Hello, C++!
Foreword to Introducing C++ by Frances Buontempo
C++ is a big language, but it is not well served by a big book. This is especially true for an introduction to the language. An introduction is a beginning, not an everything. You want preparation, not intimidation. You want an on-ramp, not the north face of the Eiger. The first steps should encourage you to take the next steps rather than scare you off the path.
And that’s the beginning Fran has given you. This introduction is complete, but not in the sense that it braindumps everything a C++ guru of many decades standing might know. It equips you with the skills to write real code, the freedom to choose where you want to go next, and the confidence to follow through. This book may be the beginning of your C++ journey, but it’s also a journey in its own right, one that starts in the foothills of “Hello, world!” and travels into the world of stock prices and asset trading.
But make no mistake, this is not some passive tourist experience where you cruise past the sights of the language and its library from the window of a tour bus. This is a walking route that takes in landmarks and alleyways, paved streets and potholes, working code and compilation errors. You’ll get a feel for the place and what it’s like to live and work there. Fran is your guide. She knows the sights, the sites, and how to steer you clear of any trouble.
This is a book of doing. Sit with the book open, crouched — or upright, the posture is yours to choose — over a keyboard. You’ve got an editor brimming with brace-laden code, a console flowing with commands and messages, and inputs and outputs, all surrounded by a flotilla of open browser tabs. Every page of this book is bursting with an invitation to do something — something to try for yourself, play with, puzzle over, be delighted by, and build on.
Fran offers careful and deliberate guidance, filling in the gaps other guides either skip over or get lost in. She presents a simpler path, while ensuring your progress is real. She does not oversimplify or pull any punches — and C++ can summon quite the punch. When you’re coding in the zone and your code is working, the going’s great; when things are off, however, C++ can be unforgiving. Fran offers the understanding and support you need.
Good habits — from design to testing — line your route through the language. Constructs and concepts are introduced on an as-needed basis rather than thrown at you in bulk. You will learn and employ language mechanisms, library features, and techniques many experienced C++ developers might consider advanced or be unaware of. The practical flow of this book, however, means they feel appropriate and in service of the problem being solved. No fanfare, no scaremongering, no infodumps, just the right tool for the job.
OK, are you ready? Let’s take those first steps!
