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Develop a Professional C++ Application in 21 Days by Mickey Williams Highly Recommended

ISBN: 0 672 30593 3       Publisher: Sams       Pages: 402pp+CD       Price: £27-50

Categories:   advanced c++     microsoft

Reviewed by Eddie Boyle in C Vu 9-2 (Jan 1997)

The author has targeted the developer who has grasped the main concepts of Visual C++ programming but wants to progress towards real applications that are solid and reliable. To achieve this aim there is a small but useful working example of a lightweight Information Manager ( InfoMan) which is specified and developed throughout the book. The InfoMan project is described in real life terms. The reader is lead through the various stages of development and is shown the problems and difficulties that occur. The 'management' give unclear descriptions and then change their minds. These problems are dealt with and methods are given to try to eliminate them. This approach and advice is valid for any project in any language.

InfoMan is not the typically ideal example project that other books use. This one has to be rewritten when necessary. The CD has all of the various InfoMan documents and code that show the project's gradual progress. This even includes the various paper prototypes for screenshots that are used before coding even begins. This is the literary equivalent of sitting beside a developer and watching them work. A nice feature of the CD is that it is divided into 4 parts like the book. You only have to install the relevant part at any one time rather than fill your entire disc.

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone using Visual C++ and also to most other developers.