C+ C++: Programming With Objects in C and C++

Rating:
Summary: A book that clears up a lot C++ syntax
Review: This book covers details and insight information for a C or C++ programer to much better know C++. Except for chapter one- Object-Oriented Programming in C- I found most chapters are so valuable that you want to read over and over until you fully understand the points that you never think of before. At last, you'll be confident saying you've made a big step in knowing C++ in a systematic way

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book for C programers wanting to learn C++
Review: This was an extremely valuable book for me in learning C++. It will be very helpful for any proficient C programmer in making the transition to object-oriented programming in C++. The book is well written and well organized. Starting with a demonstration of how object-oriented programming can be done in C, Holub brings the reader though the transition to C++ very directly and neatly. The examples he uses are excellent, not the trivial ones you find in many "learning C++" books. The book also effectively teaches good C++ programming practice while you are learning. This is very important since sloppy coding practices can be very hard and painful to unlearn later. The book repays carful study and is well worth the money and time spent.

I do have 3 criticisms of the book: 1) It's out of date. A 2nd edition that brings it up-to-date with Standard C++ would make this the best book of its kind. For the C++ beginner, though, that doesn't detract much from the book's usefullness. Everything in the book will still work. 2) There are numerous typos and minor errors in the example code which can lead to confusion. Being able to find them though, made me feel good. I knew I was really learning the subject. 3) The book would also benefit by having useful exercises at the end of each chapter for a student to perform.

Rating:
Summary: The best C and C++ book ever.
Review: Unfortunately this book is out-of-print. I bought it about 10 years ago, as a beginner C programmer with an idea, let's study some code and start programming in C. Ooops. I couldn't understand a single line of code. But, a year later, after gaining some experience, I tried again and I improoved my programming style in few months dramatically, reading only the first, C-chapter. This is definitely not a begginers book. Author is not wasting paper and your time rewriting online help. Each chapter starts with very brief introduction of the topic. Immediately Holub starts explaining problematic stuff of the language. He points out very tricky pointer problems, he explains compiler implementation details, and sometimes he discusses with C++ authors about weak points of the language. He explains not only HOW to overload an operator, he explains also WHY to overload, and why NOT to overload. Topics are: differecnes from c, classes, operator overloading, derivation, polymorphism and virtual functions, error handling. At the end of the book he develops a real and usable linked-list class. Recently as I started to programm in C++, I returned to Holub's book. This book and online help, it's all I need. To sumarize, this book is not for everyone, it's not a reference book, but it will appreciate your time jumping immediately into some aspects of a language somebody will maybe never think of. Holub, give us more books like this one.