More Exceptional C++: 40 More Engineering Puzzles, Programming Problems, and Solutions (AW C++ in Depth)
More Exceptional C++: 40 More Engineering Puzzles, Programming Problems, and Solutions (AW C++ in Depth) by Herb Sutter
- Binding:
- Paperback
- Number of Pages:
- 304
- ISBN:
- 020170434X
- Product Group:
- book
- Publisher:
- Addison Wesley
- Publication Date:
- Jan. 3, 2002
- BooksForGeeks.com ID:
- 1097
Aimed at advanced C++ developers who want to hone their programming chops even further, Herb Sutter's More Exceptional C++ borrows the format of his earlier title, Exceptional C++, and delivers some of today's best available thinking on the language in a handy and effective format. A compilation of the author's own experience and research on the thornier aspects of C++, this book will serve as a worthy resource for making sure you get the most out of this powerful language.
The concise text covers a range of challenging topics in C++ without attempting to be comprehensive. Each "item" is presented as a question for you to try and solve by yourself before the author presents his solution, plus additional detail as needed. For most topics, Sutter ends by giving his advice on the best practices (and gotcha's to avoid).
Early sections concentrate on using Standard Template Library (STL) container classes, such as removing items effectively, and the subtle differences between container types. Standout sections on designing custom templates (using specialisation techniques) and designing exception-safe classes will help you do more with your own classes. One entertaining problem here shows a number-guessing game (Mastermind) built as efficiently as possible using STL code (including expert-level use of generic functions to do much of the work).
Several problems on copy-on-write (COW) semantics for more efficient classes point out the issues surrounding code optimisation. (The author argues against a simplistic approach to optimising code, including an over-reliance on inlining functions. Several times, he points out the difficulty of getting COW code to work in multi-threaded projects.)
There has been a debate in the C++ community for years on whether it's possible to design truly "exception-safe" classes. Sutter points out the difficulty with a precise analysis of the issues surrounding exceptions and C++ constructors. Material on the finer points of inheriting classes (including when to avoid and when to use multiple inheritance in C++) will extend your class design options. A good section here is the author's explication of how to simulate COM/Java style interfaces in C++, which isn't immediately obvious, even to experienced C++ developers.
Later sections delve into code-maintenance issues, including advice for using macros, typedefs and namespaces. (Advice on migrating existing C++ code into namespaces will help you combine legacy code with other libraries.) A final appendix shows off some benchmarks for optimising strings using a variety of techniques.
Intelligent, provocative and demanding, More Exceptional C++ shows off why C++ continues to be a rich, complex and challenging language. Armed with titles such as this one, experienced C++ programmers can write better code and avoid pitfalls buried in the outer edges of their favourite language. --Richard Dragan
Reviews for More Exceptional C++: 40 More Engineering Puzzles, Programming Problems, and Solutions (AW C++ in Depth)
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more excellence from Sutter
Rated out of 5 stars, February 12st, 2007
If you liked its predecessor, you would do well to snap up this one, too. It's more of the same good stuff, in the same format: Sutter poses a question or series of questions, some of which are fairly general and some of which challenge you to spot mistakes in some code, and then uses it as a springboard to outline some best practices. There is more on exceptions, memory management, inheritance and polymorphism. You'll also discover several ways to get a stack trace and how to write a traits class.
There's also slightly more advanced material on smart pointer members and copy-on-write implementations of strings, which is pretty extensive, particularly with regard to its problems with threading.
This is not a reference book or the sort of volume you'd reach for to solve a specific problem. And Sutter's influence in the field means there's not a huge amount of fundamental stuff that hasn't diffused throughout the C++ literature since this book's publication, but reading the Exceptional C++ series is one of those things you just have to do if you want to call yourself a C++ programmer and there are few better ways to learn The C++ Way than quality time spent with More Exceptional C++. -
Phew
Rated out of 5 stars, December 12th, 2006
This is a great C++ book. Challenging and fun for every geek.
One warning though, this is not for the casual C++ programmer, its tough going. Just the way us programmers like it! -
If you're serious about C++, get this book!
Rated out of 5 stars, November 12th, 2002
There isn't really much that can be said about Sutter's books that hasn't already been said. If you're serious about C++ or want to be, then you simply have to own his books. The presentation style is always clear and to the point, the subject matter always enlightening. However, they are also books that you simply have to have to hand while working (personally, I can never remember all the details that he covers). I think that I've yet to come across a book in the Addison Wesley C++ In Depth series that doesn't score 5 stars! -
Another gem by a C++ guru!
Rated out of 5 stars, June 12th, 2002
This book follows on from the excellet 'Exceptional C++' and gives a deeper insight into C++ and the standard library. This book is not really possible to fault. It contains valuable information not readily available elsewhere, in a highly accessible format. Compulsory reading for any intermediate or better C++ developer. If you're hesitating about whether to buy this book, buy it.