C++ Timesaving Techniques

Author’s Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge my employer, Research Systems, for allowing me the time and space to work on this book. In addition, I would like to thank the following people: Carol, for being there and listening; my children, for bringing a ray of sunshine into a gloomy day; and, of course, all of the people behind the scenes as well: the editors, the marketing folk, and that nice guy who kept harassing me for stuff. (Thanks, Chris!)


Author’s Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge my employer, Research Systems, for allowing me the time and space to work on this book. In addition, I would like to thank the following people: Carol, for being there and listening; my children, for bringing a ray of sunshine into a gloomy day; and, of course, all of the people behind the scenes as well: the editors, the marketing folk, and that nice guy who kept harassing me for stuff. (Thanks, Chris!)

Introduction

C++ is a flexible, powerful programming language with hundreds of thousands of applications. However, the knowledge of how to take advantage of its full potential comes only with time and experience. That’s where this book comes in. Think of it as a “cookbook” for solving your programming problems, much as The Joy of Cooking is a guide to solving your dinner dilemmas.
C++ Timesaving Techniques For Dummies is a book for the beginning-to-advanced C++ programmer who needs immediate answers to the prob­lems that crop up in the professional software-development world. I assume that you have prior programming experience, as well as experi­ence specifically with the C++ programming language. “Fluff” — like dis­cussions of looping structures or defining variables, or the basics of compiling applications — is kept to a minimum here. Instead, I offer quick, step-by-step instructions for solving specific problems in C++. Each technique includes example code — which you are welcome to use in your own applications, or modify as you see fit. This is literally a case of “steal this code, please.” C++ is a language that lends itself well to component-based design and implementation. This means that you can take a piece from here and a piece from there to implement the solution that you have in mind.

C++ Timesaving Techniques For Dummies is not an operating-system-specific (or even compiler-specific) book. The techniques and code that you find here should work on all compilers that support the standard C++ language, and on all operating systems for which a standard com­piler exists. This book is intended to be as useful to the Unix programmer as to the Microsoft Windows programmer, and just as useful for program­ming with X-windows as it is for .Net. My goal in writing this book is to empower you with some of the stronger features of C++, as well as some great tips and methods to solve everyday problems, without the headaches and lost time that go with trying to fig­ure out how to use those tools. C++ provides simple, fast, powerful solu­tions to meet the demands of day-to-day programming — my goal is to save you time while making the tools clear and easy to use.

Saving Time with This Book

The Timesaving Techniques For Dummies books focus on big-payoff techniques that save you time, either on the spot or somewhere down the road. And these books get to the point in a hurry, with step-by-step instructions to pace you through the tasks you need to do, without any of the fluff you don’t want. I’ve iden­tified more than 70 techniques that C++ programmers need to know to make the most of their time. In addi­tion, each technique includes code samples that make programming a breeze. Decide for yourself how to use this book: Read it cover to cover if you like, or skip right to the technique that interests you the most.

In C++ Timesaving Techniques For Dummies, you can find out how to

1^ Reduce time-consuming tasks: I’m letting you in on more than 70 tips and tricks for your C++ sys­tem, so you can spend more time creating great results and less time fiddling with a feature so that it works correctly.

1^ Take your skills up a notch: You’re already famil­iar with the basics of using C++. Now this book takes you to the next level, helping you become a more powerful programmer.

1^ Work with the basics of C++ to meet your needs: I
show you how to bend the fundamentals of object-oriented programming and the pre-processor so that your programs work faster and more reliably.

1^ Improve your skills with types, classes, arrays, and templates: Fine-tuning your abilities with these elements will improve your programs’ functionality and make your code more readable.

1^ Understand the finer points of input and output:
Improving the way you work with input and out­put will reduce memory loss and increase speed.

1^ Use built-in functionality and utilities: Gaining familiarity with these features will help you get the most out of what C++ already offers.

1^ Improve your debugging skills: Getting better at debugging will speed up the whole programming process.
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