📖 Overview
A Tour of C++ is a concise technical guide that introduces readers to the C++ programming language. Written by C++'s creator Bjarne Stroustrup, it covers the core features and concepts required for modern C++ development.
The book progresses from fundamental topics like types, variables, and control structures to advanced subjects including templates, concurrency, and generic programming. Each chapter includes examples and explanations that build upon previous material in a structured sequence.
The content reflects the evolution of C++ through its various standards and updates, with particular focus on C++17 and C++20 features. Code samples demonstrate practical applications while avoiding unnecessary complexity.
This work stands as both an introduction for newcomers and a refresher for experienced programmers, emphasizing the language's commitment to performance, abstraction, and resource management principles. The text represents Stroustrup's vision for how C++ can be used effectively in modern software development.
👀 Reviews
Readers value this book as a compact reference for experienced programmers wanting to learn modern C++. Many cite its concise nature and focus on C++17/20 features as strengths.
Liked:
- Brief chapters that get straight to the point
- Clear code examples
- Coverage of recent language features
- Works well as a refresher for those returning to C++
Disliked:
- Too advanced for beginners
- Some topics covered too quickly
- Not enough exercises or practice problems
- Price high for its length
Ratings:
Amazon: 4.5/5 (500+ reviews)
Goodreads: 4.3/5 (800+ ratings)
Sample review quotes:
"Perfect for experienced developers who need to get up to speed with modern C++" -Amazon reviewer
"Not for learning C++ from scratch - you'll get lost quickly" -Goodreads reviewer
"The examples are clear but more exercises would help reinforce concepts" -Amazon reviewer
📚 Similar books
The C++ Programming Language by Bjarne Stroustrup
A full reference guide that expands on the concepts introduced in A Tour of C++ with detailed explanations of language features and programming techniques.
Effective C++ by Scott Meyers The book presents specific guidelines and idioms for writing robust C++ code through practical examples and best practices.
C++ Concurrency in Action by Anthony Williams The text provides comprehensive coverage of multithreading and concurrent programming in modern C++, building upon foundational language concepts.
Modern C++ Design by Andrei Alexandrescu The book explores advanced C++ programming techniques through template metaprogramming and generic programming patterns.
Exceptional C++ by Herb Sutter The text presents solutions to complex C++ programming problems through practical puzzles that focus on exception safety and resource management.
Effective C++ by Scott Meyers The book presents specific guidelines and idioms for writing robust C++ code through practical examples and best practices.
C++ Concurrency in Action by Anthony Williams The text provides comprehensive coverage of multithreading and concurrent programming in modern C++, building upon foundational language concepts.
Modern C++ Design by Andrei Alexandrescu The book explores advanced C++ programming techniques through template metaprogramming and generic programming patterns.
Exceptional C++ by Herb Sutter The text presents solutions to complex C++ programming problems through practical puzzles that focus on exception safety and resource management.
🤔 Interesting facts
🔸 Bjarne Stroustrup created C++ at Bell Labs in 1979, initially calling it "C with Classes" before renaming it to C++ in 1983.
🔸 "A Tour of C++" was specifically written to be a quick introduction for experienced programmers, designed to be read in about 5-10 hours.
🔸 The book's content closely follows the C++ Core Guidelines, which Stroustrup co-authored with Herb Sutter to establish consistent best practices for modern C++.
🔸 Despite creating one of the world's most influential programming languages, Stroustrup maintains that "within C++, there is a much smaller and cleaner language struggling to get out."
🔸 The updated Second Edition (2018) includes coverage of C++17 features, showing how much the language has evolved from its original design focusing on "zero-overhead abstractions."