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Summary: Read Teach YourSelf.., and Taught Myself
Review: An excellent doorway into the world of RAD programming. Ken*'s had a fun and enterntaining writing styles, making the journey both enjoyable and eduactional. Examples are interesting yet simple. All source code is included.
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Summary: deleted
Review: deleted
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Summary: Too basic. If you can click a mouse, don't buy it.
Review: Everything in this book is found in the Borland Builder help files. If you know how to click a mouse, save your money.I wish I had read these reviews before buying it.
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Summary: Lots of errors so far
Review: I am in the process of learning C++, but from the perspective of being a highly proficient programmer in other languages. I am concerned that other reviews have come from people who may not have noticed some basic flaws in the text and consequently they may have come away with a confused understanding of some aspects of C++. I am so far into chapter 2 of this book, but I've already come across numerous errors that show both carelesness and perhaps even a lack of understanding (certainly a lack of clarity) on the part of the author. 1. Chars are said to be -128 to 126, when a signed byte should be -128 to 127 (p17) 2. Floats are said to be 3.2e-38 to 3.4e381 (where did that extra 1 come from?) (p17) The same problem exists with doubles, and incidentally, looking at these definitions you'd not be aware that negative numbers can be stored. The above are silly mistakes, but the following quote illustrates a far more serious problem 3. "if (x = 20) { dosomething(x); } x would be assigned the value of 20. BECAUSE THIS OPERATION WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL[my emphasis], the expression would evaluate to true...so take care when testing for equality." (p42) The author forgets/poorly explains/is unaware of what is actually happening. This is really disapointing, since I would assume that a book like this would have bee proof-read with more care. I'm only at page 43 of 800 (0.5% of the way through) and my worry is that as I get further into the book I'm going to be unable to detect the errors and will be unable to rely on what is written. With the caveat that I've only just started using this book, and whilst it is difficult to look past the errors, it is an otherwise good text. (Maybe it was rushed to print?) If it were not for the problems I have noted above it could easily rate 4 stars.
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Summary: Nice Overview, but I still can't program crap...
Review: I bought this book without ever programming, but a little on appleII's. I wanted more code explained. I thought it did a nice job of explaining the Builder itself, but how to actually use code within the brackets was severely lacking. It would just say, "Here's how you drop the components onto your form... and then just type in your code..." So, I bought another book on the basics of C++ which is awesome for console programming, but I am still having a hard time crossing this knowledge to the Visual environment. So, I need to buy yet another book to help me understand this compiler.....<sigh>
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Summary: Outstanding
Review: I have dozens of books on C++. The first several chapters of Kent's book on Builder cover basic C++. This section is worth the price of the book alone. He manages to present in a clear logical way more C++ information than several huge C++ books I have read. The rest of the book that covers the use of C++ in the Builder environment follow the same path. I can not recomend this book too highly for a new or intermediate C++/Builder student.
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Summary: A very good intro to Builder, esp. for database development
Review: I learned alot from this book. The chapters on database development and Internet development are quite good. I've been really happy with Ken Henderson's other books, and this one didn't disappoint me. His singular wit and matter-of-factness are greatly in evidence in the portions of the book he wrote. Not to take anything away from Kent R., but what made this book for me was the to-the-point style for which Henderson is famous, as well as the motherloade of good info in the Internet and database chapters. Definitely recommended for beginners and intermediate Builder developers.
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Summary: Worth every penny
Review: I loved this book. It's conversational without being hackneyed. It's informative without being dense. I left it with a very good understanding of how to build apps in Builder in as short a time as possible -- which is why you buy a 21 days book in the first place.
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Summary: Very well written book on C++ Builder
Review: I read the entire book except the chapter on DLL's. Very well written. Explains usage of BCB very well. I was a C programmer when I started this book. Also started reading a Book on Ansi C++ at same time and now I feel confortable programming in C++ using BCB. Some reviewers here have knocked it for some errors. There are some, not many, and when stumped compiling one of the examples, you can always load the example from the CDROM which will compile. In summary, how else can you teach someone BCB other than a "Learn it in 21 days" approach. This book should be included with each copy of the BCB software.
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Summary: A very good way to start using C++Builder
Review: I wish I could give this book ten stars, because I would - it's that good. The best part of the book is the level it's written at. Not too high, not too low - it's just right. The book is to the point - it doesn't mess around with flowery language or other nonsense. And it's so thorough - particularly the database stuff - that you never get lost. Well-written and loaded with valuable info, ever C++Builder developer ought to read this book.
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