Useful Links for C++ Programming

Free Online C++ Books

Thinking In C++, by Bruce Eckel
This is an excellent book for learning C++ if you already know C. This was one of the two main books I used when I was learning C++.

The C++ Annotations, by Frank B. Brokken
I haven't read this book, but it looks like it's well organized and covers the object oriented aspects of C++ well.

C++, A Dialog. Programming with the C++ Standard Library, by Steve Heller
I haven't looked at this book yet. I just found it while web surfing.

C++ Programming on Wikibooks
I browsed these books a little and wasn't too impressed, but there might be some useful information here.

Free C++ Development Tools

Code::Blocks
This is an excellent IDE for C++ software development. It will work with many different compilers. There is one version of the setup program, codeblocks-10.05mingw-setup.exe, which also installs MinGW which includes the GCC C++ compiler and libraries.

If you are having trouble with Code::Blocks, check the forums for help.

Bloodshed Dev-C++
DDev-C++ is a popular IDE for learning C++, but in my opinion it is not as well designed or stable as Code::Blocks. Development and bug fixes seem to have stalled in 2005.

MinGW
MinGW is short for "Minimalist GNU for Windows" and is a collection of libraries, GNU programming tools and support files for developing software on the Windows platform. It is supported by both Code::Blocks and Dev-C++. Note that you can use GCC and the other GNU programming tools directly from the command line in a DOS window or Bourne shell window. You don't need to have an IDE.

Visual C++ 2010 Express Edition
Visual Studio, in my opinion, is the most powerful and full featured software development environment available. The Express Editions, while not having all the features of the editions you have to pay for, are quite full featured and can be used for serious sofware development.

C++ Reference Information

Bjarne Stroustrup's homepage
Bjarne Stroustrup is the father of C++. His homepage has a lot of useful reference information. Check out the C++ glossary and FAQs.

LearnCpp.com
C++ and Object Oriented Programming Tutorials

cplusplus.com - The C++ Resources Network
C++ Tutorials, reference information, forums and more.

C++ Home
AA C++ blog with lots of useful posts and reference information.

Using the GNU Compiler Collection
This is the user manual for the GCC compiler. GCC is the compiler included in MinGW.


by Brian Bird
for CS133G, Beginning C++ Programming for Games
Lane Community College