C++ Programming in easy steps, 5th Ed

Mike McGrath

• Publisher: In Easy Steps Limited
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781840787696
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Programming in C++
• Index: Computer Science

Shows you how to program in the powerful C++ language, install a free C++ compiler, and create programs using a modern C++ Integrated Development Environment (IDE), such as Microsoft's Visual Studio Community Edition.

C++ Programming in easy steps, 5th edition shows you how to program in the powerful C++ language. Now, in its fifth edition, this guide gives complete examples that illustrate each aspect with colourized source code.

C++ Programming in easy steps, 5th edition begins by explaining how to install a free C++ compiler so you can quickly begin to create your own executable programs by copying the book's examples. It demonstrates all the C++ language basics before moving on to provide examples of Object Oriented Programming (OOP).

C++ is not platform-dependent, so programs can be created on any operating system. Most illustrations in this book depict output on the Windows operating system purely because it is the most widely used desktop platform. The examples can also be created on other platforms such as Linux or macOS.

The book concludes by demonstrating how you can use your acquired knowledge to create programs graphically using a modern C++ Integrated Development Environment (IDE), such as Microsoft's Visual Studio Community Edition.

C++ Programming in easy steps, 5th edition has an easy-to-follow style that will appeal to:

• Anyone who wants to begin programming in C++.
  

• Programmers moving from another programming language.
  

• Students who are studying C++ Programming at school or college.
  

• Those seeking a career in computing who need a fundamental understanding of object oriented programming.
  

This book makes no assumption that you have previous knowledge of any programming language so it is suitable for the beginner to programming in C++, whether you know C or not.

1

Getting started

Welcome to the exciting world of C++ programming. This chapter demonstrates how to create a simple C++ program and how to store data within a program.

Introducing C++

Installing a compiler

Writing your first program

Compiling & running programs

Creating variables

Employing variable arrays

Employing vector arrays

Declaring constants

Summary

Introducing C++

C++ is an extension of the C programming language that was first implemented on the UNIX operating system by Dennis Ritchie way back in 1972. C is a flexible programming language that remains popular today, and is used on a large number of platforms for everything from microcontrollers to the most advanced scientific systems.

A powerful programming language (pronounced “see plus plus”), designed to let you express ideas.

C++ was developed by Dr. Bjarne Stroustrup between 1983-1985 while working at AT&T Bell Labs in New Jersey. He added features to the original C language to produce what he called “C with classes”. These classes define programming objects with specific features that transform the procedural nature of C into the object-oriented programming language of C++.

The C programming language was so named as it succeeded an earlier programming language named “B” that had been introduced around 1970. The name “C++” displays some programmers’ humor because the programming ++ increment operator denotes that C++ is an extension of the C language.

C++, like C, is not platform-dependent, so programs can be created on any operating system. Most illustrations in this book depict output on the Windows operating system purely because it is the most widely used desktop platform. The examples can also be created on other platforms such as Linux or macOS.

Why learn C++ programming?

The C++ language is favored by many professional programmers because it allows them to create fast, compact programs that are robust and portable.

Using a modern C++ Integrated Development Environment (IDE), such as Microsoft’s Visual Studio Community Edition, the programmer can quickly create complex applications. But to use these tools to greatest effect, the programmer must first learn quite a bit about the C++ language itself.

This book is an introduction to programming with C++, giving examples of program code and its output to demonstrate the basics of this powerful language.

Microsoft’s free Visual Studio Community Edition IDE is used in this book to demonstrate visual programming.

Should I learn C first?

Opinion is divided on the question of whether it is an advantage to be familiar with C programming before moving on to C++. It would seem logical to learn the original language first in order to understand the larger extended language more readily. However, C++ is not simply a larger version of C, as the approach to object-oriented programming with C++ is markedly different to the procedural nature of C. It is, therefore, arguably better to learn C++ without p...