How Not to Program in C++: 111 Broken Programs and 3 Working Ones, or Why Does 2+2=5986?

by Steve Oualline

Book Overview

Find the bugs in these broken programs and become a better programmer. Based on real-world errors, the puzzles range from easy (one wrong character) to mind twisting (errors with multiple threads). Match your wits against the author's and polish your language skills as you try to fix broken programs. Clues help along the way, and answers are provided at the back of the book.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1886411956
• ISBN13: 9781886411951
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: No Starch Press
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Good Book, But Know Thyself First

I enjoy this book, and recommend it. However, to get the most from the book, the reader should know themselves and their C++ level before reading it. For the novice programmer, this is probably a useful expenditure of time and money. Many of the bugs will be over the head of the novice or student reader. But, perhaps even years into the future, when they first encounter a problem previously seen in this book, they may recognize and fix it much more quickly. For the experienced programmer, the book is more amusing than educational, but there are still some good challenges. If one expects that every page will present a new puzzle, they will be disappointed, but there are enough challenges to make the book worthwhile. Finally, for the teacher, this book has some problems which are simple enough to use for a C++ class. For example, I use number 10 in my C++ course - boiled down to its essentials, it's: float A; A = 1/3; cout ...a mistake which experienced C++ programmers still make occasionally. The organization of the book includes randomized hints in a separate section, so that one can read the hint for problem 23 without seeing the hint for problem 24. The answers are similarly organized. While not straightforward, it does make one work at the solution. I prefer this organization to the other two competing books I own, Andrew Koenig's "C Traps and Pitfalls" and Alan Feuer's "The C Puzzle Book". A prospective buyer can see some sample problems at the publisher's web site, and this brings me to one drawback: no source code. Some of the problems are fairly long, and an archive of source to avoid re-typing would be welcome, if only to me. So...before buying this book, know thyself and set your expectations accordingly. Each of the other reviews makes valid points, depending upon the reviewer's experience level and expectations. I personally rate this book five stars.

Great tool to get back at it.

With the advent of good scientific tools like MatLab and MathCAD, I quit programming with an R & D project in C++ about 12 years ago as I was kicked out of the trenches into a higher level. Like any language skill, computer language skills are best learned by immersion. I have some reasons to get back in the game and ordered this this to immerse me into C++ without having to start with a 'Hello World' program. Of course, the author started with a 'Hellow World' program. It is the first technical book, in a long time, that I find difficult to put down. You may want to demote it one star, if you like sleep.

Fun C++ games

This is fives stars, but only for the right reader. If you like the C/C++ lint checker puzzles in the C/C++ User's Journal you will love this book. It's all seeing the little mistakes in other people's code, like a detective. Now, if you learn by other peoples mistakes you should buy this book immediately. If you are like the rest of us then your purchase should depend on whether you like programming detective work and puzzles. If you like that, then this is a great book.

Good refresher of C++

Are you the type of programmer who also likes logic puzzles, or chess problems and crosswords in newspapers? Did you ace the logic part of an SAT or GRE exam? Then this book is for you!You are learning C++. Or perhaps you need a refresher. You may not be facile with all the nuances. Learn by doing. The book has 111 programs that don't quite work. All you need is enough discipline to work through the programs without peeking at the answers until you have give it your best try. The book assumes that you are already mostly familiar with the syntax of C++. While some programs explore the subtleties of this, the author expects that you can at least code a simple C++ task.The programs are not antipatterns, though. I could not discern any higher level structure across the programs to suggest this. Perhaps the best way to regard this book is as a cheap refresher exam. Mental stretching exercises.

Just Plain Fun!!!

Okay, maybe I should say, just plain fun in a geeky kind of way. This book is relatively inexpensive, thus making it well worth the price. If you programm in C++ (or even in C, C#, or Java), then you will most likely enjoy this book. Unlike most computer books, this is not a book you read in order to learn how to to something. Rather, this is a book you read (1) to see if you already know how to do something, (2) if you like solving puzzles, (3) if you want to learn about a number of typical 'gotchas'. This book presents listings (about 111+). Each seems to have something specifically wrong with it. You try to figure out the issue with a hint. You are can then get additional hints using a jump table. You are also given the answer as to what the gotcha is. The book also contains a large number of trivia type information. This is folklore, funny stories, and more. This is a book that I find myself picking up over and over to read just a little farther. It is fun. It is interesting. I'm even learning a thing or two. I've enjoyed it so much, I'll be writing a review on it for CodeGuru.com!Congratulations to Steve Oualline on putting together one of the few fun-to-read computers books.