What is the best approach for a Java developer to learn C++ [closed]

Answer 1

I would start with Effective C++ and More Effective C++ by Scott Meyers. These two books go over some really good best-practices for C++.

http://www.aristeia.com/books.html

Answer 2

Learn Qt. Trust me on this; I'm both a Java and C++ developer; I can tell you Qt makes C++ language closer to Java. Don't just learn the bare-bone C++.

C++ with Qt makes you infinitely more productive. I used to combine so many different libraries (Boost, Intel's, database connectors, etc..) just to achieve the kind of stuff we do (high-performance/real-time computing). At the end, I found that more than 80% of what I need is already included in Qt.

Not to mention, imo, Qt has the best documentation on any framework/library I've worked on, which makes it very easy to just learn everything on your own.

Try it, and see for yourself.

Disclaimer: I'm just a developer--I dont work for Nokia. =p

Answer 3

"C++ for Java Programmers" by Mark Allen Weiss is a good intro book for seasoned Java programmers.

Answer 4

This is going to sound a little funny, but you asked for the best way, not the quickest. I'd suggest you start by learning C first, before you learn C++. Kernighan and Ritchie is one of the best language books ever written. When you know C and Java, you'll be able to write good, clear programs in a sensible subset of C++ with almost no additional effort.

Answer 5

K&R and Stroustrup are classics, and eventually you should get them, but I don't think they are good introduction for C++ beginners. Thinking in modern C++ is thinking in classes, templates, exceptions, and streams, none of which available in C language.

I would recommend a college-level textbook on C++ like Deitel and Deitel.

After playing around, you should focus on learning to write a class that behaves like a built-in class. That means providing a copy constructor, operator=, operator==, operator<<, etc.. Along the way you'll meet various concepts embedded in the language of C++. I would agree with others on Effective C++ is a must read once you are comfortable with the basics.

Answer 6

I strongly disagree with learning C first, and with trying tgo learn C++ from the Effective books, excellent though they are. Instead, get hold of a copy of Accelerated C++ by Andrew Koenig and Barabra Moo - this is written by two of the original C++ development group and will teach you how to use modern C++ features.