Best Book to learn Visual C++ .NET?

[James Thompson]

I'm sure this question has been asked a hundred times. I did a google
search and found some older post and some mixed reviews. I am looking
for an updated opinion on which book is the best for learning Visual
C++ .NET. A little background, I have been programming C# for the
past year and I was a Visual Basic programmer for about 5 years before
that. I created a new project in C++ .NET and it is like night and day
compared to C#. I was totally lost. Looking for the best book to
help me learn.

Thanks for any input on this.

James.

 

[Bo Persson]

[...] I have been programming C# for the
past year and I was a Visual Basic programmer for about 5 years before
that. I created a new project in C++ .NET and it is like night and day
compared to C#. I was totally lost. Looking for the best book to
help me learn.

I have made this suggestion just yesterday
to someone in one of these groups, but here
it goes again:
You seem to know Windows programming in
general and MS' tool chain in particluar.
Your problems seem to be with C++. I might
be wrong, but if it is so, I'd suggest you
learn C++.
For a steep learning curve I'd suggest
Koenig/Moo's "Accelerated C++".

"Accelerated C++" is a *very* good introduction to C++ as its own
language, without trying to teach it as an "improved C". I liked it a
lot.

Somewhat
slower is Stroustrup's "The C++ Programming
Language".

Stroustrup explains a lot more about the language, in a 1000 pages...

Lengthy explanations you'll find
in Lippman's "C++ Primer".

Haven't read this one.

Bo Persson
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Wil]

Here's a suggestion, since you are already familiar with
programming in C#. There are two books in the "Deitel"
series that are very much alike - one of them in C# and
the other one in Managed C++. A lot of the code examples
are in fact the same, but they of course are written in
the 2 different languages. By comparing the examples
written in MC++ to the same examples written in C#, with
which you are already familiar, you can get up to speed on
the concepts behind C++ (e.g., the explicit use of
pointers rather than the implicit use of references).
These two similar books are "C# - How to Program" by
Deitel et al. and "Visual C++.NET - A Managed Code
Approach for Experienced Programmers" by Deitel et al.

If you want a gentle but fairly thorough introduction to
C++ per se (i.e., ANSI-standard C++ rather than MS-
specific Visual C++), texts such as "Beginning C++ - The
Complete Language" by Horton or "C++ Primer Plus" by Prata
are commonly used by newcomers to the language.

Good luck!

 

[Mark Prenter]

Hi, I think I'm gonna have to throw in my 2 cents here....

I would HIGHLY recommend the book "Microsoft Visual C++ .NET Step by Step"
by Microsoft Press. I've found, through experience, that most Microsoft
Press books are really bad for beginners....maybe really bad for everyone.
But the "Step by Step" series seems to consistently be the exception. This
book goes over all the basics of programming object oriented .NET console
and GUI apps, and does so in a nice, easy to understand, way. I love this
book. Now I just wish there's a book that takes over where this one left
off. I tried buying the "Programming with Managed Extensions for Microsoft
C++ .NET", also by Microsoft Press, and this book is $hit. Totally
disjointed and undecipherable unless you've been programming C++ for
decades.

/\/\ark

 

[William DePalo [MVP VC++ ]]

I tried buying the "Programming with Managed Extensions for Microsoft
C++ .NET", also by Microsoft Press, and this book is $hit. Totally
disjointed and undecipherable unless you've been programming C++ for
decades.

FWIW: I have high hopes for "Essential Guide to Managed Extensions for C++"
(APress) which I just ordered from Amazon. If you are still looking for a
second book around the end of August, post here or drop me a note and I'll
tell you what I think of it.

Regards,
Will