Good C++ code to read?

liem · 2006-08-30 12:04:42

Hi, I'm enrolled in a programming course, intro level C++. However, to learn to write good code you have to read good code.

Soo I wonder if anyone had any tip on a good C++ program one could study?

arooaroo · 2006-08-30 13:16:09

Well, that's a tad subjective of course, but over all, you make a good point.

Two books I have are Kernighan & Richie's The C Programming Language and Stroustrup's The C++ Programming Language. The latter is more of a C++ reference book, but does contain lots of example usage, written by the creator of C++, so I find it adequate.

The former book, whilst dealing with C, is a classic and should be in your bookshelf.

Dusty · 2006-08-30 13:41:14

Read code written by phrakture. I'm not sure what projects he's contributed to, but I'm sure its good code.

Dusty

arooaroo · 2006-08-30 14:30:42

Oh, I forgot about Andrew S. Tanenbaum - most code he writes and puts in his books seem to be rather lucid for C code. I'm sure his Minix OS is full of exemplary code.

phrakture · 2006-08-30 14:59:44

arooaroo wrote:

Two books I have are Kernighan & Richie's The C Programming Language and Stroustrup's The C++ Programming Language. The latter is more of a C++ reference book, but does contain lots of example usage, written by the creator of C++, so I find it adequate.

K&R is, as arooaroo says, a classic. But then again, so is Casablanca, and no one watches that anymore 8). It's worth a read, but don't try following it too closely.

A few smaller C++ books which are well worth the read, besides Stroustup's "The C++ Programming Language (3rd ed)", are "Accelerated C++" (Koenig and Moo), "Modern C++ Design" (Alexandrescu), "Exceptional C++" (Sutter), and "The C++ Standard Library" (Josuttis).

Generally, don't read any "Teach yourself..." or "... in (24 hours|10 days)" type books. If you want a decent online book, Bruce Eckel's is ok (but not the best): http://www.mindview.net/Books/TICPP/Thi … CPP2e.html

Also, the "C++ FAQ Lite" is always a good reference: http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lite/

As for programs to study - boost.org has a set of libraries which are _great_. There's a problem though. The external interfaces to these libraries are awesome, but the implementations are made to work on every compiler under the sun, so it's a mess of defines and odd work-arounds in some places (boost::enable_shared_from_this anyone?). The original wmi window manager had pretty good C++ code, except for the fact that the guy obviously never heard of references.... I haven't looked at it in some time, but the urxvt code was fairly good last I checked.

nogoma · 2006-08-30 15:02:55

arooaroo wrote:

Two books I have are Kernighan & Richie's The C Programming Language and Stroustrup's The C++ Programming Language. The latter is more of a C++ reference book, but does contain lots of example usage, written by the creator of C++, so I find it adequate.

I second both these recommendations, they're both invaluable resources. My university bookstore had a neat bundle deal on both of these (why are CS books usually so pricey ?), so you could try the same.

arooaroo · 2006-08-30 15:32:49

nogoma wrote:

(why are CS books usually so pricey ?)

Because only a handful of nerds actually buy them and they cost a bundle to produce. (Now that I work in publishing, I understand the pricing better. Although, now that I work for Pearson, I get most books discounted, including the aforementioned books as Pearson owns both Addison Wesley and Prentice Hall! Woo hoo!)

chrismortimore · 2006-08-31 00:52:17

nogoma wrote:

(why are CS books usually so pricey ?)

Cos uni students need them, and it's fun to make us poor students even more in debt...

I recommend the tutorial www.cplusplus.com, gives you the gist of the language basics, and it's more than enough to get you started. It isn't extensive, but it's a good starting point, and it's free.

liem · 2006-08-31 07:28:50

phrakture wrote:

K&R is, as arooaroo says, a classic. But then again, so is Casablanca, and no one watches that anymore 8).

Ha! One of my favourite movies. But yeah I know which books to get, it's only a matter of money. Altrough Modern C++ Design was new to me. I'll try to get my hands on K&R and Stroustrup's The C++ Programming Language ASAP.

phrakture wrote:

If you want a decent online book, Bruce Eckel's is ok (but not the best): http://www.mindview.net/Books/TICPP/Thi … CPP2e.html

Thanks, I'll take a look at it.

phrakture wrote:

Also, the "C++ FAQ Lite" is always a good reference: http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lite/

Yep, I read pieces out of it now and then.

phrakture wrote:

The original wmi window manager had pretty good C++ code, except for the fact that the guy obviously never heard of references.... I haven't looked at it in some time, but the urxvt code was fairly good last I checked.

wmi and urxvt, I'll take a look at that.

arooroo wrote:

Oh, I forgot about Andrew S. Tanenbaum - most code he writes and puts in his books seem to be rather lucid for C code. I'm sure his Minix OS is full of exemplary code.

Thanks for the tip, but I'm unsure if studying a OS as first app to be wise.

Arch Linux

#1 2006-08-30 12:04:42

Good C++ code to read?

#2 2006-08-30 13:16:09

Re: Good C++ code to read?

#3 2006-08-30 13:41:14

Re: Good C++ code to read?

#4 2006-08-30 14:30:42

Re: Good C++ code to read?

#5 2006-08-30 14:59:44

Re: Good C++ code to read?

#6 2006-08-30 15:02:55

Re: Good C++ code to read?

#7 2006-08-30 15:32:49

Re: Good C++ code to read?

#8 2006-08-31 00:52:17

Re: Good C++ code to read?

#9 2006-08-31 07:28:50

Re: Good C++ code to read?

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