Neil Chakrabarty

My Book

Learn C++ with the djgpp compiler

In microsoft word format zipped 97K bytes book.zip

Source code for the examples 503K bytes CBookSourceCode.zip

Download the DJGPP compiler here

Here is the first page of the book.

Acknowledgments

A There are many people that I have to thank for the support and opportunity to write this book. J.P. Withers who prodded me and gave me the opportunity. Charles Withrow, Calvin Drennen and Mike Estep who read and commented on early versions of this book. Last but definitely not least the Free Software Foundation.

GNU and the Free Software Foundation:

The reason that we are able to include a free copy of a full featured C++ compiler, which the Free Software Foundation calls GPP, with this book is due to project GNU of the Free Software Foundation.

The word "Free" in the Free Software Foundation name refers to the Freedom to exchange software and information, and not to the price.

In practical terms, however, it is often possible to get GNU software for free, since they encourage copying their software. This freedom to copy, like all freedoms, has its responsibilities. The legal particulars about these responsibilities is in the chapter 1 directory in a file called "COPYING".

Briefly, the copying file will tell you about conditions of their copyright that allow us to copy their programs. One of the requirements is that the source code to the programs be made available. Further, that any work derived from GNU’s programs be distributed in the same way.

Preface

Who this book is for

This book is for both the novice and the experienced programmer who wish an introduction to programming in C++. With this book you can :

• Avoid spending the money to purchase a C++ compiler.
• Learn the GNU C++ (GPP) compiler.
• Learn Object Oriented Programming in C++ (GPP).
• Write Programs with graphics, sound and mouse support.

Skills and resources needed to use the software and this book

To fully benefit from this book you should be familiar with :

• Directories and Sub directories.
• Files and a text editor. The text editor you use should be under DOS, although you may use a Windows editor. However, the GPP programs and the GPP Compiler will not operate in Windows. You may find it inconvenient to use a Windows editor, since these GPP programs will require you to exit from Windows entirely before their use.

Equipment and Software Needed:

• A text editor that can edit DOS text or ASCII text. For example, Edit which comes with DOS.
• DOS version 3.2 or newer.
• A 386 or better computer with 2 M of Hard Drive space and a CD ROM drive. When referring to the CD ROM drive I’ll use d:, if your drive has another letter then use that letter instead of d:.
• 512K of memory or more. GNU GPP will use up to 128 M of memory if it is available.

How to read this book

If you have never programmed in C before, then start with Chapter 1 : Introduction to C/C++. Otherwise, you may skip Chapter 1 and read Chapter 2 for an introduction to C++. If you are experienced in C++, then start in any chapter in which you are interested. The source code to all examples is provided. Even though all examples are based on the previous one, you can start at any point. This is one of the beauties of Object Oriented Programming; you don’t have to know the particulars of the Objects you use to build your program. All you need to know is what those objects do.

There are appendixes that you may use for refrence when reading or working though the examples of this book. Appendix A, a glossary of common C++ terms. Appendix B, explains the online help available with GNU C++. Appendix C provides notes on selected standard C libary functions. Appendix D provides notes on selected C++ libary classes and functions.