The Definitive C++ Book Guide and List
This is question is very familiar with all C++ programmers, thats why i am solving this questions for you.
This question attempts to collect the few pearls among the dozens of bad C++ books that are published every year.
Unlike many other programming languages, which are often picked up on the go from tutorials found on the Internet, few are able to quickly pick up C++ without studying a well-written C++ book. It is way too big and complex for doing this. In fact, it is so big and complex, that there are very many very bad C++ books out there. And we are not talking about bad style, but things like sporting glaringly obvious factual errors and promoting abysmally bad programming styles.
BEGINNER C++ PROGRAMMERS
programmers who have no previous experience
Books | Author | Description |
---|---|---|
C++ Primer | Stanley Lippman, Josée Lajoie, and Barbara E. Moo | Coming at 1k pages, this is a very thorough introduction into C++ that covers just about everything in the language in a very accessible format and in great detail. The fifth edition (released August 16, 2012) covers C++11. |
Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ | Bjarne Stroustrup, 2nd Edition - May 25, 2014 | An introduction to programming using C++ by the creator of the language. A good read, that assumes no previous programming experience, but is not only for beginners. |
BEST PRACTICE C++ PROGRAMMERS
Books | Author | Description |
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Effective C++ | Scott Meyers, 3rd Edition - May 22, 2005 | This was written with the aim of being the best second book C++ programmers should read, and it succeeded. Earlier editions were aimed at programmers coming from C, the third edition changes this and targets programmers coming from languages like Java. It presents ~50 easy-to-remember rules of thumb along with their rationale in a very accessible (and enjoyable) style. For C++11 and C++14 the examples and a few issues are outdated and Effective Modern C++ should be preferred. |
Effective Modern C++ | Scott Meyers | This book is aimed at C++ programmers making the transition from C++03 to C++11 and C++14. This book can be treated like a continuation and "correction" of some parts of the previous book - "Effective C++". They don't cover the same things, but keep similar item-based theme. |
INTERMEDIATE C++ PROGRAMMERS
Books | Author | Description |
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More Effective C++ | Scott Meyers | Even more rules of thumb than Effective C++. Not as important as the ones in the first book, but still good to know. |
Exceptional C++ | Herb Sutter | Presented as a set of puzzles, this has one of the best and thorough discussions of the proper resource management and exception safety in C++ through Resource Acquisition is Initialization (RAII) in addition to in-depth coverage of a variety of other topics including the pimpl idiom, name lookup, good class design, and the C++ memory model. |
REFERENCE STYLE- ALL LEVEL PROGRAMMER
Books | Author | Description |
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The C++ Programming Language | Bjarne Stroustrup | The classic introduction to C++ by its creator. Written to parallel the classic K&R, this indeed reads very much like it and covers just about everything from the core language to the standard library, to programming paradigms to the language's philosophy. |
C++ Standard Library Tutorial and Reference | Nicolai Josuttis | The introduction and reference for the C++ Standard Library. The second edition (released on April 9, 2012) covers C++11. |