sig. Books on C++ for beginners

I really hate this kind of questions. The "what is the best" kind :mad:

But to be honest I'm confused as hell on what book should I really buy to help me learn C++. Here, at cprogramming, there is an extensive list. But apart from the general agreement around Bjarne Stroustrup's "The C++ Programming Language", the fact is all other books don't share this consensus.
For instance, while checking reader opinions at amazon.com for "C++ Primer", I've read someone who bashed the book for its errors. Now, I really dislike errors in programming books. I feel my money went down the drain. But to have it being praised by others.... well, I'm confused.

I beg of you not to make this thread a what is da best book type of thread. But rather, in your opinion, what book I should get my hands dirty on.

Don't bother mentioning Bjarne Stroustrup's. That one I will buy ;) Also Herbert Schildt's C/C++ Programmer's Reference from Osborne. That one I already have :D

As a small note. It would really help if authoritatively sources would put their efforst reviewing those books at cprogramming.com. It would be nice to have some of the folks around here like Salem, for instance, and I'm sure many others, sharing a few words about those books. Just a side note to help improve an already excellent website (hmm... I think I should emails this to the webmaster)

That's fine. But please say so :)

Mario,

I recall your comment to Silent Wolf (a 16-year-old looking for some help with finding a program for a High School course).

Now, here you are asking others for the same type of help, albeit on a slightly higher level.

Hmmmmmm.......

Quote:

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"...an already excellent website..."

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There's a 16-year-old out there that may not think so...

This is the thread you are referring to:

Click here

Now, read it carefully once again. I mean carefully. Now tell me exactly:

1. Where does my question is in any way similar to anything on that thread.
2. Where was I ever rude, or in any way impolite, to Silent Wolf.

You can call me blunt. That I was and on purpose. Simply because I feel a 16 year old kid is old enough not to be breast feed and old enough to know how to read and interpret what he reads. Especially if he wants to programm in any language.

Also "don't ask for homework" is part of the FAQ on these forums. Had you remembered that and probably you wouldn't have replied to me in the manner you did.

That's all

Mario,

1. Both of you appear to be asking for someone else to do the research.

2. Impolite? No. Nor did I suggest that you were. (Blunt? Oh, yes!)

My point is that there are different levels of 'requests' for information, whether they be at yours, or Silent Wolf's.

This isn't cprogrammingforexpertsonly.com.

Many out here may wish that it were. So be it. (And, welcome to it, quite frankly.)

When the positive exchange of information, whether at the beginner level, or very advanced, becomes too cumbersome, then maybe all of us should simply "stay home".

Certainly, there's call for criticism where it's warranted. It can be done constructively, though. Speaking of a 16-year-old not needing to "be breast fed" isn't constructive, in my opinion, though.

P.S. I remember re-directing Silent Wolf back to his instructor so I don't know where the "violation" of the FAQ comes into play here. Perhaps you should read more carefully.





;)

Here

>I really dislike errors in programming books.
Who doesn't? But you'll be hard pressed to find a book with no errors. With the possibility of The Art of Computer Programming series, I can't think of any. Even K&R has an errata list.

The trick is to find a book with few errors, and those that are there you know of and know the correction to.

>in your opinion, what book I should get my hands dirty on.
From what I've heard, C++ How to Program is good, as is C++ Primer.

>Also Herbert Schildt's C/C++ Programmer's Reference from Osborne.
Be wary of Schildt books, he's notorious for bad style and undefined behavior.

-Prelude

One book I suggest you NOT purchase is Microsoft's MSDN VC++ 6.0 Student / Developer books. Set of two. It goes over some basic junk that wont do you much good. Other than that I havn't tried any books, if I need to learn something the Online MSDN usually suffices or else I'll come here and/or check out the chat room at DalNET to see if anyone can help me, or I help them. Good luck with learning. Oh, yes, I also tried: SAM'S learn C++ in 21 Days... Paid $69 for it and they mixed C code with C++ all of the time in the edition that I bought.

Since when am I the hot topic of discussion? Anyways, I should state that I AM NOT A HE!!! I'm female tyvm. I would tell you the name of the book I have in class.... however I'm not in class right now.
First off I don't know weither I asked for someone to do the research, perhaps I did by asking which thread was the one I was "directed to"
Second I never asked for "breast - feeding" (though I do resent the pun) Perhaps I should have explained better the first time.
Third I needed a program that's at my "level" (though aparantly according all greatness here I have no level) to INTERPRATE, not steal, not get the program off of someone, to comment on within the program then show the teacher my comments. Plus it can't be a program that we've used in class before or any programs from the C++ teaching sites he's showed us.
Perhaps I was wrong about people on this board being nice about my age.... maybe if I would have told all you guys I was female you would all feel some great pity for my inferiority.
Either way you've made your point that i'm not welcome here because of what I asked for and i'm some kind of pre-mortal baby who needs to be weened. Gee... thanks
~Silent

Quote:

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Originally posted by Silent Wolf
Either way you've made your point that i'm not welcome here because of what I asked for and i'm some kind of pre-mortal baby who needs to be weened. Gee... thanks
~Silent

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Whoa! Who am I to say you are not welcome here? I have like 1 week worth of these forums.
Also, where did I say such a thing?!

My point was,
1. You came and asked for a full program for your class and stated you wanted something "sem-complicated"(sic). You did not certainly read the FAQ, otherwise you would know the homework type-of questions are a no-no.
2. Denethor2000 replies and gives you a hint to an encryption program he wrote and tells you to use the search engine. Next thing you are complaining over the fact you couldn't locate it.
3. You then ask what program did he mentioned, when all it would take was for you to scroll up and read his message again.
4. Finally you get HIS program for your school class but say what you wanted after all was a simple program you could understand...

C'mon! ;)

Also, i have no problem with you being young or a woman. My daughter has exactly the same age as you.

Mario, please let me feel slightly guilty/defensive as well. :)

1. Silent Wolf, none of us knew you were a female, nor would it have made any difference. I made an assumption that I had no business making in my post and, for that, I plead "guilty". :o

2. Though I'm still unconvinced that your request really falls into the category of "homework" in the sense referred to in the FAQ, I would allow that it could be interpreted that way.

3. It's a little unfair to suggest that anyone even hinted that you "have no level". I may have gotten miffed with Mario for his "bluntness", but he never implied anything of this sort, nor did anyone else.

4. Female inferiority? Not that I've seen!

My defense of your question remains unchanged. I've seen many "newbie" questions that have been responded to with patience and courtesy while others have been treated like cannon fodder with no appreciable difference in the content of the questions. That, I don't understand.

I appreciate that you're upset right now, but don't give up on this site. Once you discover how to avoid the "land mines", there's an incredible amount of information to be gained. ;)

P.S. Had I known that my Portugese friend has a 16-year-old daughter, I would have been more tolerant of his "bluntness". Mine's 18 years old and, occasionally, "blunt" is the only thing she understands. Comes from her mother's side of the family. :D

Ok.... I am going to say this, Yes I have read the FAQ for this board concerning homework and what not. As far as I thought it meant having people do the problem for you when you should be doing it yourself. My question wasn't exactly like that because my teacher ASKED us to get a ready made program that we could understand and that is at our level. He didn't want us to go out and make a program otherwise I would not have asked people here.
But now I also see what I am up against and how I will be thought of as since there are people on here who have daughters older than I am.
Thanks for the help *sarcasim*

I really think you are exaggerating a little here. ;)
But here it goes. Tell me if this is simple enough or if you need some help interpreting it.

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
#include <stdlib.h>

//Functions
void playgame(){
    cout << "I really think you should study...\n\n";
    system("PAUSE");}

void homework(){
    cout << "Nice! Have fun...\n\n";
    system("PAUSE");}

int multiply(int x, int y){
    return x * y;}

//Main
int main()
{
  char strChoice;
 
  do
  {
    system("cls");
    cout << "What do you want to do?\n";
    cout << "1. Play Game\n";
    cout << "2. Do homework\n";
    cout << "3. Multiply 2 numbers\n";
    cout << "x. Exit\n\n";
    cin >> strChoice;
 
    switch(strChoice){
      case '1':
      playgame();
      break;
    case '2':
      homework();
      break;
    case '3':
      int a, b;
      cout << "Enter two integers to multiply: ";
      cin >> a >> b;
      cout << "The result is: " << multiply(a, b) << "\n\n";
      system("PAUSE");
      break;
    case 'x':
      cout << "Goodbye! :)\n\n";
      break;
    default:
      cout << "Bad input. Choose again...\n";}
  }while(strChoice != 'x');

  system("PAUSE");       
  return 0;
}

---

[EDIT] That smiley face up there is actually the symbol ':' followed by ')'... the traditional smiley you see everywhere. But apparently the forum parser still interpreted it even though is between the code tags[/EDIT]

Silent Wolf,

Now I don't know whether you're misinterpreting my posts or I'm misinterpreting yours.

My P.S. was meant to be viewed as an extension of the proverbial "olive branch" to Mario, not aimed as a sarcasm toward you in any way, shape or form.

(Guess this is what we get, and deserve, for trying to post messages to two people in the same thread, huh?) ;)

By the way, looks like Mario ain't such a "meanie" after all.

:)

Quote:

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Ok.... I am going to say this, Yes I have read the FAQ for this board concerning homework and what not. As far as I thought it meant having people do the problem for you when you should be doing it yourself. My question wasn't exactly like that because my teacher ASKED us to get a ready made program that we could understand and that is at our level. He didn't want us to go out and make a program otherwise I would not have asked people here.
But now I also see what I am up against and how I will be thought of as since there are people on here who have daughters older than I am.
Thanks for the help *sarcasim*

---

How about you try not over-reacting and looking too deeply into responses to your questions. It's nice that you've read the FAQ, and I understand your problem, but it's very difficult for us to post a program that is on your "level" when we have no idea what your level is.

Quote:

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Either way you've made your point that i'm not welcome here because of what I asked for and i'm some kind of pre-mortal baby who needs to be weened. Gee... thanks

---

You are most certainly welcome here, but keep in mind that we make no effort to make you feel good about yourself. We answer questions in a mostly efficient manner and move on, live with it.

Quote:

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Third I needed a program that's at my "level" (though aparantly according all greatness here I have no level) to INTERPRATE, <snip ranting>
Perhaps I was wrong about people on this board being nice about my age.... maybe if I would have told all you guys I was female you would all feel some great pity for my inferiority.

---

I don't care how old you are or what gender you are, but people who pity themselves receive no pity from me. As for your apparently nonexistent level, you care way too much what others think about you. So here's my solution: Accept what you've been given, ignore what offends you and get on with life. We want you here because we know we can help you to learn programming the right way, but if you can't look the other way after being insulted then maybe you're not ready for such a rough and tumble forum. If someone steps out of line then they will get called on it, otherwise they are within the bounds of acceptable behavior.

-Prelude

Quote:

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Originally posted by skipper
By the way, looks like Mario ain't such a "meanie" after all.
:)

---

My daughter would disagree :D

o.o; yeah that code will probably work ... thanks

I don't get why everyone else in here has to come in and criticize. Oh well...

Seeing as though i'm almost done with my C++ class I won't be comin back here again.... I would have... but naw. I'm sure that won't hurt anyone's feelings

Paul S. Wang - Standard C++

I don't buy books, I get them from the library!

As promised.... it's only a basic book so I don't know if you would want it.... but (*in class right now*) we use "South Western Programming In C++"

I'm sure Mario will appreciate that you shared the information.

Now, there's a button near the top of the page with the word "register" on it.
Give it a click, please, and follow the process.

Doesn't mean you have to come back, of course. That's your choice, but a couple of us would appreciate it if you did.

Thanks! ;)

As you read more, you will learn more...

The best book is the one that you have with your Version of C++.
So if you need a help---> go to tools help... and then you will be
seting there reading and reading forever.
Don't forget to take notes.

No body in this world will write more that what C++.help.askfor help has.

NOW ............ If you didn't find that one there, we are here..
I used to ask alot of questions. Now a day, I am reading the threads and I am taking notes....

Am I worge? You can't be a programmer in one month...?

Accelerated C++ "Practical Programming by Example" by Andew Koenig and Barbara E. Moo (imagine having Moo as a last name)

This better :confused: ?

I could have sworn I registered before... oh well.

Anyways... yeah the book I mentioned above is good for beginners... I don't know what level you are at though. It also comes with a diskette (not sure of spelling but i'm pritty sure they come with every book) with programs already written out that you can pull up in your compiler and look over.

I don't know how to get one though... they have questions in them so I don't know if it's just through schools or what. If you wanted to know I could ask my teacher.

Much better, thank you. :)

My level? Fair question.

While minding my own business at a local college, two excellent professors in the Computer Science department "shanghaied" me. That is to say, made me offers that they both knew I wouldn't refuse. (I didn't.)

I "assist" in the introductory and advanced C++ courses at the school. Hence, my sympathy for "newbies". ;)

The hitch? Read through these threads and look at the various programming styles. Many ways to skin a cat, so to speak. I know a few, but there are so many left to learn!

Elegant programming doesn't come from the sky like a bolt of lightning, though sometimes it seems to. It comes from hour upon hour of hard work and study...and mistakes.

That's exactly what most of these folks have committed themselves to. It also explains why some come off as intolerant of those that seem to want a, seemingly, "quick fix" to their programming problems. (You weren't, but let's not get into THAT again! :D)

Mario and I have bandied back and forth over this thread, but Prelude's post is the one you should most take to heart. He's posted a couple of times more than me, so when he tosses something at you, listen.

:)