Programming Visual C++

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Summary: The ultimate companion for Visual C++ programmers
Review: A professional programmer is one who knows not just how to do things, but also why. In this regard, Visual C++ Programming is an excellent choice due to its comprehensive coverage of all aspects related to Windows programming. It discusses in detail the underlying mechanism of Win API and MFC providing invaluable tips and insights for true professionals. However, it's not confined to theoretical concepts exclusively but also explains how to use the debugger, class wizard, AppWizard, resource editor - all of which are integral parts of the Visual C++ environment. New features offered by Visual C++ 6.0 such as IntelliSense, edit and continue, and auto complete are described as well.

The book is not targeted at a particular level of expertise. It can serve as an excellent guidebook for both novices and accomplished programmers, who would like to broaden their knowledge and skills in Windows-based programming with Visual C++. Mind, however, that prior knowledge in C++ is a prerequisite.

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Summary: disappointed!!!
Review: after several detailed reading the book , I am completely disappointed! I began to learn MFC about three years ago, using this book for my first step. after I finished the book, yeah, I can write some codes, but I really didn't know how the codes run
under the hood! this book just tells you ,click appwizard, click this or that button, click classwizard, then click classwizard again and again! then you finish your program.
the part about COM,OLE is absolutely rubbish! when I first learned COM and OLE using the book, I was completely confused!
I have struggled with COM for three months , the only thing I got from Kruglinski is confusion and angry. until I turned to jeff. prosise's great book:"Programming windows with MFC"( 2nd)
I found myself in MFC programming.

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Summary: Finally a Great Programming Book in English
Review: I picked this book up in preparation for the Microsoft Certification in C++. I am only through the 4th chapter but I must say as I go, I feel as though I am learning a lot. That is why I feel compelled to write this review, so that other people know this is actually a book you can learn from. At this point it is hard to tell how much it will help with the actual certification test, but it will give me more confidence in my programming ability with its step by step example of creating dialog boxes and other essential windows components. So far haven't found any bugs in the code either which is good when you are learning. It could be a book for beginners since it reads so easy, but if you never had any programming in C++, it might be a challenge. It is definately better than learn C++ in 21 days which is a total waste of money. Take a look at the book at your local book store and see what you think, then buy it cheap "used" online, which wasn't used at all. This is a really good book for those who want to learn how to actually program, besides it has to be good, the Chief knows!!!

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Summary: GREAT EXAMPLES
Review: I'm a big fan of examples and this book has plenty of them. Also all examples are shown how to develop using the Class Wizard which is what most programmers will be using these days. I use this book 10 times more than all of my C++ books. This is a must have for your typical programmer.

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Summary: Good for learning MFC... and that's about it.
Review: Let the truth be said that this book has terrible organization. The authors start off very poorly and constantly refer to SmallTalk as if this has anything to do with C programming! I am a professional and I recommend that this book be a Reference or a THIRD book. But steer clear of it for a First or Second book on Visual C++. The LOW PRICE for the used copies should tell you what the previous owners think about it. I am proceeding to but another book, as I relagete this one to the Reference Shelf for future use. I suggest Programming Windows with MFC by Jeff Prosise (Expensive Though) or Using Visual C++ 6 By Kate Gregory for a beginner with MFC, though prior C++ expertise with Classes and Inheritance is REQUIRED!. The authors of this book were hiding behind the Microsoft Press Logo. This is poor work for a book authored by THREE PEOPLE ! They knew the material but could not just present it in a digestible manner for a learner. Call it Scattered Knowledge is you will. They should all be arrested!

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Summary: All That (and a Bag of Chips)
Review: Not for the beginner or the weak-at-heart, this book is an EXCELLENT book to have once you've gone through your "Visual C++ in 21 Days" book and know the basics of C++, the VC++ environment, and Windows programming in general.

The organization of the book is a bit surprising, covering topics in a slightly different order than you may have seen in other books, but it's all layed out in a logical manner, and the information-density in the book is amazing. There's a bit of everything in this book, and where the material isn't there, he tells you what other book int the series does cover the material. (And, for the FIRST TIME, I've found a book that at least tries to explain the guts of help files! - although this piece could be a little more detailed for my tastes).

All this, and at the time of this writing, I'm just past half-way through the book (remaining chapters deal with COM, OLE, ATL, and Database Access). Topics such as ActiveX controls, DLL's, the Document/View architecture are very clear, and a fair amount of background information is given to help you undertand why things work the way they do.

This 5th edition still has a lot of references like "Win98 wasn't available at the time this went to press" and "WinCE support was not available in VC++ 6.0", so I can guess that any 6th edition of this book would be even better when these areas are cleared up and expanded.

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Summary: This is the perfect VC++ book
Review: The most important aspect of this book is that it is very readable. You can get through it cover to cover. The simple fact is that MFC is too big a topic for one book, or one author. I've had to use three books to learn it. My method has always been the same.

1. Find a book to read just to get a high level idea of what is going on. Normally, about a quarter to half way the high level book, it becomes superficial. In this case, that book was Teach Yourself Visual C++ in 21 Days.

2. Start reading a more complete book that will tell me what is going on. Originally, I started reading the Prosise book. Don't get me wrong, Prosise is a great reference, but its too detailed. MFC is too broad to learn every nuck and cranny. I shifted over to Programming VC++. It's perfect. It goes over every thing I need to know. If I need more detail, I use Prosise for reference. But this is the book I read cover to cover.

MFC is tough. This book might not teach you everything. But it will give you enough information to know what to look up in Prosise.

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Summary: Great Book and Great Reference
Review: This is a fantastic book for those C++ developers who want to learn to program Windows applications. It gives a great overview of a vast majority of the topics contained in Windows programming. It was not however, a book to take C programmers to C++, nor is it a detailed book on MFC. It is also not a cookbook. It does however recommend many other books for more advanced development topics.

Any professional developer knows that they must arm themselves with a complete library of books. This book happens to one that is highly recommended by many recognized leaders in Windows Software development. One should also look into the Wrox professional series.

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Summary: Good to learn how to code in MFC, but NO Architecture
Review: This is a good book to learn how to code in MFC. The biggest drawback of this book is that it does not mention the MFC application architecture in the begining at all. So the reader is immediately starts coding whithout knowing what the MFc is actually doing for him. I have very strong experience in developing windows applications under the Win32 SDK and I believe that this book should have discussed the MFC message maping and application architecture before writing any code (at least). Overall, i think the book is okay. Personnely, I like "Professional MFC With Visual C++ 6
by Mike Blaszczak" better.

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Summary: A Complete Book
Review: To be fair, on a few occasions this book does a good job. But, in general, it is a BAD BOOK. A number of Software Engineers at our facility have been making the jump to C++/MFC from a C-only background, and 85% of them think this book stinks. I've started to read "Programming Windows with MFC", by Jeff Prosise, as I've heard it is a better book - and on first inspection, that seems true. I admit, Visual C++/MFC is a complex topic... but this CAN'T be the way to teach it! Think about it - why would Microsoft themselves allow so many other similar books on this subject to be printed, if this book was so good? Part of the problem might be due to the fact that the original author died in a hang-glider accident before the last edition was published; and the two new guys who were handed his work just patched it together the best they could to meet a publishing deadline... but this can't explain it all... with this book, there is a consistent lack of coherent approach to teaching the subject... it is simply a hodgepodge of different topics, each with an example - but with no overall coherence.... I've got to think that the people who are giving it good reviews either a) Work for Microsoft, or b) don't REALLY program real applications ...I suppose what more can we expect given the current situation with one company having a virtual monopoly on the C++/Windows application development industry(the WHOLE computer industry, for that matter) - we HAVE to take their garbage... we have no other choice. Boy - I long for the days when Microsoft DID produce decent books on how to program their systems... the Petzold books were FANTASTIC... nothing like this cacaphony. Too bad Java hasn't really caught on... at least the Deitel books were good in that arena. I see where the Deitels are producing a C# Visual Studio.NET book(currently held for publishing pending Microsoft's release of .NET). The Deitel books are EXCELLENT... if you're considering learning this subject at this juncture, I'd wait for the Deitel book, if at all possible, as it will include this subject matter, but synced-up with Microsoft's latest development environment. BTW, many professors SWEAR by the Deitel books - they are simply excellent, nothing like this rubbish.