This book = training wheels

I really can't agree with the other reviews. The content of this book is on the basic side of things. It should be purchased if, and only if (big 'only if'), you are in the process of learning C or C++. A programmer with more than just an introductory knowledge of these two languages should be able to figure out all of the implemented programs in the text. The concepts about memory and memory use should have either 1) been taught to you when you learned to program or 2) again, you could have figured it out on your own. Furthermore, the book is incredibly overpriced, however you measure it- page count, content value, whatever- it doesn't add up to the cost.

Franek is clearly on the OOP bandwagon. The discussion of C is just a formality, I think, because at every turn he takes a shot at how bad memory management and leaking is in C programs. To me, this says he doesn't really know how to use the language (and/or an IDE with debugging tools) properly. By my estimation, C++ is more prone to memory problems...the joke about shooting yourself in the foot in various programming languages comes to mind.

Pass on this book. You can find more and better information elsewhere. Search Amazon for more memory management books, or a book on garbage collection.

Other Reviews

• A good book if you are a student.
• Good writing
• Very good information for the undergrad CS major
• This book = training wheels
• The book has little theory, and talks more about implementation details than anything else.