, this is a great choice because it actually goes into a lot of the details of what is actually happening in a C++ program from a C perspective. A little dated perhaps, but take a look.