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Developing C++ Software by Russel Winder Recommended

ISBN: 0-471-92384-2       Publisher: Wiley       Pages: 400pp       Price: £19.95.

Categories:   object oriented     advanced c++     writing solid code

Reviewed by Alan Lenton in C Vu 3-3 (Mar 1991)

Much of the material has been hastily produced with the aid of the word processor's search and replace function in order to cash in on what is perceived as a new fad. I was pleasantly surprised, therefore, when I received Developing C++ Software to discover that I had been given a quality book to review.

The book is a solid exposition of the C++ language, well illustrated with code, and with some thought provoking examples - all with comprehensive answers (I hate books that only have the answers to the easy questions!). The emphasis is on obtaining consistent and structured code which works and is easy to debug. While the author tends to get a bit dogmatic some times - 'it is conventional to use while(1)... [for]... an infinite loop.'- at least half the programmers I know use for(;;) - he hammers away at the importance of writing in a consistent style.

It is this that, to me, gives the book its special value to those who are learning programming on their own. If you are learning to program in a commercial environment, you will be part of a team, and there will be a defined style into which your programming must fit. There are also others available to help you with hints & tips which speed up your learning.

As a 'loner' you have to learn these lessons the hard way. Russel Winder's book will help you develop the techniques that will stand you in good stead, and make your code portable. I know - you don't expect to have your code run on any other machine... Don't you believe it!

C++ is not 'pure' object oriented language. It has elements of both object orientation and abstract data typing in it. Many books jumble these two technique together, but one of the nice things about this book is that the two are to some extent seperated. For instance a program using binary trees is developed first using abstract data types, and then using object oriented methods. Both, of course are equally valid - the reader can choose to program in the way that feels comfortable!

I enjoyed using this book - though it was by no means light reading - and it will certainly find a permanent place on my bookshelf. Recommended.