Department of Computer Science

Unit 1, Introduction to C++

Preview

Topic 1: The history and overview of C++ will give some idea of why the language is as it is. Relating features of C++ to those in Eiffel will, it is hoped, make it easier to understand.

Topic 2: The program structure and basic data types, declarations, and statements. This topic will introduce the very basic elements and enable you to write very simple programs.

Objectives

At the end of this you should be able to:

• write a tiny C++ program,
• see how C++ and Eiffel have some similar constructs despite superficial differences,

Unit

1. Firstly get access to a C++ compiler, see getting a compiler earlier
2. Read the material in Introduction to C++ the first section of the C++ notes ``Introduction to C++''. This is general material but it might be useful to get a better idea of the history of the language.
3. Read the second section, C++ after Java or Eiffel, it is a brief description of the similarities and differences between Eiffel and C++.
4. The next section, ``Essential features of object-oriented languages'' is not important, it is about basic object oriented concepts with which you should be familiar. It is intended for people with no experience of object oriented programming.
5. Now get started with practical C++ programming: read the beginning of the ``C++ Basic Components and Layout'' up to and including sub-section  . Then do the exercises the answers are in the appendix.
6. Lastly the Second example. This does not have an associated exercise.

Summary

C++ is a very old language. Under the surface it has similar constructs to Eiffel though this is not always obvious. However there are some differences that are hard to understand if your only previous experience is Eiffel. You should now have written and run a small C++ program.

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Page generated: 2002-11-04 by Bob Dickerson

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