C++ Programming for Non-C Programmers

All HOTT courses are available face-to-face, remote-live, on-demand or on-site at your facility. 

This C++ programming course provides an accelerated introduction to the most essential syntactical components of the C and C++ languages on the first day, prior to four days of focus on object-oriented programming with C++. The course begins by introducing the built in data types, fundamental control constructs, and rich expression operator repertoire common to both C and C+. The remainder of the course teaches object-oriented programming using features of C++, congruent with the

C++ for C Programmers course. Hands on exercises are performed throughout each day to demonstrate key concepts and assure mastery by the student.

Course Prerequisites

Prior programming experience, though not necessarily in C or C++. Some prior knowledge of basic C syntax is helpful but not required.

Course Overview

ANSI C++ Fundamentals

• Block Structure of C and C++ Programs
• Fundamentals of Syntax
• Built in Data Types
• The Preprocessor and Macros
• Standard Runtime Libraries and Header Files

Data Types, Storage, Classes, and Scope

• Data Types and Qualifiers
• Constants and String Literals
• Static versus Automatic Storage
• Scope and Variables
• Initialization Rules

Operators and Expressions

• Arithmetic, Logical, and Bit Operators
• Precedence and Associativity
• Assignment
• Type Conversion Rules
• Type Casting

Flow Control Constructs

• Conditional Constructs: if, switch
• Looping Constructs: while, do, for
• Programming Style

Pointers

• Advantages of Pointers
• Uses of Pointers
• Declaring Pointers
• Pointer and Address Arithmetic
• Initializing and Dereferencing Pointers
• Pointers vs. Arrays

Functions

• Purpose of Functions
• Functions versus Inlining
• The Argument Stack
• Passing by Value
• Passing by Reference
• Declaring External Functions
• Function Prototyping

Moving from C to C++

• New Compiler Directives
• Stream Console I/O
• Explicit Operators
• Standard Libraries
• Data Control Capabilities

Handling Data

• New Declaration Features
• Initialization and Assignment
• Enumerated Types
• The bool Type
• Constant Storage
• Pointers to Constant Storage
• Constant Pointers
• References
• Constant Reference Arguments
• Volatile Data
• Global Data

Functions

• Function Prototypes and Type Checking
• Default Function Data Types
• Function Overloading
• Problems with Function Overloading
• Name Resolution
• Promotions and Conversions
• Call by Value
• Reference Declarations
• Call-by-Reference and Reference Types
• References in Function Return
• Constant Argument Types
• Conversion of Parameters Using Default Initializers
• Providing Default Arguments
• Inline Functions

Creating and Using Objects

• Creating Automatic Objects
• Creating Dynamic Objects
• Calling Object Methods Constructors

Initializing Member consts

• Initializer List Syntax
• Allocating Resources in Constructor
• Destructors
• Block and Function Scope
• File and Global Scope
• Class Scope
• Scope Resolution Operator ::
• Using Objects as Arguments
• Objects as Function Return Values
• Constant Methods

Containment Relationships

• Dynamic Memory Management
• Advantages of Dynamic Memory
• Allocation
• Static, Automatic, and Heap Memory
• Free Store Allocation with new and delete
• Handling Memory Allocation Errors

Controlling Object Creation

• Object Copying and Copy Constructor
• Automatic Copy Constructor
• Conversion Constructor

Inheritance

• Inheritance and Reuse
• Composition vs. Inheritance
• Inheritance: Centralized Code
• Inheritance: Maintenance and Revision

       - Public, Private and Protected Members

       - Redefining Behavior in Derived Classes

       - Designing Extensible Software Systems

• Syntax for Public Inheritance
• Use of Common Pointers
• Constructors and Initialization
• Inherited Copy Constructors
• Destructors and Inheritance
• Public, Protected, Private Inheritance

Streaming I/O

• Streams and the iostream Library
• Built-in Stream Objects
• Stream Manipulators
• Stream Methods
• Input/Output Operators
• Character Input
• String Streams
• Formatted I/O
• File Stream I/O
• Overloading Stream Operators
• Persistent Objects

Introduction to Object Concepts

• The Object Programming Paradigm
• Object-Orientated Programming Definitions
• Information Hiding and Encapsulation
• Separating Interface and Implementation
• Classes and Instances of Objects
• Overloaded Objects and Polymorphism

Templates

• Purpose of Template Classes
• Constants in Templates
• Templates and Inheritance
• Container Classes
• Use of Libraries

Strings in C++

• Character Strings
• The String Class
• Operators on Strings
• Member Functions of the String Class

Exceptions

• Types of Exceptions
• Trapping and Handling Exceptions
• Triggering Exceptions
• Handling Memory Allocation Errors

C++ Program Structure

• Organizing C++ Source Files
• Integrating C and C++ Projects
• Using C in C++

Reliability Considerations in C++ Projects

• Function Prototypes
• Strong Type Checking
• Constant Types
• C++ Access Control Techniques

Polymorphism in C++

• Definition of Polymorphism
• Calling Overridden Methods
• Upcasting
• Accessing Overridden Methods
• Virtual Methods and Dynamic Binding
• Virtual Destructors
• Abstract Base Classes and Pure
• Virtual Methods

Multiple Inheritance

• Derivation from Multiple Base Classes
• Base Class Ambiguities
• Virtual Inheritance

           - Virtual Base Classes

           - Virtual Base Class Information

Declaring and Defining Classes

• Components of a Class
• Class Structure
• Class Declaration Syntax
• Member Data
• Built-in Operations
• Constructors and Initialization
• Initialization vs. Assignment
• Class Type Members
• Member Functions and Member Accessibility
• Inline Member Functions
• Friend Functions
• Static Members
• Modifying Access with a Friend Class

Operator Overloading

• Advantages and Pitfalls of Overloading
• Member Operator Syntax and Examples
• Class Assignment Operators
• Class Equality Operators
• Non-Member Operator Overloading
• Member and Non-Member Operator Functions
• Operator Precedence
• The this Pointer
• Overloading the Assignment Operator
• Overloading Caveats

The Standard Template Library

• STL Containers
• Parameters Used in Container Classes
• The Vector Class
• STL Algorithms
• Use of Libraries