VC Language - Where I learned C++ OOD

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Where I learned C++ OOD

Victor Bazarov

2006-01-24, 7:07 pm

I was recently asked to recommend sources for learning to design
interfaces. While I don't know of any good web sites that would teach
C++ software design, I would like to recommend a couple of books.

One (my first) book is called "Advanced C++: Programming Styles and
Idioms" by James Coplien. It's an older book, (c) 1992. James Coplien
later released "Multi-Paradigm Design for C++", also worthwhile. Of
course, the very first one was "The C++ Programming Language" by Bjarne
Stroustrup, and while it's not about _design_ per se, paying attention
to the examples in it could help you acquire good habits, even when it
comes to design of interfaces.

A more complicated book (more difficult to read, anyway) is "Modern C++
Design" by A. Alexandrescu. If you can handle it, get yourself a copy,
you won't regret it. It's not as general and not as basic as Coplien's
1992 "AC++:PSI", and its focus is on templates, but it's good.

I am posting this to stimulate a discussion on the sources to learn
Object-Oriented Design, especially as it applies to C++. Feel free
to comment.

V
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Carl Daniel [VC++ MVP]

2006-01-24, 7:07 pm

Victor Bazarov wrote:
> I was recently asked to recommend sources for learning to design
> interfaces. While I don't know of any good web sites that would teach
> C++ software design, I would like to recommend a couple of books.
>
> One (my first) book is called "Advanced C++: Programming Styles and
> Idioms" by James Coplien. It's an older book, (c) 1992. James
> Coplien later released "Multi-Paradigm Design for C++", also
> worthwhile. Of course, the very first one was "The C++ Programming
> Language" by Bjarne Stroustrup, and while it's not about _design_ per
> se, paying attention to the examples in it could help you acquire
> good habits, even when it comes to design of interfaces.
>
> A more complicated book (more difficult to read, anyway) is "Modern
> C++ Design" by A. Alexandrescu. If you can handle it, get yourself a
> copy, you won't regret it. It's not as general and not as basic as
> Coplien's 1992 "AC++:PSI", and its focus is on templates, but it's
> good.
> I am posting this to stimulate a discussion on the sources to learn
> Object-Oriented Design, especially as it applies to C++. Feel free
> to comment.

All great books - all on my bookshelf.

For pure OOD, I was always a fan of Booch 2nd Edition
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805353402). Apparently there's going to
be a 3rd Ed. some day.. The original "Gang of Four" book Design Patterns
(Erich Gamma, et al) is also a classic and belongs on any OO worker's
bookshelf.

"Generic Programming and the STL" by Matt Austern is a gentler introduction
to the STL and a good precursor to Alexandrescu. Once you've got Austern
under your belt, Vandevoorde & Josuttis's "C++ Templates", along with
Josuttis' "The C++ Standard Library" will find a place next to Stroustrup as
your standard C++ references.

For C++ idioms - not so much OOD - I'd definitely recommend all of Herb
Sutter's books as well as all of Scott Meyers' books.

-cd

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