Hello Everyone,
I am new to C++ and I am thinking of buying C++ Primer Plus by Stephen Prata. Could someone please tell me what they think of it.
Hello Everyone,
I am new to C++ and I am thinking of buying C++ Primer Plus by Stephen Prata. Could someone please tell me what they think of it.
Amazon has some reviews here.
I would prefer one of these three books instead:
- Accelerated C++ by Koenig and Moo (slightly accelerated C++ introduction)
- You Can Do It by Glassborow (C++ introduction for programming beginners)
- C++ Primer 4th Edition or later by Lippman LaJoie and Moo (different than Prata's C++ Primer Plus).
I would not recommend C++ Primer Plus by Prata because simply by looking through the index on that amazon link you can see that it teaches C style C++. Such concepts are outdated and are generally bad habits to learn when studying C++. If possible it would be wiser to choose a book that teaches modern C++ such as the ones I listed above.
Rahiiyja recommended that book (C++ Primer Plus) in this forum's book recommendation thread, but I am wary of a recommendation by someone so new to C++.
I have a copy of "Accelerated C++", and it can be quite, um, accelerated, especially if you have no prior experience in programming. Incidentally, I picked up "You Can Do It!" in a local bookstore, and it does seem pretty good and yet of a more beginner's pace, so I would recommend it to you.
Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart WayOriginally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
I have found it very helpful when learning C++. But as laserlight mentions I am still wet behind the ears, and Prata's book is the only one about C++ that I've read so I have nothing to compare it with.
I recon that it may be better to buy a book written specifically for beginners. Prata's book is actually aimed at people with previous C or other programming experience.
Thanks everyone I think I will get C++ Primer 4th Edition by Lippman. Do you think this is a good book for someone who is new to c++? I'm asking because I was reading its description and somewhere I read that it is made for people who have previous knowledge of C or anther programming language like it, and I was wondering if you people thought that or that if you thought it would be ok for someone new to programming.
Last edited by curt22; 07-06-2007 at 04:48 PM.
Hi everyone I decided to buy Sams Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days 5th Edition because I it sounds like its a good book for someone who is just starting. when I'm done that I think I'll try some of the other books you recommended.
Thanks for your recommendations.
What happened to the C++ Primer 4th edition you said you were going to get in the last post?
I have basically the same issue with the 21 days book as I did with C++ Primer Plus.
I thought I would get the 21 days book because I thought it would be better for someone who is an absolute beginner. I think I'm going to order C++ Primer 4th edition when I'm done this book.
Why what problems are there with this book???
The same as for C++ Primer Plus (by Prata). It appears to teach old or C style C++, so you'll learn some habits that you will want to break later on. Reading C++ Primer (by Lippman et al.) afterwards is a good way to overcome that, but I would prefer to find a book that teaches the good habits from the beginning. You Can Do It! is the book I would pick for complete beginners.
Note that my recommendations are based on which books teach good information, not which books are easiest to follow or have exercises or any other features you might like in a learning book. IMO, the content being correct and up-to-date is the most important thing.
Last edited by Daved; 07-09-2007 at 04:08 PM.
I may get flamed for this but Detiel's C++, how to program 5th edition is one of the most detailed books you can get. It has tons of exercises at the end of each chapter but its rather pricey and its a brick of a book at 1500+ pages,
Deffinaly worth investing in if C++ is a long term plan
Double Helix STL
Let us know how you like whichever book(s) you end up getting. Good luck.
Wait no, I was thinking about C++ Primer, Buy that, not C++ Primer Plus. THat book isn't good at all, I read half of it before chucking it underneath my bed.
Last edited by indigo0086; 07-09-2007 at 07:25 PM.