The book "C++ In a Nutshell" by Ray Lischner is recommended for users
who are already familiar with the C++ language, its style, and coding
conventions. Although the first third of the book deals with the
basics of the language, users who are new to C++ will find themselves
looking for a more tutorial-like reference when trying out features
for the first time; to the book's credit, most subject areas are
methodically touched upon but often additional explanations and
examples would be useful.
For more experienced programmers, the book can be a source of a wealth
of information and can be a big time saver. A whole chapter designated
as a language reference allows for quick lookup of obscure C++
constructs. Here, the spirit of the book is captured perfectly as
syntax summaries are given using a modified BNF. Probably the most
useful part of the book is the library reference that provides
complete descriptions of all the classes in the C++ standard library.
This section itself is likely to save one from spending hours on
googling for small bits of information.
Thus, for those new to C++ something like "Practical C++ Programming"
by Steve Oualline would likely provide a more useful introduction to
the language. However, for those with the experience to know what they
are looking for "C++ In a Nutshell" is a very good reference.
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