book

Advanced C++

by Gazihan Alankus, Olena Lizina, Rakesh Mane, Vivek Nagarajan, Brian Price

October 2019

Intermediate to advanced

762 pages

14h 7m

English

Packt Publishing

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About the BookAbout the AuthorsLearning ObjectivesAudienceApproachHardware RequirementsSoftware RequirementsInstallation and SetupInstalling the Code BundleAdditional Resources
IntroductionManaging C++ ProjectsThe Code-Build-Test-Run LoopBuilding a CMake ProjectExercise 1: Using CMake to Generate Ninja Build FilesImporting a CMake Project into Eclipse CDTExercise 2: Importing the CMake File into Eclipse CDTExercise 3: Adding New Source Files to CMake and Eclipse CDTActivity 1: Adding a New Source-Header File Pair to the ProjectUnit TestingPreparing for the Unit TestsExercise 4: Preparing Our Project for Unit TestingBuilding, Running, and Writing Unit TestsExercise 5: Building and Running TestsExercise 6: Testing the Functionality of CodeActivity 2: Adding a New Class and Its TestUnderstanding Compilation, Linking, and Object File ContentsCompilation and Linking StepsExercise 7: Identifying Build StepsThe Linking StepDiving Deeper: Viewing Object FilesExercise 8: Exploring Compiled CodeDebugging C++ CodeExercise 9: Debugging with Eclipse CDTWriting Readable CodeIndentation and FormattingUse Meaningful Names as IdentifiersKeeping Algorithms Clear and SimpleExercise 10: Making Code ReadableActivity 3: Making Code More ReadableSummary
IntroductionC++ TypesC++ Fundamental TypesC++ LiteralsSpecifying Types – VariablesExercise 1: Declaring Variables and Exploring SizesSpecifying Types – FunctionsExercise 2: Declaring Functions Pointer TypesExercise 3: Declaring and Using Pointers Creating User TypesEnumerationsExercise 4: Enumerations – Old and New SchoolStructures and ClassesFraction ClassConstructors, Initialization, and DestructorsClass Special Member FunctionsImplicit Versus Explicit ConstructorsClass Special Member Functions – Compiler Generation RulesDefaulting and Deleting Special Member FunctionsRule of Three/Five and Rule of ZeroConstructors – Initializing the ObjectExercise 5: Declaring and Initializing FractionsValues Versus References and ConstExercise 6: Declaring and Using Reference TypesImplementing Standard OperatorsImplementing the Output Stream Operator (<<)Structuring Our CodeExercise 7: Adding Operators to the Fraction ClassFunction OverloadingClasses, Structs, and UnionsActivity 1: Graphics ProcessingSummary
IntroductionInheritance, Polymorphism, and InterfacesInheritance and Access SpecifiersAbstract Classes and InterfacesExercise 1: Implementing Game Characters with PolymorphismClasses, Structs, and Unions RevisitedVisibility, Lifetime, and AccessNamespacesTemplates – Generic ProgrammingWhat is Generic Programming?Introducing C++ TemplatesC++ Pre-Packaged TemplatesType Aliases – typedef and usingExercise 2: Implementing AliasesTemplates – More than Generic ProgrammingSubstitution Failure Is Not An Error – SFINAEFloating-Point RepresentationsConstexpr if ExpressionsNon-Type Template ArgumentsExercise 3: Implementing Stringify – specialization Versus constexprFunction Overloading RevisitedTemplate Type DeductionDisplaying the Deduced TypesTemplate Type Deduction – the DetailsSFINAE Expression and Trailing Return TypesClass TemplatesExercise 4: Writing a Class TemplateActivity 1: Developing a Generic "contains" Template FunctionSummary
IntroductionVariable Scope and LifetimeExceptions in C++The Need for ExceptionsStack UnwindingExercise 1: Implementing exceptions in Fraction and StackWhat Happens When an Exception is Thrown?Throw-by-Value or Throw-by-PointerStandard Library ExceptionsCatching ExceptionsExercise 2: Implementing Exception HandlersCMake Generator ExpressionsException Usage GuidelinesResource Management (in an Exceptional World) Resource Acquisition Is InitializationExercise 3: Implementing RAII for Memory and File HandlesSpecial Coding TechniquesC++ doesn't Need finallyRAII and the STLWho Owns This Object?Temporary ObjectsMove SemanticsImplementing a Smart PointerSTL Smart Pointersstd::unique_ptr std::shared_ptr std::weak_ptrSmart Pointers and Calling FunctionsExercise 4: Implementing RAII with STL Smart PointersRule of Zero/Five – A Different PerspectiveActivity 1: Implementing Graphics Processing with RAII and MoveWhen is a Function Called?Which Function to CallIdentifiersNamesName lookupArgument-Dependent LookupCaveat Emptor Exercise 5: Implementing Templates to Prevent ADL IssuesImplicit ConversionExplicit – Preventing Implicit Conversion Contextual ConversionExercise 6: Implicit and Explicit Conversions Activity 2: Implementing classes for Date CalculationsSummary
IntroductionThe Pointer to Implementation (PIMPL) IdiomLogical and Physical DependenciesThe Pointer to Implementation (PIMPL) IdiomAdvantages and Disadvantages of PIMPLImplementing PIMPL with unique_ptr<>unique_ptr<> PIMPL Special FunctionsExercise 1: Implementing a Kitchen with unique_ptr<>Function Objects and Lambda ExpressionsFunction PointersWhat is a Function Object?Exercise 2: Implementing function objectsstd::function<> templateExercise 3: Implementing callbacks with std::functionWhat is a Lambda Expression?Capturing data into LambdasExercise 4: Implementing LambdasVariadic TemplatesActivity 1: Implement a multicast event handler Summary
IntroductionSynchronous, Asynchronous, and Threaded ExecutionConcurrencyParallelismSynchronous ExecutionAsynchronous ExecutionExercise 1: Creating Threads in a Different WayReview Synchronization, Data Hazards, and Race ConditionsExercise 2: Writing an Example of Race ConditionsData HazardsRAW DependencyWAR DependencyWAW DependencyResource SynchronizationEvent SynchronizationDeadlockMove Semantics for Multithreading ClosuresExercise 3: Moving Objects to a Thread FunctionExercise 4: Creating and Working with an STL Container of Threads Futures, Promises, and AsyncExercise 5: Synchronization with Future ResultsActivity 1: Creating a Simulator to Model the Work of the Art GallerySummary
IntroductionReviewing the I/O Portion of the Standard LibraryPredefined Standard Stream ObjectsExercise 1: Overriding the Left Shift Operator, <<, for User-Defined TypesFile I/O Implementation ClassesExercise 2: Reading and Writing User-Defined Data Types to a FileString I/O ImplementationExercise 3: Creating a Function for Replacement Words in a StringI/O ManipulatorsI/O Manipulators for Changing the Numeric Base of the Stream Exercise 4: Displaying Entered Numbers in Different Numeric BasesI/O Manipulators for Floating-Point FormattingExercise 5: Displaying Entered Floating-Point Numbers with Different FormattingI/O Manipulators for Boolean FormattingI/O Manipulators for Field Width and Fill ControlI/O Manipulators for Other Numeric FormattingI/O Manipulators for Whitespace ProcessingMaking Additional StreamsHow to Make an Additional Stream – CompositionExercise 6: Composing the Standard Stream Object in the User-Defined ClassHow to Make an Additional Stream – InheritanceExercise 7: Inheriting the Standard Stream ObjectLeveraging Asynchronous I/OAsynchronous I/O on Windows PlatformsAsynchronous I/O on Linux PlatformsExercise 8: Asynchronously Reading from a File in LinuxAsynchronous Cross-Platform I/O LibrariesInteraction of Threads and I/OExercise 9: Developing a Thread-Safe Wrapper for std::coutUsing MacrosActivity 1: The Logging System for The Art Gallery SimulatorSummary
IntroductionAssertionsExercise 1: Writing and Testing Our First AssertionStatic AssertionsExercise 2: Testing Static AssertionsUnderstanding Exception HandlingExercise 3: Performing Exception Handling Unit Testing and Mock TestingExercise 4: Creating Our First Unit Test CaseUnit Testing Using Mock ObjectsExercise 5: Creating Mock ObjectsBreakpoints, Watchpoints, and Data VisualizationWorking with the Stack Data StructureActivity 1: Checking the Accuracy of the Functions Using Test Cases and Understanding Test-Driven Development (TDD)Summary
IntroductionPerformance MeasurementManual EstimationStudying Generated Assembly CodeManual Execution TimingExercise 1: Timing a Program's ExecutionTiming Programs without Side EffectsSource Code InstrumentationExercise 2: Writing a Code Timer ClassRuntime ProfilingExercise 3: Using perf to Profile ProgramsOptimization StrategiesCompiler-Based OptimizationLoop UnrollingExercise 4: Using Loop Unrolling OptimizationsProfile Guided OptimizationExercise 5: Using Profile Guided OptimizationParallelizationExercise 6: Using Compiler ParallelizationSource Code Micro OptimizationsUsing the std::vector Container EfficientlyExercise 7: Optimizing Vector GrowthShort-Circuit Logical OperatorsExercise 8: Optimizing Logical OperatorsBranch PredictionExercise 9: Optimization for Branch PredictionFurther OptimizationsCache Friendly CodeExercise 10: Exploring the Effect of Caches on Data StructuresExercise 11: Measuring the Impact of Memory AccessCachingPrefetchingEffects of Caching on AlgorithmsOptimizing for Cache-FriendlinessExercise 12: Exploring the Cost of Heap AllocationsStruct of Arrays PatternExercise 13: Using the Struct of Arrays PatternAlgorithmic OptimizationsExercise 14: Optimizing a Word Count ProgramActivity 1: Optimizing a Spell Check AlgorithmSummary

1. Anatomy of Portable C++ SoftwareActivity 1: Adding a New Source-Header File Pair to the ProjectActivity 2: Adding a New Class and Its TestActivity 3: Making Code More Readable2A. No Ducks Allowed – Types and DeductionActivity 1: Graphics Processing2B. No Ducks Allowed – Templates and DeductionActivity 1: Developing a Generic "contains" Template Function3. The Distance between Can and Should – Objects, Pointers and InheritanceActivity 1: Implementing Graphics Processing with RAII and MoveActivity 2: Implementing classes for Date Calculations4. Separation of Concerns - Software Architecture, Functions, Variadic TemplatesActivity 1: Implement a multicast event handler 5. The Philosophers' Dinner – Threads and ConcurrencyActivity 1: Creating a Simulator to Model the Work of the Art Gallery6. Streams and I/OActivity 1 The Logging System for The Art Gallery Simulator7. Everybody Falls, It's How You Get Back Up – Testing and DebuggingActivity 1: Checking the Accuracy of the Functions Using Test Cases and Understanding Test-Driven Development (TDD)8. Need for Speed – Performance and OptimizationActivity 1: Optimizing a Spell Check Algorithm

Overview

In Advanced C++, you will deepen your understanding of C++ and master advanced techniques such as memory optimization, template metaprogramming, and concurrency. This book provides practical, hands-on guidance to take your C++ skills to the next level, making your code more efficient and robust.

What this Book will help me do

Master advanced C++ features like templates, constexpr expressions, and SFINAE.
Learn techniques to write better, bug-resistant, and maintainable C++ code.
Understand modern CPU optimization techniques to improve program performance.
Gain expertise in using concurrency and multithreading effectively in C++.
Explore advanced debugging, testing, and profiling for C++ applications.

Author(s)

Gazihan Alankus, Olena Lizina, Rakesh Mane, Vivek Nagarajan, and Brian Price are software engineers and educators with decades of experience. They have worked on large-scale C++ projects and dedicated their careers to teaching programming effectively. Their style merges real-world insights with innovative methods for learning C++.

Who is it for?

This book is perfect for developers who already know the basics of C++ and want to deepen their knowledge, advancing to achieve mastery. Ideal for software engineers, systems developers, and budding computer scientists aiming to refine their code quality and tackle large C++ projects. Some background in C++ programming is essential to make the most of the material.