Best C++ Book to get?

[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.

[MasterGUI]

I am surprised that no one has mention "Thinking in C++" by Bruce Eckel (ISBN: 0-13-979809-9). You can even get it online! Of course you'll probably want to own a copy, this is a pretty good reference as well. http://mindview.net/Books/TICPP/ThinkingInCPP2e.html For learning about STL I highly recommend "The C++ Standard Library" by Nicolai Josuttis (ISBN: 0-201-37926-0). For learning how to make your own templates, I recommend "C++ Templates" by Vandervoorde and Josuttis (ISBN: 0-201-73484-2)

[destynova]

I haven't seen anyone mention Bruce Eckel's "Thinking in C++" yet - it's very in-depth and seems quite well written, though that's not where I learned my C++ from; I started reading it to improve my understanding of the basics. Myself, I picked it up over a few different books (starting with "Teach yourself Borland C++ Builder 3 in 10 days", gak... too compressed) and many websites. It was easier to understand after I'd learned a good amount of Java. It's available online for free: http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/eckel/ *edit: whoops, there were more replies than I thought and this was mentioned already! Oh well. It gets my vote!* Also good reading, as well as the rest of their site: http://relisoft.com/book/index.htm

[vgoldring]

For some reason no one mentioned any free books yet. Here is one, and for a beginner it's very good IMHO. It's "Thinking in C++" by Bruce Eckel, and you should be able to download both volumes from his web site (or some other). He himself posted them on public domain for free.

[AmazingMo]

If you already know something about programming, I strongly recommend Essential C++, by Stanley Lippman, Addison Wesley, ISBN 0-201-48518-4. This book will save you days of tedium. If you don't know anything about programming, get Accelerated C++, by Andrew Koenig and Barbara Moo, Addison Wesley, ISBN 0-201-70353-X Cheers, Peter Dulimov

[Boffincentral]

You might also consider Bruce Eckel's "Thinking in C++" which is also available as a free download so you can try for yourself before purchasing. Here's a link to the top level web page: http://www.mindview.net/Books/TICPP/ThinkingInCPP2e.html

[lain proliant]

I really enjoyed "Beginning C++" by Ivor Horton. Its a nice read, and it brings the principles of object oriented programming and abstract data types down to a level that is prime for those using C++ as an introduction to programming in general. It also heavily covers the most commonly used STL objects. I used it when I was 11 (7 years ago, version 2), and it has allowed me to reach a level where the constructs of the C++ language are less purely syntactical than they are useful tools with which to design software. Another book that I would suggest is available online, its called "Thinking in C++" by Bruce Eckel. It can be found here: http://www.mindview.net/Books/TICPP/ThinkingInCPP2e.html I hope that this can be of some help to you. :3

That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die.

[Sathesh Sakthivel]

Thanks Mitchel

Regards, Satips.:rose:

[Sathesh Sakthivel]

Sarath. wrote:

C++: a hands on approach by Eric Nagler

Ok Sarath, I will add it to My Library. Thanks, I am Just thinking how i missed that book.

Regards, Satips.:rose:

[Sathesh Sakthivel]

ggraham412 wrote:

A little dated perhaps, but take a look.

I will look into that.

Regards, Satips.:rose:

[Kevin McFarlane]

I have a few on this list and I'm aware of the others but I don't think any of them are good as first books. I don't have a recommendation though. I actually learnt years ago from Que's Turbo C++ book, which was mostly about C++ and almost nothing about Turbo. At the time I thought it was excellent but is of course way out of date, and departs greatly from recommended style even of 13 years ago.

Kevin