3 comments about Hit the ground Running with Visual C++.NET.

1. Neiman presents a focused explanation of Visual C++ in the .NET environment. The book shows the potential high productivity you could achieve in the Visual Integrated Development Environment.
   
   Also, the C++ in this book differs from vanilla C++. Here, the .NET means that you can write a C++ program, compile it, and easily link it to binaries of other programs, written in languages like VB, that also support .NET. Most texts for any computer language usually teach just about that language, and not about being able to integrate code across languages. To some readers, this may be the book's main attraction.



2. I have bought hundreds of technical books over the years to keep pace with the rapidly changing world of technology. This would probably rank down there in the bottom. This is a type of book you would expect to use in a "MCSD in 2 days!" commercial type course you see sprouting out everywhere nowadays. The book is littered with very superficial explanations in the code examples. It ends up being one of those books "do this > compile > next chapter" instead of "here is the problem we are trying to solve > we can solve it like this with .VC++NET >step through the code and explain each step > compile > try another example to reinforce". It leaves beginners lost after a few chapters, and gives nothing to programmers with a slightest bit of experience that they can't find on MSDN examples & tutorials. As you walk through the examples, you'll find many times they don't actually follow along with what end up being the final compiled code. The biggest disappointment of this book is that it is based on Visual Studio.NET 2002, with a very weak update on CD for VS 2003. In November 2005 MS released various flavors of VS.NET Express for free, utilizing .NET 2.0 framework. In other words, you are buying a book based on essentially deprecated technologies. Download one of the new VS express editions, take a took at the examples, and please save your money.



3. This is one of the best-written books I have seen on the subject, and I have been looking for a long time. I like the fact that it covers the major development tasks and provides hand-holding through the major obstacles. This is a real time-saver!

5 comments about A Guide to Programming in C++.

1. The only reason I didn't get a 2 or less on the AP Computer Science A exam was because I knew something before using this book in my class. It leaves a whole lot to be desired. Nothing is covered in depth, and the excercises are redundant and extremely long. I would hope that there is a better textbook out there.



2. Let's make one thing clear: this book is hard. It's not a short book either, it will take quite a bit of time to finish, but it's well worth it!! I had this book for a high school computer course, and while I only got half-way through it, I learned so much in those first few chapters than I ever did in any other book. If you're looking to really learn C++, and do the best you can do, then I would recommend this book 100%!!



3. I first used this book in my high school programming class, when I had almost no knowledge whatsoever of C++. Thanks to this book, I'm now focusing on programming as a career, and able to move on to far more advanced books on the topic. This book doesn't cover everything, but what it does cover it covers in depth and adds challenging exercises to ensure comprehension. It won't teach you all you might want to know, but if you're just getting started, I highly recommend it.



4. this is how i learned C++. I didn't feel like lugging a book to and from school everyday so I bought myself a copy. Easy learning, and good lessons. If you're looking for a good Java book, i suggest Head Firs Java by Sierra & Bates, published by O'Reilly.



5. Let me first say that this 5 I am giving is not for its usefulness now but its usefulness with Visual C++ 6.0.
   
   I bought this book to continue learning from this book. The exercises are unbelievably awesome and thought provoking, however I found myself after chapter 7 needing to switch to a much more "modern" book.
   
   But for the first 6 chapters, this book provided me with perfect knowledge of C++. (That I was also able to successfully convert to today's C++) If only this company made the modern day C++ version of this book, then this book would be flawless in learning about C++.

1 comments about E-Mail Murders, The (PC Hawke Mysteries).

1. P.C. and Mac are thrilled when Mac's dad invites them to join him on a business trip in Monaco, where he will be a speaker at the International Psychiatric Association Conference. They spend the beginning of their trip having fun: seeing the sites, relaxing on the beach, and eating at cafes. But their vacation fun is interrupted when Harriet Epstein-Hopper, who is also attending the conference, is murdered, apparently by a vicious serial killer known as Cyrano. Even though Mac's father warns them not to get involved, P.C. and Mac can't help themselves. Along with Juliette, the inspector's daughter, they determine to find out who really is responsible. Anyone who enjoyed the first two P.C. Hawke Mysteries is sure to like this one as well.

5 comments about Managed C++ and .NET Development: Visual Studio .NET 2003 Edition.

1. I must say this is the best book i've red, i mean the book i've had most fun with. I red this large book in short period of time, and you know what that means!
   This is not the book you will get bored with. It's rare to find the book which is both fun and advanced. i think this one is precisely it. I'm so glad to find out how to write asp.net page with (managed) c++, it's a great felling! the way the chapter about managed c++ in asp.net is explained is beyond the good,hence excellent. it's so easy plus you have fun with it and before you know, you can program web pages with c++. I was also amazed with chapter on web-services. i red few times about this new technology but first now after i red Stephens Managed C++ i understand completely what the web services are and how to write them. And in both asp.net and web-service chapter you get simple sampels which is extremely importent to get someone understand what you talking about but beyond that there are also advanced sampels with ADO.NET and Web-forms. Beautifull!!
   To begin with, the book explains shortly .NET and than explains what Managed C++ is (it's c++ adapted to .NET , and there are some minor differences in syntax with the original c++)
   Than the book compare how Managed c++ language looks like in .NET, so you get all details and what you need to corectly write c++ programms i .NET. The rest of the book is about Windwows Forms, Advanced Windows Foram, GDI+(drawing) and so on..

   What a author!




2. This is too elementary, if you want to learn C++ this is the book you need to have. For a more advanced real world application and web services development look elsewhere.



3. I'm a professional C++ developer. I knew next to nothing about this .Net/Managed business but it seemed like the best tool for a particular project. What I needed was a book that was designed to aid the transition into Managed C++ & .Net development for people who already know how to code in C++. This book is exactly that.
   
   The only problem is that with 2005 upon us, some of the syntax in the book is now dated. I bought it anyway to get a good grounding in this stuff. If he writes a 2005 version I'm all over it.



4. I needed a book to help me in transition from C# to C++, and this is exactly the book that I needed. It does not go too deep into details on a particular technology (Web services, for example), but rather gives an overview of all major programming topics (that I am already quite familiar with, but using C#).



5. The writing is clear and the sample code used to illustrate the concepts are excellent. I like the author's writing style and the progression of topics. I especially appreciated his coverage of Xml, database and web programming. Overall an enjoyable read and useful reference.

5 comments about PICmicro MCU C: An introduction to Programming the Microchip PIC in CCS C.

1. A fairly straight forward book for the beginner. Takes some of the mystery out of using the CCS functions. If you are interested in doing some basic programming and learning some C and are new to PICs then I would suggest it. Probably not for the intermediate or advanced user. For the price, not a waste of money.



2. The title of the book is misleading. I was expecting to learn about programming the PIC using CCS C but 8 of the 9 chapters dealt with learning C and had nothing to do with the PIC. The one chapter the did deal with the PIC was short and did not give a lot of information or examples. To me, this book is not worth the money. But if you're looking for a beginners guide to C with a brief description of some of the commands used to program the PIC using CCS compiler, then it may be worth a look.



3. I found this little book to be an excellent reference for the CCS C language. A lot more concise and better written than the CCs manuals. Each instruction and concept is illustrated with a program snippet. But, if you are looking for a programming textbook, you will be disappointed. This volume lacks complete, full-length programs. If the author would add a few more chapters to the next edition, giving some longer programs and a few case studies, then I would give it 5 stars.



4. Este libro esta muy bien para aquellos que quieran aprender a programar los PIC en C. Los primeros capítulos son un repaso de todos los aspectos más importantes de este lenguaje. Si ya se ha estudiado con anterioridad está bien para refrescar la memoria. Los últimos capítulos los dedica al caso particular de C aplicado al microcontrolador. Sería interesante algo más de C aplicado al PIC pues este tema es poco extenso. Un muy buen libro para aquellos que quieran empezar. Nivel muy básico.



5. This book provides a great introduction to the CCS C compiler and its basic features. It provides a basic outline of the C language and how it is applied to make things happen on a PIC microcontroller. It has code segments outlining all point covered in the book. Instead of listing and describing built in functions, it provides code on how to apply them. Like I said it covers only the basics but is a must read for anyone starting to use the compiler and a great reference manual for more seasoned users.

2 comments about Precise Numerical Methods Using C++.

1. This text is a very good presentation of important material that is not readily available elsewhere. The author provides intuitition, mathematical rigor at a reasonable and effective level, and working source code for ready-to-use programs on disk. He chose his subjects well, focusing on numerical integration, root finding, linear equation solution, eigenstructure, optimization, and ordinary differential equations (including boundary value problems). This covers the majority of what is needed in practice. His discussions of techniques for keeping track of error limits at each stage of computation, and thus enabling computation of results to arbitrary and known accuracy, is rigorous enough to satisfy most critics, yet it can be understood by anyone with a solid grounding in undergraduate calculus. I do have two criticisms. First, no explicit algorithms appear in the book. The mathematical developments are complete, but very far from concise. I would give a lot if he presented each technique as a page or two of ALGOL or some other rigorous algorithm specification. Going from mathematics and intuition to practice involves a huge leap. Second, his source code is exceptionally poorly commented. More specifically, he has practically no comments at all. To add insult to injury, his coding style is confusing. He has an extremely annoying habit of placing multiple unrelated C++ statements on each line, resulting in programs that are very short and wide. Because the algorithms are quite complicated, it is often ridiculously difficult to figure out what is going on in the software. In fairness, it should be emphasized that many people would not be bothered by these problems. They are frustrating to me because of the way I use such texts. I am a consulting programmer who develops specialized scientific and numerical apps. As such, I regularly use numerical library routines. My shelves are lined with these books, and my subroutines library is extensive. But I write the routines myself, often in assembler for speed, or with special features. I cannot use canned routines. Thus, my task of using this text to extend my subroutine library to fill in gaping holes involving exact computation, is extremely frustrating. Between not having any algorithms stated in the text, and having to fight my way through cryptic source code on disk, I tear out what little remains of my hair. It is like having a luscious treat dangled just barely within reach. You can get it, but a lot of effort is needed. I do not wish to end on this down note. Overall, the material is important and presented quite well. This is a book that definitely belongs in the library of any programmer who regularly uses numerical methods. I recommend it.



2. The author presents a useful compilaton of concepts with the sort of rigor and completeness that is important for analysts and programmers to adopt. You would probably need to review the appendix to know if your particular area(s) of interest are covered. I will say that all general concepts are covered to some degree, but "obviously" it is impossible to hit all the side streets. The book isn't a monster, so if you want to explore something specific... you'll have to extrapolate the concepts on your own. Thankfully, this book makes it easy to do so.

   In my opinion, the inclusion of software was a real treat for those that want/need to get their hands dirty to understand the concepts. Much appreciated! As a negative mark, I'm a fan of keeping the software on the disk and the program listings out of the text. On the plus side, no printer needed? :->

   I had a fairly strong reaction to Tim's review. I appreciate what he's trying to say, but I REALLY don't believe the author should be weighed down by a requirement to produce code for re-use. More frankly, if you intend to lift someone else's work as your own... this is probably not the resource for you. There are a number of legitimate repositories (NASA, Univ of GA, others) where you can purchase analytical routines for your purposes.

   Gosh... should I even have to say this? I suppose if you want to xerox a few chapters for your dissertation, I *also* suggest you go elsewhere.

   Back to seriousness, the code in the book was easy to follow, and mine are the words of a programming novice, even. Buy the book, read it, learn something. Good book.

3 comments about Nitty Gritty C (Nitty Gritty).

1. In my opinion, C is an easy language to learn, but one of the hardest to program well in. The flexibility of the language and the relative lack of rigid compiler rules make it easy to make mistakes that are subtle and difficult to find. In general, it takes an extensive amount of time before one can be considered proficient in the language. Most people learn to code a certain way and keep those habits, good and bad, throughout their programming careers. For these reasons, your initial study of any language is critical.
   This book is designed to be a first exposure to the language and it covers all the standard features of C that should be presented. That of course makes it no different from the many other books on C that have been published over the past few decades, although there is a bit more coverage in this one than in others. The primary point of distinction between books in C is the tone and format, areas where this book is certainly above average. There is none of the compact, obfuscated code that some programmers seem addicted to, as the author goes to great lengths to point out the dangers of that approach. No specific style is emphasized, a point that I found refreshing, as personally, I am very tired of hearing passionate arguments over insignificant points of style. I was also impressed by the greater than normal treatment of the actions of the C preprocessor. This is a topic that is often neglected, which is unfortunate, as many of the more subtle bugs that I have dealt with were due to "unexpected" behavior based on the actions of the preprocessor.
   The examples are small, which is generally good, and there are many of them, with exercises at the end of the chapters. Unfortunately, there are no larger examples that can demonstrate how the solutions to more complex problems are put together. Nearly all modern programming projects are measured in millions of lines of code, so putting together a few projects of a couple hundred can at least give the hint of how software is really built.
   In general, the book is a solid introduction to the C language and if you are in need of such a book, this one will serve you well.



2. The index in this book is next to useless, the index is only 4 pages long and doesn't include any standard functions. So if you want to know the various format options to printf for example, you have to leaf through to find the right page in the appendix. Once you've found the entry in the appendix, there is no summary of the function, just a prototype and a Chapter number. So to get to a good description of a function, you find the appendix, leaf through it to find the most appropriate chapter and then leaf through that chapter. Totally unacceptable for a book marketed at the experienced programmer.
   Sections are called "Start Up!", "Take That!" and "Go Ahead!", which illustrates how unhelpful and inappropriate the layout and format of this book is.



3. This is one of the few C++ books that I'm aware of that does a good job of comprehensively covering almost all the features of C++ in a small number of pages (<300). I'm a hardware designer who occasionally writes PC code, and while I find C++ quite elegant and powerful, I often need a refresher as to the finer points of, e.g., multiple inheritance, dyanmic casts, deep copies, templates, etc. This book fits the bill perfectly.
   
   I wouldn't recommend it for someone with *no* prior programming experience -- one of those 1000+ page tomes by Herbert Schildt or similar is probably better for that. (It's also worthwhile to consider such a book that's specific to the C++ compiler you're intending to use -- Jeske's book has all of 3 pages on how you actually go about compiling a program, and assumes a command-line *NIX environment.)
   
   It's true that it doesn't provide a lot of reference material on, e.g., the standard C++ libraries. In my mind that's what on-line help is for -- all the details of those printf() format specifiers, the more obscure String class methods, etc. This information in printed form is often a waste anyway, I think -- I have one of those "pocket programmer's reference" books that's 400 pages long, of which perhaps the 100 pages relating to the language itself and the most commonly used library features are the ones I actually care about. Jeske's book takes those ~100 useful pages and expound upon them, ending up at 300 pages: If I'm going on a trip, I'd much rather have his book and the on-line help with me than just my 400 page pocket reference!
   
   I haven't found the lack of a decent index a problem, but it is odd that the index gets all of 3 pages when the (nicely detailed) table of contents gets 4.
   
   The "Start Up!", "Take That!" and "Go Ahead!" sections are not something Jeske came up with, but instead are common to all of the Addison Wesley "NittyGritty" programming series books.

No comments about Understanding Programming and Problem Solving With C++.

5 comments about Standard C++ with Object-Oriented Programming.

1. Among the myriad of superficial C++ books available on the market today it is exciting to see a book that offers comprehensive and in-depth coverage of C++ as an object-oriented language. As a C++ developer I have come across various C++ books. The majority of them either teach C++ as a "better C" barely touching upon the concept of a class, or introduce object-oriented features of the language without giving realistic examples or explaining how, and more importantly, why a particular construct should be used. In contrast, Wang's "Standard C++ with OOP" gives a strong emphasis on using object-oriented approach to problem solving and introduces in a clear and concise manner the C++ features available to support this approach. The book is full of realistic examples reinforcing the understanding of inheritance, polymorphism, operator overloading, templates and so on. The exercises at the end of each chapter further reinforce the understanding of the material.

   The value of this book is further increased by the fact that it is one of the few available books that cover the C++ standard. Features such as namespaces, the string class, RTTI and the STL are covered in detail. The book also presents an excellent reference.

   I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning beyond the basic C++ constructs and is serious about understanding C++ as a powerful object-oriented language. I consider this book to be one of the very few that are worth keeping.




2. I bought this book trusting in the previous reviews and the table of contents. I must say, that I'm very pleased with what I got. Wang starts of with 2 primers (the first 2 chapters: the first on C++, the second on OO), which will get you started and going, and then continues with going moore deeply into the world of C++. OO techniques are discussed more deeply in later parts of the book, but most examples along the book are in a natural way based on classes.

   I have examined many books about C++, and this is my personal favourite from now on. The good thing about this book is, that it is only about 550 pages (I hate those 1000 page manuals you know you will never be able to finnish), but covers all the modern koncepts like namespaces, exceptions, and of course OO, in a clear way.

   I would have prefered this book hard-cover, and with few more pictures and diagramms (and perhaps the OO diagrams could have used a notation that would be more similiar to UML). Also the part on STL is a bit thin, but the most used libaries, like the vector are discussed.

   But compared to dozens of other books out there, I am very happy to own this one.




3. This is a great book for a student who has completed a course in Data Structures. Warning... do not even attempt to open the book if you are not familiar with Data Structures. One might attempt to read this book without first learning the basics of C++. I must say that I am glad that I was familiar with C++. The book is complcated and does go very in-depth. But if you meet the prerequisites... it is excelent! I read it about a year ago and am now going through and reading it again. I must say, it is just as great the second time.



4. For beginner, it fail to explain clearly; for professional it too simple. So got my average point. I never recomend such book.



5. I bought this book on the recommendation of the early reviewers. Bad choice. I think the reason why one reviewer recommended this book after data structures is because it was so poorly written as a introductory textbook the reviewer was able to fill in the gaps himself.

   The preface states that no C programming is assumed, so it should be for a beginner. I would submit that this would only be true by re-reading the text several times and parsing the information into more natural categories for better understanding.

   The information was there, possibly, but why waste your time.

   C++ Primer Plus is an excellent book, with appropriate humor, carries only about 10% bloat, and more reasonably priced.

1 comments about Programs and Data Structures in C: Based on ANSI C and C++, 2nd Edition.

1. After purchasing 2 other books on data structures, both of which were good for the experienced programmer but unclear for a student like me struggling to get through my data structures class, I finally found one that is perfect for explaining advanced data structures. The author breaks down multiway trees, heaps, linked lists, etc., in understandable terms. The sample code is complete and variables are intuitively named. Don't waste you money on other data structures books, espcially Data Structures & Program Design in C by Kruse. This is the textbook for my class and is universally hated among nearly everyone who has to use it. Ammeraal does a great a job with this book and is a must for the beginning CS student.