Practical C++ Design

From Programming to Architecture

Adam B. Singer

• Publisher: Apress
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781484274064
• eBook ISBN: 9781484274071
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Compilers
• Index: Computer Science

Go from competent C++ developer to skilled designer or architect using this book as your personal C++ design master class. Updated for the C++20 standard, this title will guide you through the design and implementation of an engaging case study that forms the backdrop for learning the art of applying design patterns and modern C++ techniques to create a high quality, robust application.

Starting with a quick exploration of the requirements for building the application, you'll delve into selecting an appropriate architecture, eventually designing and implementing all of the necessary modules to meet the project's requirements. By the conclusion of Practical C++ Design, you'll have constructed a fully functioning calculator capable of building and executing on any platform that supports both Qt and C++20. Access to the complete source code will help speed your learning.

Utilize the Model-View-Controller pattern as the basis for the architecture of the calculator; the observer pattern to design an event system; the singleton pattern as you design the calculator's central data repository, a reusable stack; the command pattern to design a command system supporting unlimited undo/redo; the abstract factory pattern to build a cross-platform plugin infrastructure for extensibility; coroutines to implement a command line interface with a lazy tokenizer; and more.

After reading and using this book, you'll have begun the transition from C++ programmer to architect.

What You Will Learn

• Read a specification document and translate it into a practical C++ design using some of the latest language features from C++20
• Understand trade-offs in selecting between alternative design scenarios
• Gain practical experience in applying design patterns to realistic development scenarios
• Learn how to effectively use language elements of modern C++ to create a lasting design
• Develop a complete C++ program from a blank canvas through to a fully functioning, cross platform application
• Read, modify, and extend existing, high quality code
• Learn the fundamentals of API design, including class, module, and plugin interfaces

Who This Book Is For

The experienced C++ developer ready to take the next step to becoming a skilled C++ designer.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Front Matter
• 1. Defining the Case Study
• 2. Decomposition
• 3. The Stack
• 4. The Command Dispatcher
• 5. The Command Line Interface
• 6. The Graphical User Interface
• 7. Plugins
• 8. New Requirements
• Back Matter