Horrible book
Rating: 1/5

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Hard to read due to a multitude of fonts and colors, not well structured. A nightmare to use as a reference.

This book worked for me.
Rating: 4/5

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I purchased this book to teach myself C++. Having an intermediate knowledge of FORTRAN, I found this book very useful.

Pros: Well organized, plenty of examples, and an exploration of a lot of the little nuances of the language that are not immediately apparent.

Cons: Authors can be exceptionally verbose at times and the ever changing font is a little hard on the eyes.

Of Syntax && Semantics....
Rating: 5/5

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The Deitel's give you - the inclined reader either entering into or creating within the programming world - a framework upon which to rectify your programming prognostics. Programming is a fine art, delicate though demanding, and one not readily dealt with by the lazy or pseudo-informed. Take my specific background for instance. A college-level course in Problem Solving with C; essentially an intermediate electrical engineering course teaching the ropes of the C language in addition to hand-coding using the terminal, in a Linux environment. This course offered no options; i.e. the compiler was gcc (can't remember the version, maybe 3.0 or so), the editor was Emacs (wonderful environment, having all the essential tools and debugging features). However, it was a grand experience in that it was learned how programming can only truly be ascertained via actually sitting down, hammering out hundreds of lines of code (thousands in one assignment), and then wracking the brain by having to debug stingy, pesky, occassionaly habitual tid-bits of coding error. Emacs is a joy since it displays run-time errors and their corresponding line(s) in the program itself. However, one can frequently expect to encounter, or have coded, a buggy piece of code on line, let's say, 268; meanwhile, albeit this is the line the compiler has registered or flagged for error, the actual bug may lie all the way up in line 250, or 100, or perhaps even a silly misused or unused constant declaration. After runnig the gauntlet of beginning trials regarding programming - in any language - it is safe to say that you should be fairly confident in your abilities, and view programming as a creative but cautious - still extremely tedious requisites - process and endeavor.
Now, moving onward to C++, a superset derivative of Ritchie's C language from Bell Labs, AT&T - C++ was fine-tuned and developed by Bjarne Strustroup. C++ annoys many programmers of the 80's because it indeed does in many ways restrict the programmer to OOP. On mega projects, this is an invaluable time-saving technique/method. However, C++'s compilers are all based on C-code and assembly, so it is fair to say that whatever one can do in C++, one can do in C. And the hierarchy descends on through assembly - even to machine code for you sadists. Point being, C++ is weaker than C at the machine-level, just as Java is languished in comparison with C++ memory-management. Ultra-fast code requires C and assembly, nifty still-very-speedy code is the mainstay of C++, and hindered financial projects have a love affair with Java. All of the grand arcade-genre games and simulation software is written in C/C++, meaning a convergence, or rather confluence of the two languages. Alright, so now what does Deitel teach the becoming programmer? Nearly everything! This can't be said of many books on an assortment of subjects because, unlike programming, the physical sciences amalgamate a plethora of theory. In coding, this can be done and certainly has been (i.e. nobody but Microsoft has any clue what the code behind MS Office products looks like, though conjectures aren't too taxing; e.g. Linux programs are functional as well), though the learning curve may only be a 1-3 yr stretch. With Deitel's book on C++ in hand, programming becomes that much easier. A senior at my school claims nearly everything he's leanred regarding symantics stems from Deitel and a few other books (i.e. Strustroup's). Assuming you already have a handle on control structures (for, while, do while loops), functions, arrays, pointers (nonintuitive aspect of C/C++), and some knowledge of strings, you're well on your way. If not, learn C before C++ and actually code along the journey - reading alone won't make you into a strong coder. In C++, the Class is the key; in C it is called a Structure, and is just as powerful, however C functions are its ultimate bane. The whole point of OOP for those of you debating learning C++/Java/Python is this: instead of largely separated functions and their calling procedures, C++ makes everything an object - i.e. if you want the Area of a solid shape, be it a sphere, triangle, rectangle, box, etc., you create a class Solid. Now rather than having functions dotting the program all over the place, you can minimize your code to fewer lines pretty much performing the same mathematical procedures. The overhead increases in some situations, but the less code the better; this isn't wholly true, but for the working programmer earning a salary, it is a godsend. Please keep in mind; learning C++ does not make you better than your C-coding boss. Quite the contrary; a C-coder with a decade of experience can produce working programs for all sorts of projects (cross-platform, applications, games, databases, scripts, libraries, physics engines, etc.). However, by learning C++, you'll be able to even improve the efficacy of your C-coding tendencies; e.g. you'll use C less and less. There is one big dilemma regarding C++, and this has to do with it being used more and more like a subset or partioned set of C rather than a superset. There are no books teaching this aspect of advanced programming, not even Deitel.
Strongest points of Deitel: data abstraction (may take a while to digest), operator overloading (perhaps C++'s most useful facet), inheritance (couldn't have OOP without it; it allows different Objects, i.e. a solid and a more definitive object like an engine, to share similar variables and components (constants, function calls...expands the overall scope which is what minimizes amount of code); polymorphism (mechanism for class-based type, member functions marked as polymorphic using 'virtual' keyword, all members w/ a virtual possess a secret/hidden data member); templates (not a personal favorite); exception handling (couldn't live without it); STL library (organized to perfection, read Stroustrup after Deitel and also C++ in a Nutshell by O'Reilly - great author). CGI webprogramming isn't as promising as Java in my book. I only say this because, while porting programs to multiple platforms is simple and easy in C (short programs and header files already exist for open source reuse) it is a pain in C++. Also, the issue that eventually presents itself to the programmer delving into various realms of application development is database access. Take a gander at the wide-ranging options available - e.g. Access, SQL, mySQL, DB2, JDBC, Oracle, etc. Database's are the crux of the modern programming environment (i.e. web-based gaming and virtual environments) and yet can be the most devious of all rudiments to grasp. Java, sponsored more and more by IBM, is going to steal the show; DB2 is just to powerful and efficient. Access is a pain, but SQL is costly and again there's no need for high-cost standardized databases. It is the equivalent of selling candybars; you'll never know which one is best if you can't afford to sample. Lastly, purchase the solutions manual along with the text; it is only 336 pg.'s and covers nearly half the problems in the book. Without it, you won't know how to apply C++ beyond simple text-based programs - you'll still be coding mostly text-based, but the difficulty involved is exponentially vast regarding Deitel's examples and their end-of-chapter problems. Oh, and I'm using gVim6.4 editor, Microsofts free (Enterprise Version!!! sells for almost a grand!) Visual C++.NET 2003 Toolkit and Executable. Here's a brief rundown of the steps involved (gVim6.4 lacks a debugger, so if you're programming for work you might wanna buy the standard .net 2003 environment);
Write your code in gVim6.4 editor:
// Sample Program; simplest example
#include

using std::cout;
using std::endl;

int main ()
{
// print on two separate, vertically adjacent lines
cout << "Hello" << endl;
cout << "Hello, hello again!" << endl;

return 0;
} // end function main

Now open the Toolkit Command Promt (DOS-based), type mkdir C++
press enter, then type 'cd C++ (or c++)' enter, then 'notepad hello.cpp' enter (or whatever filename you choose, e.g. test.cpp) and wallah! You know just click Yes to create the new notepad file, copy your gVim colored syntax into notepad and save. Next, in order to compile and run, you type: cl hello.cpp (this builds the .obj file along with displaying a few lines of compiler-specific details), and then type 'hello'. You should see printed in the terminal immediatley below: Hello
Hello, hello again!
Microsoft has plenty of info on using the command prompt, and it can even compile frameworked .net applications.

THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES
Rating: 1/5

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Why so many CS departments seemingly choose this book is beyond me. After taking an introductory computer science course I'm convinced that I could write a much better tutorial.

The explanations are hardly intelligible. The format is horribly circumlocutious. Jargon is awkwardly explained; the code is horrible; the ordering of topics is inexplicable.

Stay away. Spread the word.

The authority on C++ from the C++ authorities
Rating: 5/5

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This is my 3rd copy of this book. I had the 3rd edition in college, the 2nd edition for a work related project, and finally this copy (4th edition) for another college class. These books definitely got better in later editions, and they were good to begin with.

These guys go over everything, I mean EVERYTHING. The one fault I have heard is that there is too much detail. The fact is, that is the material, there is a lot to C++, and it is well presented here. This material is presented in a very logical manner, with clear thought given to how the student will be learning the material. Do not rush through this book, and do the exercises at the end of the chapters. If you do this you will learn the material, and learn it well. This book is great for the experienced programmer as well. I have been programming for 15 years, and I still learned something reviewing the first chapters.

c++ became fun!
Rating: 5/5

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We are moving from Delphi to C++, i picked up several books and courses, but this one (by the way here in Europe we do have the fifth edition...) made C++ clear and easy to understand. It kickstarted us developing in c++.

Next to C++ they also give a good insight in software developing, UML tools and a deep explanation why things are done in a particulair way. So the book is not simple a list of all the possibilities with C++, but alsos give background on development en programming, something missing in most publications.

I can advise it to all stepping into C++, it's worth every Euro i paid for it and all the sleep it has costed me.

There is NOTHING like it!
Rating: 5/5

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Below is what I told Mr. Deitel and you novices out there should read it too:

From a Novices' stand-point, these books are a God Send. I'm as novice a programmer as they come and all the Deitel books I have studied (which are quite a few in number now), have always been very simplistic when explaining such complex programming theories. Thanks very much for understanding and tailoring your material toward what the novice can understand, and would like to see in a programming book.

This book (and all other Deitel programming books) have made my programming experience such a joy! IF you know NOTHING or VERY LITTLE about C++, JAVA, VB or practically any other programming language, AND IF you study via Deitel books, you'll find that you're grasping very complex topics with ease AND having a blast doing it.

Definite BUY! (If I could rate higher than a 5, I would!)

Several other books are better
Rating: 2/5

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I bought this book because it was the text for a C++ course I took. I read 2 chapters in it, and then switched to 'The C++ Primer' by Lippman. I found the Dietel book to be cumbersome, and from the code samples, it looks like Dietel really has not written much real-world code. Lippman's book is easier to read, covers the topics better, and the code samples were better written.

If you're serious about c++ programming, this is the book
Rating: 4/5

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Why only 4 stars? Nobody's perfect! I've bought at least 10-15 c and c++ programming titles. To save a little money and angst, just get this one and it should cover pretty much everything. Another good title I read just before starting www.linuxfree.net was C for dummies. Hey it covered the subject matter and after reading it, c didn't look like ancient hieroglyphs. And was able to write simple code and understand it.

Very Good Book on C++ (Emphasis on Beginners)
Rating: 4/5

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This book is probably 75% identical to the Deitels' "C How to Program" book (4th edition, like this book). So, for a little more information, you might take a look at my review of that book here on Amazon. The biggest differences between the books are:

- Even though most of the examples are the same, their implementations have been redone from a C perspective to a C++ perspective. This is not a C book with C++ tacked on. It's a C++ book that leverages examples from a C book. If you hadn't read the other book, you'd never know the examples didn't originate for use in this book.
- This book includes an Elevator Simulation case study using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) to emphasize the object orientedness of C++ and to show the reader how to implement a fairly good-sized project in C++.
- Although the C version of the book also includes a C++ segment, this book gives a far more in-depth coverage and includes some things that aren't included there (the Standard Template Library comes to mind).

So, which book to choose? If you're using these books for a class, there's no choice: get the one the class requires. If you're trying to learn C++ on your own from scratch, this book is the best choice. If you don't know whether you should learn C or C++, this is also the book to get: it's probably heresy to say, but if you know C++, you essentially know C. If you're a pure C type, you might pick up the C version as an excellent reference and read the segments on C++ and Java included in that book. Those segments are condensed enough that you shouldn't be bored going through them. As with the C book, in the preface of this book, the Deitels state that the book is for everyone (beginners to experts) who want to learn the language. They've made a very good stab at that goal, but realistically, I'd have to say that those who are professional programmers in other languages will find this book too long for their needs.

A couple of additional notes. First, the use of color in this book seems to be a recurring motif in the reviews here. I was very pleased with the book's use of color. As fully explained in the preface, all that color conveys information to the reader: it's not there for decoration. First, the code examples (and there are a lot of them) all have a light yellow background, so they are automatically offset from the rest of the text. Then, the type within the coding segments uses other colors to mean certain things: comments are in green, keywords are in dark blue, errors are in red, constants and literal values are in light blue, and all other code is in black. Newly introduced code is also highlighted for emphasis. This is very much in keeping with what various IDEs do to make code more readable (see any of Microsoft's Visual xxx products, the Eclipse Project Universal Tool Platform (specifically, the C/C++ Development Tools), and the Bloodshed Dev-C++ IDE). Beyond that, the book also uses colors to emphasize the titles of the programming tips in the text (i.e., Good Programming Practices, Common Programming Errors, Performance Tips, Portability Tips, Software Engineering Observations, and Testing and Debugging Tips). Again, all of this is an excellent way to convey more information to the reader and is not "distracting" in any way.

On an entirely different note, as an aside, this book is used in Florida State University's COP 3330: "Object-Oriented Programming" course.

Overall, this is a very good book. Experienced programmers might prefer something more terse, but all others will be pleased. I give it 4 stars out of 5.

Outstanding self-learning tools
Rating: 5/5

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I have found your C++ How to Program and the C++ Cyber Classroom CD
really outstanding self-learning tools. It is usually difficult to learn a new discipline without attending lectures, but the combination of this text and the Cyber Classroom CD make this not only possible, but enjoyable. Congratulations, and continue the wonderful series !!!

Superb and authoritative text!
Rating: 5/5

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It's only recently I discovered Deitel's publications, but I was impressed. As a recent IT undergraduate, I have long searched for a book that is truly written for beginners. This text ranks on my top-ten list. Not only is it presented in color and easy to read, it's superb for those who have only the very basics of programming experience and want to move forward. This is a ground-up text that actually presents programming from a teaching perspective because it gives assignments and provides a wealth of chapter review questions. No wonder it's a popular selection among university instructors throughout the world. Many similar texts unilaterally seem to lack all of the basics of object-oriented programming, and try to teach beginners how to program through mere copying of code. Not Deitel & Deitel. This is the real deal: clear, concise, comprehensive. As a WORKING professional in technology, I highly recommend this book for those who want to learn how to program in C++.

EXCELLENT CHOICE TO LEARNING C++
Rating: 5/5

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I've read a few c++ books in past year but usually came to be dissapointed with the book by the end of first few chapters. Most books spend much time telling you how well others learn using their book, how they've been doing this a long time, and all kinds of stuff that has to do with nothing. However, Deitel & Deitel books seem to be made of something different. For a beginner that is willing to spend time in order to learn the material this book is "PERFECT". It includes many examples and each example is then reviewed line by line explaining nearly every single piece of code. Granted that for those already experienced in other programming languages learning from this book might require some skimming, but this book will probobly even have something for those already in knowledge of the language. This book is based on the Visual Studio C++ Version 6.0. A trial version of the software is included with the book on CD and will be very helpful to those that don't have or can't afford Visual Studio 6.0 Currently the newest version is Visual Studio .NET which i assume is covered in the newer editions of this book. As a final recommendation: "BUY THIS BOOK" it WILL help you learn if you are WILLING to read it.

Programming for those with ADD
Rating: 1/5

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This book is one of the most frustrating programming books I have ever read. Every page has at least 3 different colors and at least as many font changes. It is hard to look at for any length of time. It it entirely taken of it's own cuteness and yells this conviction from every paragraph. But it is extremely hard to use as a reference work. The index is nearly useless as an aid to finding real world answers and the examples are mostly pointless. I can't imagine $79 so poorly spent.

An excellent textbook
Rating: 5/5

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Yes, it is a very thick book. But my main questions are: can you learn from it, and can you teach from it?

You can.

I like so much about this text. I like the asides for "common programming errors," "good programming practices," "performance tips," "software engineering observations," "portability tips," and "testing and debugging tips." I like the examples. And I really like the exercises. I think they really help teach one to program intelligently. Plus, they teach plenty of subject matter that I happen to think programmers ought to know! For example, if I were teaching a class from this book, I'd take advantage of the special section on "building your own computer" in which one learns some machine-language programming and then creates a software simulation of a computer called "the Simpletron." I'd include the exercises where one builds a corresponding two-pass compiler (for a language called "Simple") and optimizes it, as well as the exercise to build an interpreter for it too.

There's an enormous amount of material here. It's an excellent way to learn both programming and C++. As well as a fair amount about algorithms and software engineering.

Thick and superficial
Rating: 2/5

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I was disappointed with this book. It's popular, and thicker than other C++ books. But it's very superficial. The text is very repetitive, making the book too large and (to some extent) boring.

As an example, let's see the chapter on the STL: it is too short, and all examples use containers of primitive types (int and double). One very nice thing about the STL is that you can have containers of objects of any classes. Also, while it is not possible to explain in details all STL containers and algorithms, it would certainly be nice to have a quick reference with the most important ones. The authors show very few of them. When presenting the STL algorithms and containers, the word "fast" is used, without making clear what it means. Stroustrup does a better job, for example, saying exactly how long it will take to run an algorithm on a container.

The chapter on templates has a similar problem, and only presents very simple examples of containers of "int".

The exercises are too easy. it would really be nice if they were more challenging. There are exercises that show you sentences and ask you to fill in the blanks. This kind of exercise shouldn't be used anymore -- not even for 10 year old kids at school.

The book is reasonably complete, but the text, examples and exercises made me feel like I was being treated like a child.
Anyway, I do know quite a few people who like it.

This IS a real C++ book!
Rating: 5/5

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C++ How to Program is in my opinion the defacto standard for learning and referencing the C++ language. The thoroughness of the text and the myriads of examples places this reference at the forefront. The excellent transition explanations from structured to object oriented programming is so important to both the amature and professional developer. One very useful bonus to this text is the introduction to UML modeling and how it fits into object oriented programming through the use of a case study.

If you are going to be a serious C++ programmer, this text will be on your shelf.

The clearest reference I know
Rating: 4/5

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This book is well organized, and gives clear, readable descriptions of the whole C++ language - and that covers a lot of area.

There's a lot of thud factor here, well over 1K pages. A lot of that is taken up with sample code and with programming advice that seems to help beginners. If you just want a language handbook, that's way more than you need or want. I tolerate it, though, because of the clarity of the rest of the presentation.

(If my emphasis on clarity seems excessive, that's because you haven't experienced Stroustrup's "stream of conciousness" style.)

This book gives only minimal and incidental descriptions of the standard C/C++ libraries, the STL, and all the other necessaries of the C++ world. Well, you can't have everything. Not if you want to be able to lift the book, too. This picks a topics and covers it - you'll need additional references for the rest.

This does what I want: it gives me the language, all of it, without requiring a linear search through the whole text. Until I find something better, I'll use this for my C++ reference.

//wiredweird

Great Book
Rating: 5/5

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I have 5 books on C++, but this was by far the best. It was easy to understand, clearly written, and very thorough. Each time a question started forming in my mind, I'd find the answer in the next sentence or paragraph. No book will ever be a "one stop shop", but this one comes pretty close. If you need to teach your self C++, I'd highly recommend this book.

A good place to start.
Rating: 4/5

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I used this book for my first college programming class and still use it as a reference today. It starts with basic procedural programming and quickly introduces objected oriented programming with an interesting elevator simulation. It provides full programming examples unlike many other text books. The colorful code highlights and icon coded notes enhance learning and make this book a joy to use. I would recommend this book to anyone trying to learn C++.
I have only one beef with this book. The binding doesn't hold up well to constant use. I have large sections of pages falling out of my copy. To be fair, I have used this book a lot, but I have also tried to take good care of it to no avail. At this price, I think Dietel should provide a hardcover with a solid binding.

Outstanding resource for students and professors
Rating: 5/5

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This is by far the best introductory computer science book I have ever used. In addition to clear text and numerous code examples, the book comes with Visual Studio C++. Also, if you read the introduction, you'll find you can download the PowerPoint classroom presentations from the publsher's Web site. These presentations have a lot of notes in them that may help clarify the code examples further. Also, if a person has a specific question, they can contact the Deitels via email. Astoundingly, the Deitels will respond within a very short time. I've been amazed at all the "flames" directed toward this book; I've been in the software industry 23 years, and NO book is perfect, but this one comes darned close.

The Complete C++ Traing Course
Rating: 5/5

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I would just like to say that I have been wanting to get into video game programming for a long time now and having ADHD it was hard for me to keep my focus. I have picked up book after book on game programming and have learned very little, most of which I didn't understand. I was told the best approach to getting into video game programming was to learn a language, preferably C++. Having gone through many C++ books in the past and learning very little I was interested in find a text book/school style approach to learning. I randomly met someone in a book store section of the programming books, and I asked him what he thought the best book on learning C++ would be. He recommended your C++ How to Program book. After looking over the book and the Complete Training Course, I decided to try the Complete version. I have now completed the first chapter and I just wanted to let you know that I have learned as much in this first chapter as I could have in a class room. If the rest of the book is anything like the first chapter I feel that I will be well underway to learning for the first time the C++ language. I just want to point out a few parts of the book that were extremely helpful to me: the speaking parts of the online book were a wonderful escape from the reading and helped reinforce what I read, the terminology at the end of the chapter forced me to go back through the text and learn the definitions of each term, the reviews were a very good way of ensuring that I understood what I read, and the exam was a great test to see how much actually sunk in. Thanks for the great book and I look forward to completing it.

Amazing Book
Rating: 5/5

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I just purchased "The Complete C++ Training Course" yesterday and am truly amazed at the entire kit. I have been a Visual Basic programming for the past six years specializing in automation, PLC and microcontroller integeration and have been wanting to learn C++. I have probably purchased over 20 books on C++ and have learned very little.

Just over the past day and a half I have learned more from training kit, with "C++ How to Program (4th Edition)" included, than in the past two years. It is without a doubt that your book is the most comprehensive and best one on the market. I am looking forward to purchasing the book on VC++ 6 MFC.

THANK YOU!

Terribly written
Rating: 1/5

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The book suffers from bounce. Explanations are not local to where they are supposedly demonstrated, and the explanation is often unclear. Example: Chapter 10: Polymorphism. The chapter is supposed to be about polymorphism, but doesn't show examples until 16 pages into the chapter. And, those examples aren't very clear. If I hadn't bought this for a course, I would have brought it back to the store.

Tom

This book is absolutely perfect
Rating: 5/5

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I am an experienced programmer that has mostly utilized interpreted languages (Perl, PHP, Ruby, Python). For a long time I have regretted not knowing a compiled language. This book is absolutely wonderful at helping me transition to C++ syntax and OOD. It explains the concepts in a very straightforward manner. The colored illustrations make readability easier than most books. I went to the book store to purchase another book because this one seemed expensive at first. After comparing the two, and the way content is presented, this book was the only choice. I am more impressed with this book than any other learning reference I have ever used!

This is THE book for familiarizing yourself with the complexities of C++.

Awsome Book
Rating: 5/5

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This book is awsome... I don't understand why people don't like this book. It is so easy to understand. Everything is laid out perfect, so much information. Very good examples at the end of every chapter. This is the only book that really teahces you all the basics. I have read alot of c++ books and this book by far beats them all.

Can't stand this book.
Rating: 1/5

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Horrible book for use as a course text book.
Simply horrible.
Maybe it could win bad text book of the year award.
My instructor doesn't like the book either.

Neverending Pain
Rating: 1/5

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I bought a 3rd edition recently for little more than the shipping costs. While there is a wealth of information here excepting the false UML listing on the cover the author(s) do not seem to be able to explain this info in an understandable fashion. I have been so confused reading this book that I have often had to resort to picking up one of my other books to refresh myself on something I already knew but the Deitels simply confused the daylights out of me on. There is way too much rambling about things we'll get to in later chapters, paragraphs in the middle of an explanation that do not relate nor belong there and more of the like. The layout is poor as well. Instead of highlighting the new relevent stuff in the code listings and providing an explanation beside it you are often presented with 5 or more pages of listings with several pages of explanation afterward. I have done so much backflipping I've been tempted to rip the pages out of the book. As for alternatives I'll second another reader on Horton. I got so much more on C++ out of his book in oh so much less time.

A remarkable text book
Rating: 5/5

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At first I considered C++ How to Program a text book. The thing is, it's not like any text book I've ever seen! It's written in language that's easy to understand, has many diagrams that helps your knowledge and is of a very high quality.

As a gift to anyone who has the slightest interest in programming this would be the book to give. It may come with a hefty price tag, but this is money that's not going to waste.

The book comes with exercises (very good idea!) although most of them don't have the answers. This comes in a separate book. The thing is, if you've taken your time and worked through the chapter then you will be able to solve the exercises. It's such a great feeling when you work out something challenging without referring to any answers. Doing things your OWN way in programming is something that many programmers should adopt.

I was reading C++ From The Ground Up (3rd Ed) by Herbert Schildt and I thought that it was a good book. The thing was that he really made topics like pointers immensely hard! I started getting frustrated and felt as though I needed a break from C++, which I took and moved to other languages. I was then given Deitel's C++ How to Program and it made C++ fun. Not many books, or even people, can do that. I am enjoying working through this book!

Overall this book is for the beginner to intermediate programmer looking to dip into the C++ pool. It's bloody good and I'd recommend it to anyone. I even sent the authors an email asking a question to which I received a timely response. Impressive stuff that was! The colors used makes life easy and the way the authors describe topics will suit even the dimmest of people.

This book ideal if you're bored and want to acquire a new skill, struggling with a C++ subject at school and need some help, taking a course at university and find their textbooks bland or even if you're in a work environment. This book will serve you well.

Wonderful book.
Rating: 5/5

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The book explains material in a very easy to understand manner. It explains why something is done and how to implement somethings using already written C libraries. I found it filled in the gaps, the first few crucial steps that other books didn't.

Excellent introductory/intermediate tutorial.
Rating: 5/5

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This is certainly one of the best introductory/intermediate C++ books available, and can be highly recommended despite it steep price.

(+) It covers a wide range of relevant topics (including some of the more advanced, such as function pointers, multiple inheritance, templates, exceptions etc).
(+) It contains a well chosen abundance of illustrative self-contained examples.
(+) The authors' language is unambiguous, and their style highly pedagogical.
(+) Those with little experience, provided they are motivated and patient, can benefit as much as those who have prior experience with the language.
(+) It comes with a copy ("introductory edition") of Microsoft's Visual C++, on an accompanying Cd, so that you can try out the examples and get practice programming straight away.
(-) The index is so detailed as to be almost useless, with the main references failing to be sufficiently distinguished. This certainly diminishes the books value as a reference.
(-) The big plug for its "Introduction to UML" on the front cover falsely suggests a much better introduction and extensive coverage of UML than is actually present in the book. Though the attempt to introduce UML is commendable, the actual treatment certainly doesn't merit touting in a big flag on the front cover as if it were a moving reason (or any reason, for that matter) to buy the book.
(-) The price is steep, and the answers to the programming exercises are not given (but some can be purchased separately).

Covers all bases
Rating: 4/5

---

I have reviewed and read several C++ books, and this by far is the most complete book that I have come across. I use C++ both as a hobby developing open source and also professionally as a white-box tester and software developer (Amiga OS, DOS, Mac, Windows, OS/2, UNIX) for 9+ years. I haven't coded in C++ for a long while and I needed to re-learn C++, with all the needed OOP concepts as applied in the C++ langauge. This book had everything I needed, and also cleared some confusion as to why one would use const references, const pointers to data, or pointers to const data. The information on const, inline, and static for both the non-object-oriented and object-oriented usages was immensely helpful.

Many have flamed and bashed this book, but I ask you to find another book that covers important concepts that include but are not limited to the following:
- static data types, arrays, data members, member functions
- const pointers to data, pointer to const data, const pointer to const data, const references,
- const objects, initialization of const data members, const member functions,
- inline functions and inline member functions,
- overloading, operator overloading, cast overloading,
- default constructor, default parameters, copy constructors, destructors,
- virtual member functions (overidding), virtual destructors,
- abstract classes and member functions (pure virtual member functions),
- member initialization list (used for setting const data members and data members in base classes)
- inheritence, encapsulation, polymorphism
- proxy class, interfaces, containers, templates

I've looked at other books and I found huge missing gaps in one of the above major concepts. This is why I took the time to write the review.

For improvements, I would recommend shrinking the basics down as far as looping and branching goes -- assume readers know C programming or can look it up -- and sprinking more industry practices and styles into the code. Some examples would be to have smart destructors and copy constructors that do some tricks to avoid memory leaks, and perhaps some simplified versions of techniques mention in Meyer's books. It would be nice to have some implementations of some common design patterns like the facade or factory pattern.

No professional code here
Rating: 1/5

---

I took one of Deitel's Jr.s courses, my company paid for it.
I had trouble understanding a section on muli-threading;
turned out there was actually errors in the notes( which
Deitels basis his books on) from Deitel's class.

These guys are not "real" programmers (at least Deitel
said he was not a programmer consultant at the time
I took his class).

Anyway, I like books writen by real programmers
there is a difference when it comes to really knowing
how to do good technical coding.

Deitels do perfect whatever they do!
Rating: 5/5

---

I can not think any other of source of teaching, doing its job so perfect and excellent.

Deitel's books differentiate from any other in that it provides an excellent mechanism of teaching with cleverly oriented subjects and clearly explained examples. Subjects are so approached that it is not possible to miss any detail. From the explanations to the exercises, everything seems and of course proves to be well designed in learner-side-perspective. Deitels really well know what they know and they do really perfect whatever they do."

A Good Introductory Book
Rating: 4/5

---

I liked this book! There are other books out there on C++ that are more concise and factual, but personally I found that the redundancy of information (information repeated again in different parts of the book) and numerous color-coded examples were really helpful.

I do know of some people who do not like Dietel Books because of their formulaic writing style on a given subject. Conversely, I know many other people (myself included) who do like this book for that exact same reason. I feel the approach they have made is suitable for an introductory book such as this one.

This is not the book for you if you're looking for a complete reference book. This is a learning book. It starts at the basics and builds up. It's intended for beginners (the title says it all: "How to Program"). It has a nice gentle approach into Object Oriented Programming throughout the first 6 chapters and then starts using more OO paradigms from there after.

Although this book is for the novice, it does go into more detail than some other books (another reason why I liked it). It discusses dynamic memory as well as shows you how to implement abstract data types like stacks, queues, and linked lists.

I would recommend this book to people who would like to build their fundamental C++ (and OOP) knowledge without covering extensive language details.

Choose a different book
Rating: 1/5

---

I have enough programming experience that I can recognize how much Deitel & Deitel complicate simple concepts, such as bubble sort, and pointers and strings. From examining several of their textbooks, it is obvious that their approach is homogenous. The same programs are used in throughout their series of textbooks, although these same programs do not explain each programming language well. Discouraging, unnecessary statements, such as "Pointers are among C++'s most difficult capabilities to master" can be found throughout the text, and they use jargon, such as "full-fledged," making this book a poor choice for college environments, especially those with international students.

C++ How To Program #4 edition In Portuguese
Rating: 5/5

---

Hi,

I have just tried to learn C++ from many on line references and a few books and most of them fail to teach C++.

This is a text-book for a college C++ class and it is clearly aimed to teach you all the basics from Standard ANSI C++, not teach you the Win32 programming API. Also, it is perfect for readers who want to learn C++ by them selves (like me). I admit that for a long time, learning C++ was a scary thought, but reading this book not also ended my fear like taught be C++.

Why do the authors start OOP explanations only after a few chapters? Well, first you need to understand the basic syntax and procedural programming, after all C++ is a multiparadigm language. I knew C and Java before, so the initial chapters simply gave me a good revision of the syntax and taught me a few more. The examples are pretty good. The exercices are also presented in huge proportions, so readers can't complain about projects they could try to learn C++. Of course parts of the text might be redundant for some and new for others, so it is just a case of skipping a few lines.

Later edit: Look at me, after reading and learning C++ from this book, around 7 years later I am a Sr. C++ Programmer.

The best C++ book I have read
Rating: 5/5

---

I'm also a CS student, and I was lucky enough to have this book as one of my class' textbooks. This book completely eclipses every other book I have read on the subject. There is always code to go with every explanation, and the code does a great job demonstrating what is being explained in the text. This book is worth every penny.

Good , but expensive
Rating: 3/5

---

This is a good reference for anyone wanting to learn C++.

The main downside is that it is quite expensive.

This is THE book for learning C++ programming.
Rating: 5/5

---

First thing I noticed was code examples. I cannot tell you how much easier this will make it for novice programmers to have the color coding. It makes deciphering [what I'm sure for them is alien text] so much easier. Next, the focus on Object Orientation at the end of each chapter is a crucial element most other titles leave out. Most C++ books teach you the syntax, but not the design procedure. This is akin to being taught how to make a brick, but not how to build a house. The information here is presented in a clear, systematic fashion. There is some C coding presented, but this is not made the focus of the text. Last, but certainly not least, the freebie Visual Studio is a nice touch, since this is such a popular compiler, get familiar w/ its enviornment, and some of the other cooler features it offers.

A Thorough and Clear Introduction to C++
Rating: 5/5

---

I think this is a wonderful book! I especially
appreciate how thorough the book is in covering
the many fine details of C++, and the great
clarity of the writing. Each chapter includes several
complete example programs, explained in detail.

The book should work well both for beginning programmers
and experienced programmers just learning C++. The extensive
index makes the book a good reference on C++, too.

Also, the book looks great!The cover, the figures,
the headings, the clever ant characters ... all these
details make it very inviting to read.

The CD is an excellent bonus feature: it contains
all of the example programs, so that you can run them
immediately on your computer as you study them.

In summary, I believe this is a book of great value.

great book
Rating: 5/5

---

I have the 2nd edition of this book so I'm going to assume the 4th is only better. Deitel and Deitel are wonderful authors, I recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn C++.

Quite possibly the best C++ book ever written!
Rating: 5/5

---

Quite possibly the absolute best C++ book ever!

The book covers everything from the very simplest concepts (starting off with the standard "Hello World"-type program that explains that statements must end with semicolons, the use of curly braces, that every program starts execution at the main function, and so on) up to topics such as templates, pure virtual functions, polymorphism via base class pointers to derived classes, structured exception handling, and more.

One of the best things about this book is that it EXPLICITLY teaches you good programming practices, all the way through. Some C++ books meant for beginners try to teach you the language and don't even bother to try to teach you how to write programs correctly. Not this book. Time after time they tell you the proper method of writing code, as well as explaining why it should be done that way.

Also, the authors practice what they teach (and preach). For example, chapter "X" explains how to create templates, then when chapter "Y" creates a generic data structure, like a stack or queue, the authors do so using templates. Some other books teach you something in one chapter and then seem to forget it even exists.

Also, at least the version I have, comes with a Visual C++ 6.0 compiler (its a learning edition or something, not the full version. But who would expect that anyway?).

It's a pretty hefty price compared to many other C++ books. But, not trying to sound too much like an "infomercial", this is probably the only text you will ever need for C++ programming. So you save money by buying this one text instead of buying two or three that each does only a part of what this book does.

Oh, let me clarify something. This book does a pretty comprehensive coverage of ANSI/ISO Standard C++, the subject of the book. It does not teach C++ .NET (but, the same authors do have another book for that!).

Finally, I ran across this book when tutoring someone in a college C++ programming course. So even university professors recognize the worth of the text.

Ivor is better
Rating: 1/5

---

start with Wrox's beginning C by Ivor
Then go to his C++

much better than this for a beginner

More C than C++
Rating: 1/5

---

If you want to confuse yourself and learn C before C++ ... great! But I've taken a course (just recently) using the 3rd edition and even when Classes are finally introduced (which was 400+ pgs into the book) the chapter actually dives straight Into structures -- ch6.2 to be exact ( hence; too much C != C++ ) .... so If this was titled C and C++ ( no problem ) but the product misleads you by ...OOP / C++ on the cover, and the audio ( monotone ... to the point of sleepiness ...... and lack of any explanation for the more confusing points -- static casting, etc )
Buyer BEWARE!!

Another Deitel Disaster
Rating: 1/5

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I have had one too many classes requiring a Deitel book... Bland, uninspiring, Deitel and Deitel try but fail repeatedly. Perhaps its time Deitel and Deitel took some programming classes themselves, or maybe a creative writing class.

Don't waste your money!

Good book if you have the time
Rating: 4/5

---

Deitel & Deitel are extremely detail-oriented. The book gives a very thorough review of different topics. With 1400+ pages, I use it for two semesters at the College level. The feedbacks from students are 70% positive. Learn C++ with the MS C++ compiler with the examples in the book makes it easy. With the new Visual C++ .net in the market place, this book will be obsolete very soon even it is just recently published. What is lacking is the example in Finance, Fixed Instruments, and Derivatives...

There are better books
Rating: 3/5

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This book will teach you C++. It will teach you OOP. But it will not teach you how to write good software. A programmer's job is the creation of bug-free software, and C++ is a very important tool in his hand. Before one can start writing code, one must know the ins and outs of C++. Never WHY. You are never taken "under the hood" of C++. And as for looking at the big picture of software development...it fails in that department too.
There are other shortcomings as well: It teaches you procedural programming before OOP (like a lot of other books). This will do nothing except give you bad habits.
I am unfortunate that this book was my first exposure to C++. I wish I had discovered "Thinking in C++" by Bruce Eckel. It is the best book on C++ I have encountered yet. What's more, Eckel distributes the book for FREE on his site.

Excellent book!
Rating: 5/5

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This is an excellent book for those interested in learning how to program with c++. I used and enjoyed the third edition and now really enjoy the 4th edition. I have seen both intro and intermediate students benefit greatly from this book. With all of the technology books out there that fail to have working code in them, buying this book really makes you feel like your money was well spent! The authors really know their stuff and can teach it to the reader also. This book is not (just a book) that you read and then forget what you went over. This book has valuable examples that will help to sharpen anyones skills or teach them new ones in an efficient manner. Highly recommended!!!

Great
Rating: 5/5

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I found this book very useful for learing and using C++.

A Book F/ The Diligent & Intelligent Thinker-Implementer
Rating: 5/5

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Many yrs ago, I read the 2nd edition and thought it was a adequately well-written book. Recently, I got the 4th edition to refresh my skill in writing C++ code. Noticed that certain chapters were re-arranged.

The best way to learn object-oriented C++ is to understand the concepts from a cause and effect pov. I am a visual learner and I believe that Deitel did a good job in blending the concept with UML-based diagrams. It also included [EZ to Understand] code examples.

This book can also be used as a reference guide or a beginner guide for those with some programming background.

No one book does everything for everyone. No one writing style is perfect for everyone. For someone with a solid programming background and focused on writing good "solid" code, this book is pretty darn good.

A Book F/ The Diligent & Intelligent Thinker-Implementer
Rating: 5/5

---

Many yrs ago, I read the 2nd edition and thought it was a adequately well-written book. Recently, I got the 4th edition to refresh my skill in writing C++ code. Noticed that certain chapters were re-arranged.

The best way to learn object-oriented C++ is to understand the concepts from a cause and effect pov. I am a visual learner and I believe that Deitel did a good job in blending the concept with UML-based diagrams. It also included [EZ to Understand] code examples.

This book can also be used as a reference guide or a beginner guide for those with some programming background.

No one book does everything for everyone. No one writing style is perfect for everyone. For someone with a solid programming background and focused on writing good "solid" code, this book is pretty darn good.

Hmmmm???
Rating: 5/5

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I bought this book based on the recommendation of my college C++ teacher. I dont like the way it reads and they dont explain everything as good as they could. They use lots of technical terms that a person who is a beginner has no clue how to use. The reason I am giving this book a 5 is because of the many examples that they have which are infinitely more helpful than anything they could ever say.

Good book, but sometimes too detailed
Rating: 4/5

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Same as with Java: How to Program, I found this book full of good tips. At some points, though, the book is too detailed and you spend quite a while getting through the text that you don't really need to read. This is particularly true about the first few chapters. Anyhow, as I don't know about any better book on C++ on the market, I certainly recommend this one!

"For those who wonder"
Rating: 5/5

---

Perhaps all these folks who are flaming this book should think again. I am a software developer for a major corporation and had a chance to take a look at the book myself. The book is not bad and it is just right for the beginner. The best way to see if this book fits your learning style is to go to your local book seller and take a look. Don't flame it... just because C++ is a more difficult than VB to learn. Honestly it is not that tough of a language. It is very structured and allows you to access memory in ways other languages do not (VB,JAVA,C#). People coming from VB backgrounds may find it a bit hard but, not rocket science. Please go to your local book seller preview the book then make your decision. Once you know it will compliment your learning style then you can buy it online. At least you know what you are getting in the mail.

Good Luck

a good reference
Rating: 5/5

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c++ how to program 4th edition is one of the best c++ books i've read. Im only 14, and I read nearly half of it already without running in to, too many problems. Hell it blows the c++ book from dummies corp., the worse book i ever read, I forgot to mention that i had no programming experience ever, this was my first book, a good one at that. You may be disapointed because theres 1500p. but the more pages there is,the more of a reference you have. by the way if you have the internet and havent tought about searching for c++ books in the document tab of kazaa, do so, the more references you have the better. Essentialy this book is for intermidiate level but like i said im 14,no programming experience, and i had very slightly difficulty reading this book, had to experiment to figure out things but hay we all do that sometimes. overall awsome book. dont listen to that bad bullsheat of other reviews cause it is bullsheat. This book is primo.

Great, like the rest of the Deitel Books!
Rating: 4/5

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I have been using the Deitel books for the last 4 years. I have tried Java How To Program 2nd, 3rd, and 4th edith; as well as the Visual Basic 6 How To Program Book. All of them are well written and easy to understand. The end of chapter exercises are good for reinforcing concepts, and some are challenging and require that you think a bit. Thats the challenge of programming, problem solving! I find it difficult to believe that people could be finding the C++ How To Program Book hard to read. I have just purchased it, and it very EASY compared to the other C++ books out there. Programming isn't for everybody, and C++ happens to be more complicated than a lot of other programming languages. I feel that C++ can be mastered as a first programming language, but it might be better for a first timer to start with an easier language like Visual Basic or Java to ease into C++ programming. I hope this helps.

The flawed masterpiece
Rating: 3/5

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'C++ How to Program' by Deitel & Deitel is one of those books that set out to be the one and only, the perfect textbook that teaches you everything about C++ to everyone from the absolute beginners to the truly advanced programmers all at once. The book falls very short under the weight of its own ambition. By just reading the table of contents, it seemed that the book properly offers the complete coverage of the syntax of the C++ language, and each topic seemed to be presented in the sensible order which facilitates the readers to learn C++ step by step without getting lost or tangled up with the bits of coverage all over the textbook. The only thing presented in the sensible order in this book is the table of contents. Despite the quite large volume, Paul and Harvey (D&D hereafter) decided to babble aimlessly in very verbose fashion without any focus or making any sense. I mean the language they employee is English only in appearance. D&D could have babbled in Russian and I wouldn't have known the difference. They don't seem to have the fundamental ability to deliver their knowledge to the readers in clear fashion, and the level of knowledge of C++ has nothing to do with it. Now 'C++ Primer' by Stanley Lippman and Josee Lajoie or 'The C++ Programming Language' by Bjarne Stroustrup are indispensable guides for the advanced programmers that will teach you so many techniques your ordinary textbook do not cover, and yes, they are definitely not for the novice programmers. This is not the case with D&D. I mean C++ is arguably the toughest programming language to master, but it doesn't have to be this painful just to browse through the textbook. From the get-go, D&D clearly aimed to please both "technically oriented people with little or no programming experience, and experienced programmers who want a deeper treatment of the language" (from chapter 1 section 1). This is such a contradiction. As a result, what could have been an impressive textbook became an expressway to frustration. Sentences tend to be written in the overly complex fashion without serving much purpose. They are just totally confusing and incomprehensive. Much concise, terse, and simplistic writing style is desired and would have done the job better for everyone. The higher level of knowledge on C++ doesn't have to be translated into more complicated writing. It gives out the wrong impression to the beginners that it is their lack of C++ knowledge that hinders the understanding of the book. D&D's ability to convey their knowledge to the readers doesn't match with their impressive programming career. The coding style is awful and definitely not recommended to anyone although it is not syntactically wrong. Too many details are explained in the context of C language as if the knowledge in C is assumed before learning C++. Layout and color scheme are extremely disoriented and tiresome to your eyes. The coverage of each topic is scattered all over the textbook. D&D just love to say "We will later discuss about...", "We previously discussed about...", and so on instead of focusing on each topic one at a time and then moving on. There are too many pop-out boxes for various tips and warnings that are repeated over and over and over to the point they are disturbing. D&D arrogantly try to write the textbook that teaches you all the syntax of the language and the lawbook that teaches you all the semantics and the techniques of the language at the same time. They set out to achieve the impossible and succeed to do neither. This book is too confusing for the beginners to the point that people will hate C++, and it is too repetitive and shallow for the advanced programmers. If anyone can overcome these difficult obstacles, however, this book has quite a lot of information. I would not recommend this book to anyone who just start learning C++. Believe me when I say this because you will be committed to the mental asylum within the first few minutes if you attempt to learn C++ with this book. Try 'Absolute C++' by Walter Savitch instead. If you have a solid knowledge on C++, D&D's book can be a decent reference book. Then again, you are better off with 'The C++ Programming Language' by Bjarne Stroustrup, 'C++ Primer' by Stanley Lippman and Josee Lajoie, and 'Effective C++ Series' by Scott Meyers if you are able to enjoy D&D's book.

The latest edition is marginally improved compared to the previous edition. The biggest difference is that the coding style is much easier to read now and more comments have been added to the program examples. The color has been toned down just a bit, but not enough to ease the pain on the eyes. Some of the lectures have been sequencially rearranged and some new methodology has been used for inheritance and polymorphism. But the core is essentially identical with the previous editions. Although this book has enormous potential to be the best C++ book in the market, the book still has the identity crisis. It really doesn't know which group of programmers it aims to help. It still is unfairly too complicated for the novice programmers and not enough substance for the advanced programmers. This is quite a book, a flawed masterpiece, so to speak. Only if D&D decide to shift the emphasis and focus on one group and lose the other, this could be a great book.

Too bad I can't give this book 0 stars
Rating: 1/5

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Who reads the Deitel books? Are people really that dumb? Unless you want to learn bad programming practices, avoid all Deitel books.

Best C++ Book i have ever had!
Rating: 5/5

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While I am not programming for the first time, I still could never grasp c++ before this book. My previous programming experience was QBASIC and HTML, so I knew a bit of the logic that goes into programming, but this book was awesome! I tried Thinking in c++ by bruce eckel, and I found it too convoluted and hard to understand. Deitel leaves little to question, and has excellent code examples that never use anything that you haven't learned yet except the thing your trying to learn. It uses real world examples, things you could understand and relate to. I recommend this to any one who wants to learn C++, and i plan to buy more deitel books in teh future.

C++ How to Program (all editions)
Rating: 2/5

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This book starts out explaining the code in detail but stops one quarter of the way through it. This book has way too many code examples and not enough explainations of that code. I am very dissappointed with the book. Most of the necessary Include statements are not explained. When it came to covering object oriented programming, they refered to topics that were not explained until later chapters. The book seemed to be written backwards in some cases. Also, the important topics such as inheritance, virtual functions and polymorphism was terrible. No simple introduction class code to allow the student to gradually see how a class works. I would only recommend this book to a beginner in C programming.

C++ How to Program (all editions)
Rating: 2/5

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This book starts out explaining the code in detail but stops one quarter of the way through it. This book has way too many code examples and not enough explainations of that code. I am very dissappointed with the book. Most of the necessary Include statements are not explained. When it came to covering object oriented programming, they refered to topics that were not explained until later chapters. The book seemed to be written backwards in some cases. Also, the important topics such as inheritance, virtual functions and polymorphism was terrible. No simple introduction class code to allow the student to gradually see how a class works. I would only recommend this book to a beginner in C programming.

Not for beginers!
Rating: 1/5

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Buying this book was a requirement for my beginer's C++ college course, and lemme tell you, It was the worst [money] I ever spent. The book first covers some general information about computers and then dives straight into coding, it doesn't even explain how to use the compiler. The book is extremely boring, I fall asleep right after reading the first page. Another thing that bugged me about this book is the excessive "jibber-jabber", there are too many big words, it is so hard to follow that I often feel the need to read the same chapter twice. I actually hold a dictionary in one hand and the deitel book in the other hand just so I can understand what those eggheaded nerds are trying to say. Frankly, I'm not the only one who thinks that way about this book, all the other students in my class absolutely HATE this book. A word of advice, don't waste your money on this book, YOU CAN LEARN C++ FOR FREE ON THE INTERNET you just have to look for the websites if you wanna learn C++ then try visiting [their website]. there are complete and free tutorials to understand this crazy programming language. No offense deitel people but this book is terrible and I'm sure yuo can do better than this.

C++ and the UML too!
Rating: 5/5

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Comprehensive, clear, and correct, this text demonstrates virtually every aspect of C++ with nontrivial examples that serve as models for both professional and academic coding. It also introduces the most important features of the UML, shows how to use them in object-oriented analysis and design, and then implements the design in 3000+ lines of well-crafted object-oriented code.

Anyone curious about C++, object-oriented design and development, or the UML should take a close look at this book. Anyone serious about developing object-oriented C++ systems should buy it.

Not for beginners!
Rating: 2/5

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I have tried both editions of this book (3 & 4). We are using this book in class (I've taken the course twice now, even though I passed, with edition 3 & 4) and I just do not feel that this book is the right choice for those of us who have had absolutely no programming experience. It is at times extremely hard to follow and you feel as if the majority of things are something you should already have in your grasp or at least a basic understanding.

I have not met anyone in my entire class (yes, for both of them) that feel any different. So if your a complete beginner, try reading Problem Solving with C++: The Object of Programming (4th Edition)first. I believe it is geared more towards those of us who need to get up to the plate and bat versus going from first to second base!

Best C++ Book Yet
Rating: 5/5

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I am currently a Computer Science major. Until now I couldnt find a C++ book that I felt was better than our text book. Browsing through C++ book after C++ book has led only to dissappointment. I have spent the last year looking for a great C++ reference book that also explains things in a straightforward non-egotistical way.
I hit the jackpot when I went to Amazon and went for the best reviewed book.
'C++ How To Program' explains the most important aspects of programming in a straightforward manner. The example codes are reader friendly due to the color highlighting and all work.
This covers everything from variables to data structures! The book has the added bonus of CGI implementation. Preprocessor is covered as well as an intense explanation of classes, which make C++ the great object oriented language it is.
I recommend this book to any Computer Science major or aspiring computer programmer

Best C++ Book Yet
Rating: 5/5

---

I am currently a Computer Science major. Until now I couldnt find a C++ book that I felt was better than our text book. Browsing through C++ book after C++ book has led only to dissappointment. I have spent the last year looking for a great C++ reference book that also explains things in a straightforward non-egotistical way.
I hit the jackpot when I went to Amazon and went for the best reviewed book.
'C++ How To Program' explains the most important aspects of programming in a straightforward manner. The example codes are reader friendly due to the color highlighting and all work.
This covers everything from variables to data structures! The book has the added bonus of CGI implementation. Preprocessor is covered as well as an intense explanation of classes, which make C++ the great object oriented language it is.
I recommend this book to any Computer Science major or aspiring computer programmer

Terrific book
Rating: 5/5

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I have always been a fan of the Deitel series and have read quite a few books - C, C++ and Java How 2 Program as well as H.M. Deitel's book on OPerating Systems. I have little doubts in recommending this book to anyone starting C++.

So much to say about this book, however I'll limit myself to a few points which I found salient:

This book does not keep referring to C, so you won't get bugged down. (In case you want to learn C, try 'C How to Program' by the same authors.)

This book has been written keeping the beginner in mind (beginner = someone new to programming). So, it contains good, solid, perfect, working code you can try out.

Each page is littered with observations on Good Programming Practices and Software Engineering. That helps in refinement of code, so you need not buy another book to find out how to code 'effectively'.

The exercise questions are elaborate and will keep the reader busy for hours on end. But all that's time that's spent usefully.

And this book does not leave out those who already know C++. It's as good as any book for an intermediate level programmer.

An excellent book. Buy this one, it's certain that this will be the last C++ book you'll need.

Great book by a great group
Rating: 5/5

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I am taking two programming course this fall and one of them required Visual Basic .net how to program by the same authors. It is one of the best books I have ever purchased. So when my C++ class required a book by a different author I ran out and purchased this book. The Deitel books are written so that any level of programmer can read and understand them. There are several programming examples in each chapter. Each example builds on the previous, which allows you to learn to program one step at a time. Also the authors provide an amazing amount of supplemental information and resources for each book on their website. To sum up the book in a phrase: If everyone knew about Deitel books other computer programming authors would probably go out of business!