An Introduction to Programming with C++

by Diane Zak

Book Overview

Discover the importance of learning C++ with Diane Zak's popular AN INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING WITH C++, 8E. This book's distinctive emphasis clarifies how mastering C++ programming skills will... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0619064730
• ISBN13: 9780619064730
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: Course Technology
• Length: 784 Pages
• Weight: 3.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 8.7" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Takes the tears out of learning C++

Wanna learn C++? Buy Zak's book!Zak's "Introduction to Programming with C++" is an easy to understand and follow book that will help beginners quickly grasp and begin using the major concepts of C++. The explanations are very thorough, and each lesson contains several programming examples that reinforce the new concept, each explained thoroughly, line by line. By following Zak's lessons and doing a handful of the exercises included at the end of each lesson, an absolute rock bottom beginner will quickly be creating 2 dimensional arrays and whipping up classes just as if they'd been doing it their whole lives. While this is an outstanding text for learning, it's lousy as reference for later on when you want to quickly review a concept or some syntax. Buy Zak's book first and invest in a good reference book when you're done. You'll be glad you did.

If you want to learn how to program in C++, this is the book

I purchased this book as a requirement for my Summer Term C++ class and I have to tell you that there wasn't one person in class that had anything but admiration and thankfullness (LoL) that a book was written with the (imagine this now, lol) beginner in mind.If I could give it a 10 I would. ------------Here is the Contents (I typed it right from the book):An Overview of a Microcomputer System, An Introduction to Control Structures, Beginning the Problem-Solving Process,Completing the Problem-Solving Process and Getting Started with C++, Variables, Constants, Arithmetic Operators, and Assignment Statements, Built-In Functions, Program-Defined Value-Returning Functions, Program-Defined Void Functions, The Selection Structure, More on the Selection Structure, The Repetition Structure, Manipulating Characters and Strings, Classes and Objects, Sequential Access Files, and Arrays.------------All necessary concepts for the beginner. She explains things thoroughly, consistently, and best of all CLEARLY. It may seem elementary and TOO easy for those who already have the above-mentioned concepts--but understand that there is a great need for books written like this one. Why does it have to be difficult to understand?She does an excellent job on all of her books. Students at the college I attend love her books and learn a firm, clear understanding of concepts necessary to learn not only this, but other languages. Throughout this book she makes references to the similiarities and differences between C++, Visual Basic, and Java. There are student data disks you can download from the publishers website that are necessary for the completion of most of the exercises AND you get a working copy of Microsoft's Visual Basic C++ to use to compile, build, and run your programs.The only thing you may not be aware of is this book focuses (except for two chapters where Object-Oriented concepts are introduced) almost entirely of procedural programming concepts.Make no mistake, this book is awesome.

Great Primer for Non-Programmers

C++ is not an easy language to master and many basic programming concepts are difficult to grasp when you are starting out. But this book makes learning it easy. I normally program in Visual Basic, but I picked up this book to challenge the Colorado Technical University CS104 course and worked through it during the evenings in just one week. This book is chuck full of wonderful exercises to help drill C++ basics home. And the layout is easy to understand and follow. The code examples are straight-forward and match up to the chapter lessons. This book does not get into programming techniques, only the basics of the C++ language syntax. Coincidently, CTU uses the Deitel and Deitel book (mentioned by Barlowe below) in their followup class CS115, the basics are discussed in the first few chapters of Deitel's book as well, but Deitel's doesn't have the exercises to practice with.

Very nice

I knew nothing about C++ when I began reading this book but when I finished I had some kind of understanding about it. I found it very easy to read and the exercises helped me get more hands on with C++. I like Diane's use of anologies, which brought me to a conclusion that C++ was designed based on real life. If you don't know anything about C or C++ this is an excellent book to start you off.

A truely excellent beginner's book! Nothing like it!

I knew absolutely nothing about programming when I first started studying C++ using Diane's book. Now I feel like the world's biggest expert! (Even though I know I have a ways to go). Topics are very well organized, and very clearly explained. Chapters are detailed carefully enough so as not to be intimidating. The "Debugging" excercises were my favorite - a great tool for mastering code! Excellent job Diane Zak. You've made the difference!