is c++ for dummies any good?
is c++ for dummies any good?
lilhawk2892, the c++ book recommendations sticky thread is intended for you to make recommendations, not request them.
Generally speaking, books with 'for dummies' or 'learn xxxxx in yyyyy days/hours/minutes' in the title are not very good.
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Hey,
I use a book for dummys book when i was ( i still am) trying to learn the basic's of c and c++ and found it very good the dummys book i useful was c++ for dummys programing, But i didnt find no where as nere as useful as Teach yourself c in 24 hours ( note i know the threat is about c++ but C is in c++ so)
Hope This post helps
Damn no wonder i'am going nowhere fastOriginally Posted by Ken Fitlike
depends
highly recommend Accelerated C++: Practical Programming by Example by Andrew Koenig, Barbara E. Moo
Kuphryn
I don't know. I found a 'C For Dummies' before in a library, and while it was a tat patronising, and used gets() and lots of other bad things like that a LOT (I think), it thought me a lot about some things I didn't know much about before. But I agree with the statement about 'X for Dummies', or 'learn Y in Z days' - rent them out of the library or whatever, but don't buy them.
The book really requires you to be an expert on what you learned before, so it can teach you what you're about to read, and it really doesn't introduce everything you need.
Be easy on me...only 14
C++ for dummies is absolutely worthless!
Ive got it and it stinks, i learned hardly nothing.
Never use a dummies or 21 days/hours book for anything like programming.
Those books are designed for bragging rights so people can claim to know how to program, when they only actually know how to make single words appear in an ms-dos screen. Trust me, that's the book I've got at the moment, and it's rubbish.
Well said charlybob!
I got a version of "Learn C++ in 21 days" from the library before. If I remember correctly, it was pretty thick and went pretty far. Seemed good to me. It just takes way way longer than 21 days.
Well I had Teach Yourself C++ in 24hours and it was really good at first then it jumped to being a bit too complicated with long code that wasn't broken down.
After being away from C++ for my Standard Grades I had forgotten a lot of stuff and so I bought C++ In Easy Steps which is very good as it shows everything clearly with the code broken down and it uses comprehesnsible language as the author doesn't expect you to know anything.
Dummies should watch Football and Nascar, and make MySpace profiles. =P
C++ isn't meant for dummies. You'll do yourself (and everyone you might ask for help later on) a favor by getting Accelerated C++ by Koenig and Moo. Bad books will teach you bad habits, which you will have a hard time getting rid of later on.
Im using the C++ for dummies book now to learn (first edition). Its seriously old but was the best choice at my uni library as they think they should only ever buy new books for new languages (JAVA C#)
I like it, although in no way complete, the author makes it pleasant to read. It assumes you know the basics of programming and dosnt teach you the basics like loops, functions arrays etc. Which is good for me. Although the latest edition does (5th I believe).
For those that say 'For dummies books' and 'teach your self in 24 hrs' are no good.
You are judging a book by the cover. The publisher has nothing to do with the author.
Basically what I look for in a learn a language programming book is one that has questions at the end of each chapter and excercises.
Another thing I like about C++ for dummies is it has a thing of explaining what something is, why its used and how to use it. Then at the end of the chapter it shows it being used in a FULL program. Not just code snipits.
One last note. I wish it had a bit more about linking and using make but then again it cant have every thing.
Last edited by (Slith++); 07-08-2006 at 07:52 PM.
Learn C++ in 24 hours (dont have the book on hand) is the book I started with and it helped. The thing is, people try to learn all from one source, a book, a tutorial, or what ever. I learned by going through the tutorials here, and at a couple other sites, combines with more indepth reading about each of the topics in my book. The combination left me doing pretty decent with the language I think.
