C++ Texbooks

[pirahna1]

I searched, but search is failing me (C+ is ignored because it's too common )

Just curious, what books did you guys use in school / what are the best and most comprehensive books on C++ programming? My school has a general C++ course and the textbook (can't find it, my school took down their textbook section ) looks like it doesn't cover all of C++. In high school (about 6 years ago) I took a course in C++, so I know the barebones, but I forgot the rest. I'm looking for a book that I can teach myself over the summer and will allow me to learn as much of C++ as possible. BTW I'm looking to learn C++ so I can write some code for games (I use Source SKD, Game Maker 7, programs like that).

I was also able to download MS Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition and MS Visual C# 2005 Express Edition through MS's Dreamspark program. So I'll also take recommendations on books for those two languages as well.

Thanks for any help!

[Maguspk]

Do you know any other high level languages?

[Tajin]

http://www.gamedev.net or .com has good recommendations.

[octopus]

I've always liked the wrox books series - the Professional (insert here) books.

I don't have one for Visual C++ though so I don't know whether it's good or not.

[Pyree]

If you're doing programming for games, don't use C#. C# is much better suited for making tools. And it sounds like you think C++ and MS Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition are two different languages; they're not. I'm going to school specifically for video game programming, and the primary textbook that we've used so far is:
http://www.amazon.com/Primer-Plus-5th-S ... 86&sr=11-1

Also, just learning how to program in C++ won't really be enough to program a game. There are a lot of little things about game architecture that you'll need to learn as well, such as the game loop and the various game engines (physics, AI, graphics, etc. are some common engines). To learn about these, I'd reccomend the following site and textbook:
http://www.gamedev.net/
http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Game ... 06&sr=11-1

Other things that you might want to look into and possibly use in games include:
DirectX or OpenGL (graphics)
FMod (sound)
Lua (scripting language)

Now, keep in mind that making the jump from Game Maker and Source SDK to C++ is quite significant. They really aren't that much alike. Good luck.

[Senoska]

If you're doing programming for games, don't use C#. C# is much better suited for making tools. And it sounds like you think C++ and MS Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition are two different languages; they're not. I'm going to school specifically for video game programming, and the primary textbook that we've used so far is:
http://www.amazon.com/Primer-Plus-5th-S ... 86&sr=11-1

Also, just learning how to program in C++ won't really be enough to program a game. There are a lot of little things about game architecture that you'll need to learn as well, such as the game loop and the various game engines (physics, AI, graphics, etc. are some common engines). To learn about these, I'd reccomend the following site and textbook:
http://www.gamedev.net/
http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Game ... 06&sr=11-1

Other things that you might want to look into and possibly use in games include:
DirectX or OpenGL (graphics)
FMod (sound)
Lua (scripting language)

Now, keep in mind that making the jump from Game Maker and Source SDK to C++ is quite significant. They really aren't that much alike. Good luck.

Visual C++ is a little bit different from normal C++, it has microsoft foundation classes
but that's a minor change at best >_>b

Just figured I'd throw that out there.

[Tajin]

You can however make most stuff in Visual C without touching MFC.

[Senoska]

You can however make most stuff in Visual C without touching MFC.

Touché

[Correction]

Are you looking to learn the STL and code an entire application in C++?

If you aren't, you're better off learning how to program in C and Java before diving into the C++ libraries. There are no good 'how to program in C++' books because delving into the STL is a nightmare for a programmer new to mid-level object-oriented programming languages. Once you have the fundamentals of OOP down learning C++ is just a matter of owning the right reference books.

I own:

http://www.research.att.com/~bs/3rd.html

and

http://books.google.com/books?id=n9VEG2 ... -thumbnail

both of which would make poor textbooks, but at least Josuttis organizes things very well.

[Koga]

C++ Blackbook
It's how I tought myself.

Probably not completely up to date anymore, but still works for the basics.
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Book-Compre ... 1576107779

[pirahna1]

I'm really not sure what I want to code at the moment. But I figure I'd rather (re)learn a language I'm a little familiar with. Plus I heard that C++ is used in some places for game coding (I think you can add C++ code to Gmaker and Source for different scripts). That's why I asked about C++.

But if there are better languages used in the games industry, I'm all for suggestions!

Like I said, my school, and all the school's around here, have no game design courses. I'm currently looking at DeVry's online program, but I wanted to teach myself the basics first. I'll have to check out these links first though. Thanks for the replies!

[Kaelan]

It's usually C++. I mean, sometimes you'll find like flash games and stuff made in java, but most commercial games are C++.

[netz]

It's usually C++. I mean, sometimes you'll find like flash games and stuff made in java, but most commercial games are C++.

What? D:

[Tajin]

Games made in flash, and games for cell phones made in Java. I don't get the question >.>

[netz]

Games made in flash, and games for cell phones made in Java. I don't get the question >.>

Sorry, the wording was a bit ambiguous if you read it like a valley girl would have said it. I dropped the "and stuff" to read it as "flash games made in java" and I was thinking wtf x.x

[Dmitry]

I didn't have the luxury of a C++ book in high school. lol

[Tajin]

Well no offense, but what kind of school teaches programming (since 1990) without some books >.>

[Correction]

Well no offense, but what kind of school teaches programming (since 1990) without some books >.>

There still isn't a good ActionScript book. I learned almost everything from the Flex Builder help file. Sometimes the textbooks take a few years to get halfway decent.

Not that any school should be teaching ActionScript, mind you.

[MisterBob]

Well no offense, but what kind of school teaches programming (since 1990) without some books >.>

There still isn't a good ActionScript book. I learned almost everything from the Flex Builder help file. Sometimes the textbooks take a few years to get halfway decent.

Not that any school should be teaching ActionScript, mind you.

I bet Devry does, they are teh awesome!!1

[pirahna1]

Well no offense, but what kind of school teaches programming (since 1990) without some books >.>

There still isn't a good ActionScript book. I learned almost everything from the Flex Builder help file. Sometimes the textbooks take a few years to get halfway decent.

Not that any school should be teaching ActionScript, mind you.

I bet Devry does, they are teh awesome!!1

Does that mean DeVry sucks? I was planning on taking their online game design major...
Maybe I'll check out Westwood online...