On to C++

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 Cons: It is a touch outdated.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.

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.

Of the many C++ books available on the market, this one does a remarkable job in introducing a beginner to the language. Everything is clearly defined, with all possible scenerios that can arise when using a concept/function. A common problem with programming books is that the student is often left to learn syntax and concepts from the examples of code given, and the accompanying explainations are usually terrible. This is the only book I have seen that avoids that problem. The layout of the book is helpful as well- it is divided into a number of small chapters, so it can be used as a reference guide. All the chapters are followed by short summary of what is outlined in the chapter and templates for using whatever functions are introduced. Without a doubt this one of the best C++ books out there.

On To C++ by P.H. Winston is a great textbook for those who wish to learn C++ by themselves. It is a nice surprise to see a book which is very efficient in teaching C++ and OOP (Object Oriented Programming) in an intuitive manner that does not overload the reader's little brain.On To C++ is easy enough for those who don't know any proramming language, yet it is not too slow for readers who already know other programming languages. Although it is not very big (about 300 pages), it brings the reader to a good starting position in C++ programming.The book's design makes the book less good as a reference book, especially for those who learned C++ from other resources.Due to its different approach to C++, it may not suit those who wish to use it in parallel to taking a course.The book is not intended for mid level C++ programmers, as it does not cover many libraries and topics. The book uses simple unix C++ with only the basic standard C++ libraries.

When I learned C++, this is the book I started with, and have recommended it to students of C++ since then. It gives clear examples of how and why language constructs work, and using a running example throughout the book (building a train), it allows students to build on their knowledge as they cover the material. The only drawback: the book is slightly out of date at this point (it does not cover namespaces or C++ 3.0 features, or STL), but regardless is a fantastic book to learn from