5 comments about On to C++.

1. On To C++ is a very well written book. It describes every topic clearly and completely, and does not skip over anything. However, it is a little short, and it does not explain some non-C++ parts completely (it gives a VERY skimpy paragraph or so on reading data from files). Also, it does not give any recommendations or even basic instructions for buying and using compilers. On To C++ describes and explains C++ very well, but it is somewhat sketchy in describing certain areas related to programming.



2. SUMMARY: Excellent book! My highest recommendation if you need to get up and running with text-based C and you are starting from zero.

   DISCUSION: This book separates itself from almost all others by sticking with teaching the reader how to write programs in C. Topics such as Windows programming, details about using specific products (Visual C++, C++ Builder, etc.), and historical anecdotes about the history of computing are left for others to cover. These subjects are indeed interesting, but the novice is easily overwhelmed by them (for me, the transition from Apple IIe line number based BASIC to structured, compiled programs was rough enough!). Winston's approach allows the programmer to begin solving problems quickly. Once the user is used to the language and has a few programs under his belt, he can think about tackling K & R, Schildt, Perry, etc.




3. In my experience, On to C++ is by far the best introduction, and perhaps one of the best books in general, on C++. It is extremely well written and allows one to move from procedural programming to object oriented programming very quickly, especially if you are already familiar with C.

   It is not comprehensive, and is not meant to be, but covers all of the basics of the language quite well. The use of essentially the same example throughout the book strengthens it as a tutorial, but weakens it somewhat as a reference text.




4. I think this book is good for someone who has programmed in C and would like to gently move "on to C++". However, it has two shortcomings: 1) the author uses the same monotonous example of trains throughout the text. 2) there are quite a few concepts in C++ (e.g. copy constructors, operator overloading, streaming) that the author spends little or no time on. 3) the author's explanation of templates at the end of the book seemed somewhat confusing, and could have been

   simplified.

   On the positive side, I think it provides a good place to start for a programmer who needs a gentle introduction to C++ and knows some C.




5. After going through several C++ books, I switched back to Winston's 3/4" paperback from 1994. In brief, it is a very well written, concise, and clear book well suited for those that would like to learn C++ on their own. It is leaps and bounds better than any programming book I have ever owned. The idea of learning C++ by building a simple train car program may seem hokey, but it allows you to get a solid groundwork in which to build specific platform programming experience.
   
   Pros: Very well written. Teaches you the concepts and building blocks, so that by the time you've gone through the book, you have a very good understanding of the language and its philosophy.
   
   Cons: It is a touch outdated. The book was written before the ISO C++, so a few minor things have changed. With a decent compiler, and a few Google searches, you will have no problems.

No comments about Using C++: An Introduction to Programming, Second Edition.

5 comments about Simple C++: Featuring Robodog and the Profound Object-Oriented Programming Method (Poop).

1. This is the greatest book ever. The author is very gifted in teaching. He made C++ very incredibly fun. You will easily progress as you build the INCREDIBLE RoboDog. I recommend that you buy this book. If you can't buy the book from Amazon, there are a few left in Bangkok.



2. It's funny, great for anyone who knows nothing about C++ but wants to learn. If you know anything about the language this is not for you, the title is true << "SIMPLE C++!";



3. I had heard of this book after it was out of print, and searched bookstores all over North America for it. When I did find a copy and read it, I wasn't disappointed. Personally, this is by far the most fun I've had in my programming career. Not only is this a fun book, but also it readily dispenses an amazing amount of information for the beginner, or any programmer who has stayed away from the O-O paradigm out of confusion. If more technical writers wrote as well as Jeffrey Cogswell, we'd have many more talented analysts and technologists. Even for a pro, it's a treat to have in the library. Thanks, Jeffrey. This book belongs back in print. And, even if you don't want it for yourself, give it to a young one. They'll learn more from this book than from hours in a classroom setting.



4. I haven't read very much of this book, but the very first code that I typed in from this book had compile errors. I went to a C++ forum asking what was wrong and I found out that the code is outdated. While there wasn't very much wrong with the code, the fact that all of the code in this book will have errors isn't comforting.

   Aside from that, I enjoyed reading it and I really wish the code wasn't outdated. Maybe I'll still try to learn from it but correct whatever is wrong with the code. Luckily, I have 2 other C++ books that I can learn from, and I'm going to buy another one as well (since this one has problems).




5. This book is a classic! To Derek who posted a recent review (October 2003), note that this book was written something like 10 years ago! That's why it's outdated. Still a great book, though!

5 comments about The C/Unix Programmer's Guide.

1. well, this book has proven handy for reference and review, but i would certainly NOT recommend it. the author repeatedly used obscure functions(imho) that were prone to bugs, and he introduced totally new concepts in breif 10-word sentences only to use them all-too-frequently in most examples following. yes, im a 16 year-old, shift-key-fearing mexican, but i've seen good code, and mr.bacon's code doesn't fool me. if you want to take full advantage of this book, read the ENTIRE THING in one sitting so every little concept sticks with you throughout, and don't you dare approach a computer without reading a book that emphasizes on structure, organization, and clean, effective code first



2. The C Unix Programmer's Guide was the only book I could find that provided useful background information as well as thoughtful, applicable coding examples. What impressed me most is the fact that all the information found in the man pages on C as well as further insight was combined into an easily readable and searchable format. As a student of computer science, I was familiar with Borland/Microsoft C++, but I had no previous experience with C or Unix. This book helped me get an A (one of three) in Operating Systems! While my classmates struggled on assignments, I was able to find exactly what I needed to complete the assignments on time. I truly believe that without this book I would not have performed nearly as well. Thank you Mr. Bacon for writing such a great book!



3. This book did an amazing job of introducing many important concepts about C, and C in UNIX.
   
   The description of the material is very clear, and the examples are well thought out.
   
   If you're looking for a beginner/intermediate text on C and UNIX, this is THE book to get.



4. I wish this had been my First C programming book. It teaches all the basics required for you to start some worthful programming under *nix. It doesn't go into as many details for e.g., as given in 'C programming: A modern Approach by King but it still gives many details on what things are. It starts with basics of Unix and provides a lot of information on the C development tools in *nix. A very good starting point for learning programming in C under *nix.



5. I have seen good C programming tutorials, and this is not one. It isn't very descriptive. It will introduce you to new library functions and not give a good explanation on it, and then it rarely describes the code snipets. The C Primer Plus by SAMS is far superior to this for learning C. Having said that, this book is decent in its coverage for UNIX system calls with C, in that it is easier for a beginner to understand the code snipets in this book as compared to other books I have seen. Other books I have seen require you to at least already be an intermediate C programmer, and use examples that require you to study the complex code snipets before you can begin to understand what is being accomplished with the system calls.
   
   The author/publisher hasn't updated this book with regard to hardware, and it talks about 286's, 386's, 486's and Pentium processors. It considers 16 bit and 32 bit processing, and it puts too much emphasis on 16 bit, when every compiler I have seen for C is 32 bit. It even gives suggestions based on 16 bit technology. It references DOS, and if anyone is still running DOS, they shouldn't be reading a book about programming. They should be reading about survival skills and moving to Montana and building a bomb shelter.
   
   So, to learn C, this isn't a good book. If you are dealing with the C/UNIX environment and are a beginner, the end of this book is decent for understanding system calls, as long as you already understand C from some better, more up to date source.

1 comments about ANSI C: Problem Solving and Programming.

1. A very nice mid-level overview of the "C" language. He moves right along -- getting to the point and describing concepts in an easy-to-understand manner. For example, his Arrays and Pointers section will help you understand things like arr[2] is same as *(arr+2). I bought this book in '91 and find it is one of the most dog-eared books I own. It is an excellent reference. My only wish is that Kenneth would provide more examples and perhaps on CD. If you're going to be a good "C" programmer and you're new to the language, get this book!

5 comments about Essential Guide to Managed Extensions for C++.

1. This book does not contain any more than the managed extensions specification document that ships with Visual Studio.net. It covers the most straight forward concepts with most straight forward and trivial examples.
   I would have liked to see tougher topics covered like how to do callbacks from managed to unmanaged C++. Also more samples on interop between C#, MC++ and native C++.



2. At first sight, the book may seem just a compilation of managed extension for C++ specs from MSDN. However, having read the book, I can say it provides valuable insights into managed extensions and even contains some tricks exploiting knowledge of mapping managed extensions into CLR.

   This is the book about general-purpose software development with MC++ (C++ with managed extension). It will not tell you how to write .NET windowing or data access code, but it describes general principles and ideas helping write better code for .NET with MC++.

   The book starts with simple MC++ constructs and finishes with mastering managed/native interop questions. Throughout the book, MC++ elements are compared with standard C++ equivalents. I don't think it was necessary, because the book is intended for skilled C++ developers who can easily see parallels themselves. However, knowing some differences was very important and interesting for me. Still in some places the author tends to advertise MC++ using some (unfair in my opinion) comparisons between standard C++ and MC++.

   One shouldn't expect to know everything about MC++ after reading the book. A lot of experimentation is required to fully understand the power of MC++ over other languages targeting .NET. I think that the author could do a better job describing some effective techniques (available in the public domain, see [web page name]for example) that would have made the book a more exciting reading.

   I recommend this book as a first step on the way of exploration MC++ capabilities.




3. This book is what you are looking for if you are considering MC++.
   Personally I use MC++ to create wrappers around processor-optimized libraries available for C/C++. Then I use them from C# and VB.NET.
   Some reviewers say the book doesn't add much to the MSDN docs. However, this book is a lot more readable and I think it's worth it.
   One more thing, the book is written by developers for developers. I really enjoyed that, the authors go straight to the point assuming you are not a dummy.



4. I've been doing a reasonable amount of MC++ recently and I started with this book. I've found it concise and to the point. As a previous reviewer said, "the authors go straight to the point assuming you are not a dummy". The book is in two parts, the first covers the fundamentals of writing applications/components in MC++. The second part covers interoperability. I found myself referencing both parts frequently...



5. Clear, well written and well organized. Seems thorough. Written by members of the compiler team at Microsoft who know what they're talking about. This is far superior to the MS Press book on the same subject.

1 comments about Introduction to Berkeley UNIX and ANSI C, An.

1. This is a very good book for intro. in programming. There are lots of very examples and explainations of different terms.

   Buy it and you'll enjoy it.

   San Francisco State University also uses this book to teach Computer Science intro.

2 comments about Digital Delights for Scrapbooking: Simple Techniques--Dynamic Results (Create & Treasure (C&T Publishing)).

1. Scrapbooking has become such a popular hobby and a wonderful way to preserve memories. Our best friends surprised us over Christmas by giving us a scrapbook detailing the exploits of my son in his first year of high school football. They know what they are doing but for us novices there are wonderful books like Digital Delights for Scrapbooking. This book provides many wonderful tips on getting the most out of your digital camera to produce stunning pictures for your scrapbooks. Many of the tips are so easy yet work wonders.
   
   For instance to reduce glare and enhance color in your digital pictures you can place polarized sun glasses over your camera's lens to make a huge difference in glare reduction. The book also provides tips on producing perfect 8 X 10 pictures with your camera's resolution setting. Take advantage of your picture software and photo printer by using some of the various print modes like Black & White, antique, and sepia tone printing. Further enhance your pictures by creative use of specialty papers like transparency film, embossed paper, cardstock, pre-printed papers, and even cork.
   
   Whether you are an active scrapbooker or not, you'll find many practical and fun ways to use your camera to produce brilliant and clever prints. A great buy and a valuable resource!
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson



2. This is a great book! I am very new to using my digital camera and sometimes I find the manual EXTREMELY overwhelming. It was nice to look at this book and understand what some functions are on my camera as well as how to use them. I can't wait to see her next book!

3 comments about Starting Out with C++ Companion CD (4th Edition).

1. This book really helped me learn C++. I was taking an Advanced C++ class, but I never had the introduction to C++. (I had already learned C and C#). I used the first have of the book to familiarize myself with the basic syntax and the second half to learn more advanced topics, like classes, virtual functions, and the STL.



2. I truly read and learned from this book. Gaddis has written a book that can be comprehended without having any prior knowledge of the C++ language. This is a refreshing change from the dreary references and intangible text found in other titles, once opened, this book will leave the others on the shelf collecting dust.



3. I used this book to teach myself advanced data structures & abstraction, when in a class where the professor was a joke. His clean, logical & elegant style is the best writing of programming "how to" I've ever seen. He puts the O'Reilly version to shame. It's also excellent at teaching the basics using his signiture style, while being comprehensive at the same time.

4 comments about The Indispensible Guide to C with Engineering Applications.

1. As part of our undergrad curriculum for Electronics & Communication engineering we had to learn two programming languages. ANSI-C and BASIC. While BASIC was a simple language and easy to learn, expecially for beginners, C was not as easy. The book for C-programming that was prescribed to us was quite elementary and not comprehensive. Moreover some of the aspects of C programming that were difficult to understand for eg. 'Pointers', were not presented well. Being a member of The British Library here in Ahmedabad, I had access to some very good international books on computers. I was looking for a book on C-Programming, any book for that. Then I happened to lay my hands on this book which was'nt very attractive from the outside as most computer books are these days. Here, I must admit that I have this nack of picking up very good books on a subject from a whole lot. Its been a good experience as far as choosing books is concerned. I browsed through the pages of this book and somehow decided that this is the book I want. I took it home and after reading it for a month (which is the maximum issue time allowed by the Lib), decided that I had to have this book permanently. Now my reasons for it, 1. The Book is comprehensive, in that it covers all topics concerning ANSI-C programming, with minute descriptions of all functions & keywords. 2.Example programs are full-length and not just extracts, which is very helpful in running the same program on computer without errors. 3. Qualitative descriptions of the sample programs and statements of the language make it easier to understand the language. 4. The Author's experience in teaching the subject has allowed him to write the book in a lucid style that is understandable to novice programmers. Infact I could understand the use and application of 'Pointers' only after reading this book, having failed to do so from many ones before this book. 5. The book has exercises at the end of each chapter which are a must as far as learning and implementation of what you've learnt is concerned. All these factors have made the book really indespensable for a C-programmer. I had recommended this book to a friend of mine who was a computer engineer and he too found it indespensable. We both had decided to buy the book directly from London but could'nt do so because by that time wewere through with that Semester. I had issued this book from the Library a record 20 times, so much so that I used to manipulate my reservations for the book in such a way that I had complete monopoly over issuing it. So Buy It and Cherish it. Then send meYOUR review at naishadhpatel@hotmail.com You can consult my friend at junaids@hotmail.com



2. After browsing through the pages of the book, I found it covering some very basic topics, understandable by a novice programmer like me, but because of the bulk , it makes one feel overwhelmed by the number of pages he/she has to read to get a good grip on c functionalities. Although the book is quite good and the author presented the topic in a visual manner full of diagrams, it wasn't written as a type where you must read the chapters sequentially. Instead, one must read the chapters through and forth, forwards and backwards because the explanation focuses much on engineering applications and have too much unimportant explanation.



3. What I like about this book is that it covers all the subjects well without being boring. I've found that with other books I tend to skip pages, not this one. Its very well laid out, explanations are to the point and I expecially like the graphics (boxes) he uses to add comments to functions.
   Layout: excelent
   Subjects: all the basics and more w/real life applications (not just writing games )
   Readability: very good explanations without being boring



4. I just bought a copy of this book , and after sometime reading it, I already know much about C. The sample programs are well explained and easy to understand unlike other C books out there where the title implies 'for beginners' but the topics are for advanced programmer. This also serves as a great reference because examples are shown for some of functions of header files. What I like most is the topic for pointers, strings and arrays because being a new C programmer, they are very easy to understand. I just hope Paul Davies will follow this up with Java programming book ... :)