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Starting Out with C++: From Control Structures through Objects (6th Edition)
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We're using 'Starting Out with C++: From Control Structures through Objects' in our freshman C++ class. The author Tony Gaddis has a very nice, lucid writing style that explains the basic fundamentals of the C++ language to a beginning crowd: the text is not bogged down with overly verbose technical language as this is not appropriate for beginners.
But don't think that Gaddis doesn't introduce technical aspects of the language to the reader: he does, and does so in a fresh, clear manner, which makes this text actually very enjoyable in the classroom and even outside of the classroom.
I love the code samples in every chapter which makes for great studying: you can sit down with the text in your lap and type the code examples in your compiler, run it, see the results, and play with it. The author seems to understand that you really learn C++ (or any language for that matter) by not reading the book, but through trying the examples as there are literally TONS of code examples per section in each chapter to try out.
I also really appreciate the checkpoints capping every section to test your knowledge of what you just read, the "gotcha" notes interspersed throughout each chapter, as well as the 'Focus on Software Engineering' asides that introduce beginning programmers to important aspects of code style, comparisons/contrasts between C and C++, what constructs are better to use in certain situations over others, etc.
The text also comes with a CodeMate CD-ROM and sold separately is the Lab Manual but also comes in handy (or is a necessary evil if you have to purchase it anyway for lab like me).
All in all, if you are a computer science/engineering major or minor or you're simply someone who wants to learn how to program from a text that covers material more like a college textbook rather than an O'Reilly overview book, 'Staring Out with C++' is the way to go. If you read through the chapters, do the checkpoints, run the code examples, do the chapter reviews at the end, and pay attention to the 'Focus on Software Engineering' and gotcha asides, you'll be up and programming in C++ in NO TIME. This is a beginner's text but you'll learn about typecasting, creating your own functions, and the chapter on loops and decision-making was the best I've seen in any introductory C++ text yet. Major kudos to Gaddis: keep up the excellent work! FIVE STARS!
But don't think that Gaddis doesn't introduce technical aspects of the language to the reader: he does, and does so in a fresh, clear manner, which makes this text actually very enjoyable in the classroom and even outside of the classroom.
I love the code samples in every chapter which makes for great studying: you can sit down with the text in your lap and type the code examples in your compiler, run it, see the results, and play with it. The author seems to understand that you really learn C++ (or any language for that matter) by not reading the book, but through trying the examples as there are literally TONS of code examples per section in each chapter to try out.
I also really appreciate the checkpoints capping every section to test your knowledge of what you just read, the "gotcha" notes interspersed throughout each chapter, as well as the 'Focus on Software Engineering' asides that introduce beginning programmers to important aspects of code style, comparisons/contrasts between C and C++, what constructs are better to use in certain situations over others, etc.
The text also comes with a CodeMate CD-ROM and sold separately is the Lab Manual but also comes in handy (or is a necessary evil if you have to purchase it anyway for lab like me).
All in all, if you are a computer science/engineering major or minor or you're simply someone who wants to learn how to program from a text that covers material more like a college textbook rather than an O'Reilly overview book, 'Staring Out with C++' is the way to go. If you read through the chapters, do the checkpoints, run the code examples, do the chapter reviews at the end, and pay attention to the 'Focus on Software Engineering' and gotcha asides, you'll be up and programming in C++ in NO TIME. This is a beginner's text but you'll learn about typecasting, creating your own functions, and the chapter on loops and decision-making was the best I've seen in any introductory C++ text yet. Major kudos to Gaddis: keep up the excellent work! FIVE STARS!