Thread: C++: Reference Book, GUI, Networking & Beyond

  1. #1
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    C++: Reference Book, GUI, Networking & Beyond

    Hi!
    I began learning and practicing C++ three months through my first C++ program class. The C++
    class used Tony Gaddis Starting Out With C++ Alternate Second Edition. It was an exceptional C++ book. I learned
    so much from it. I did every "Programming Challenges" (up to chapter 15 - everything else is mostly STL) in the book and put in a lot of time and effort into getting
    the best that it could offer.

    I am very satisfied, but at the same time I know the information I learned and experience I gained are not much
    compared with what real programmers know and have accomplished. At this point I am not sure what the "right" track
    would be for someone like me. I do know that I will not be able to design software I want (win32 ftp server), and
    more important, I know I should read books about subjects like networking and GUI.

    First, let me brief everyone on what I am confident (understand concept, but may need to look u small detail) about
    just from read Gaddis' text and doing all the practice problems. I am confident of everything from the basics
    (character arrays, loops, etc.), structure, classes (friends, inheritance, virtual functions),
    pointer (one & two dimension), string class, and fstream, STL: vector, list, deque, as well as stack and queues,
    concepts. Gaddis' discussion of STL is quite succinct. I think there is much more information about STL.

    I have no experience with programming in win32/xwindows environment. I have no experience with network
    programming.

    I terms of GUI, I browsed Amazon for C++ books with emphasis on GUI. There are two basic types: Visual C++ MFC and
    Borland C++ Builder. I saw more books about MFC than C++ Builder. Is Visual C++ the way of the future? Personally,
    I use Visual C++ at school since that is the only C++ compiler in labs. I prefer Borland C++ Builder at home. I
    find it more robus with more tools. Maybe that is just because I am inexperience in general. I prefer to learn
    something really well rather than go back and forth between the two, but then again, I could very well accomplish
    that if it is neccessary due to the pros and cons of the two C++ suites. My first questions again, which is the
    best C++ compiler for windows with great emphasis on flexibily (similar to comparing win32 C++ to Visual Basic),
    creative power (anything is possible)? Ease of use is not important if the outcome helps me more in the road to
    becoming a quality programmer (I do not mine the difficult track).

    For networking, I am considering C++ Objects for Making Unix and Windows Nt Talk by Mark Nadelson and
    Tom Hagan. By the way, that is one of the few C++ books that has anything to do with networking I found at
    Amazon.

    I am on the last chapter of Gaddis' book, while my class is no even halfway done. The professor told me Gaddis'
    is is very basic, although I find that Gaddis goes into most important subjects with great detail. He explains
    everything with example and codes after codes. Anyways, the professor recommend that I move ahead and read
    C++ How to Program by Deitel and Deitel. I have browsed the book some. It has a lot of information with few
    examples. It is more of a fine toning type C++ book rather than an indepth reference.

    In summary I would like to know:

    What is *should* the next step be? Should I continue learning C++ and practicing under console through a more
    advanced C++ book rather than learning GUI and networking (programming network)?

    What is the future for Borland C++ Builder or Visual C++ with emphasis on GUI and networking?

    How important is STL? Everyone I talk to at school bring up "vector" as though it is the ultimate C++ tool. I like list.

    What GUI book do you recommend?

    What C++ networking book do you recommend?

    What is the preferred reference book at the intermediate/advanced level? What do you think about C++ How to Program?

    Thanks for reading through. I would appreciate any feedback. Please feel free to reply to any question.

    Thanks again,
    Kuphryn

  2. #2
    Skunkmeister Stoned_Coder's Avatar
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    C++ how to program is a good book but it is not an advanced book but more of a primer.
    For a much more challenging and advanced text(although not always followable) get The c++ Programming language by Bjarne Stroustrup. This goes into much more detail and stays pretty much platform independent concentrating on the bare c++ standard.
    For windows programming the bible has to be Programming Windows by Charles Petzold. This is a straight c text but undoubtedly the best book for anyone even considering programming for win32.
    For MFC i like Jeff Prosise's sister book to the Petzold one called Programming windows with MFC.

    As for how long to stick with the console. Until you think you areready to proceed. Can you do linked lists,binary trees,templates,multiple inheritance,virtual inheritance,STL,etc. My advice is that c++ is hard enough to learn properly without adding all the extra hassle of programming for windows or any sort of graphical stuff until you know the syntax and understand its use.
    Free the weed!! Class B to class C is not good enough!!
    And the FAQ is here :- http://faq.cprogramming.com/cgi-bin/smartfaq.cgi

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    Thanks.

    Yes. I agree I still need to to practice with at least one more really powerful C++ book before going onto GUI even though I am going to sign up for a GUI class next semester. I believe I am ready based on my assumption that school always moves slower that learning on your own.

    I understand and have practice problems with templates (mainly functions), multiple inheritance and virtual inheritance. I have limited experience with STL (vector, linked lists and deque) and binary trees.

    I have having difficulty deciding, again, on what book to buy in terms of something that would best proceed Tony Gaddis Starting Out with C++ Alternate Second Edition. I am considering the following three, but have not decided on which one or even two to buy. Please tell me what you think.

    Deitel & Deitel: C++ How to Program
    Andrew Koenig & Barbara E. Moo: Accelerated C++
    Scott Meyers: Effective STL: 50 Specific Ways to Improve Your Use of the Standard Template Library

    I believe Effective STL is a must-have, but I am also considering of the other two just as a more advanced reference to Starting Out with C++.

    Kuphryn

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    Get Deitel & Deitel's book. If you need an STL reference, see here: http://www.sgi.com/tech/stl/table_of_contents.html
    - lmov

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    Done! Amazon should ship it by Monday.

    Thanks everyone. I have looked at that book. Deitel & Deitel pack it with indepth concepts about C++.

    Kuphryn

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