Modern Expressive C++

Delegates must have solid experience of programming, with a clear understanding of variable definitions, references, implementing and calling functions and multiple source file projects. A basic understanding of Object Oriented principles is assumed. Those coming from C, C# or Java will have an advantage.

Delegates who do not meet these prerequisites are unlikely to be able to keep pace and should consider attending the Programming Foundations course first.

Experienced C++ programmers should also consider the QA course Modern Robust C++ Development.

Delegates will require a Microsoft account (signing up one is free). The instructions on how to set up a Microsoft account can be found here.

Delegates will learn how to:

• Define and use data types.
• Declare, define and call functions.
• Use pointers, smart pointers, dynamic memory and object lifetime.
• Understand the importance and application of const consistency.
• Understand the key concepts and vocabulary of object orientation.
• Implement classes.
• Provide inward and outward conversions to UDT's.
• Build new classes from other classes using composition and aggregation.
• Build new classes from other classes using inheritance.
• Design and write code with polymorphic behaviour.
• Use container classes and templates.
• Make extensive use of algorithms.
• Write code that is efficient and robust

Chapter 1 – Introduction

• Style and Approach

Chapter 2 – Language Overview

• Why use C++?
• Language Distinctives
• Classic v Modern C++
• File Structure
• Online Compilers
• Hello World
• Identifiers
• Keywords
• Declarations
• Definitions
• Expressions and Statements
• Member Access
• Operators
• Layout

Chapter 3 –Variables and Functions

• Mutable and Immutable Variable types
• Auto Variables
• Brace or List Initialization, Uniform Initialization
• Scope Types
• Lifetime
• Namespaces
• Name Hiding
• Scope Resolution
• Function Prototype
• Parameter Types
• Reference
• Function Return Types
• Trailing Return
• Header Files
• Function Parameter Defaults
• Function implementation
• Inline function
• Source-code Implementation
• Deduced Return Type
• Anonymous Return
• Un-named arguments

Chapter 4 – Collections

• Arrays
• Array Initialisation
• Array Behaviour
• Arrays as Arguments
• std::array
• Vector Basics
• Enumeration – Range For-loop
• File System Basics
• File-Streaming

Chapter 5 – Types and Const Qualifiers

• Primitive Types
• Uninitialised Values
• Type Aliases
• This-pointer
• Const Objects
• Const Function Parameters
• Queries and Modifiers
• Free Functions

Chapter 6 – Foundational Design Principles

• Encapsulation
• Private Access
• Things that Break Encapsulation
• Single Responsibility Principle
• Expressiveness
• Expressive Names
• Resource Acquisition Is Initialization – RAII

Chapter 7 – Literals and Strings

• Literals and Magic-Numbers
• Numeric Limits
• Strings
• Tokenization
• stringstream
• Formatting Streams

Chapter 8 – Flow Control

• Boolean
• Conditions & Boolean Operators
• If - Else
• Range-For
• Counted For-Loop
• While-loop
• Enum
• Switch
• Cost of testing and branching

Chapter 9 – Header Files

• One Definition Rule
• #define
• constexpr literals
• Precompiled Header Files

Chapter 10 – Unit Testing

• What should be tested?
• Project Arrangement
• Unit Tests
• Compiling Source Code to Use Libraries

Chapter 11 – Iterators

• Operators
• Prefix / Postfix Increment / Decrement
• Iterators
• Member Access Operators
• Moving Iterators
• Query Iterators
• Iterator Position

Chapter 12 – Pointers

• Naked Reference
• Problems with Null-Pointers
• Query Pointers
• Array Pointers
• Aggregate Pointers
• Function Pointers
• void, void pointers
• Pointers as Iterators

Chapter 13 – Zero-Cost Abstractions

• Encapsulating Concepts
• Enumerated Type, enum
• Bitwise (Flag) Enums

Chapter 14 – Lambdas

• How Expressiveness Breaks Encapsulation
• Locally defined function
• Lambda Syntax
• Capture List
• Argument List
• Return Type
• Lambda Body
• Lambda Closure as Function Pointer
• Inlined Lambda
• Immediately Invoked Lambda
• Lambdas in Header Files

Chapter 15 – Algorithms

• Non-Range Algorithms
• Range Algorithms
• Algorithm Examples
• back_inserter
• Loops and Folds
• Accumulating Strings

Chapter 16 – Inline and Extern

• Symbol Tables
• Header Files Defining Objects or Functions
• Inlining
• Extern

Chapter 17 – Container Types

• Compile-time sized containers
• Dynamically sized Sequential Containers
• Dynamically Sized Associative Containers

Chapter 18 – Type Conversions

• Implicit Type Conversions
• Keyword Casts
• Conversion Constructor – Inward Conversion
• Class Operators
• Conversion Assignment
• Conversion Operator - Outward Conversion
• Allowable Conversions

Chapter 19 – Function Overloading

• Function Overloading
• Overloading on Const
• Function Delegation
• Inlined Function Definitions
• Template Functions
• Template Classes

Chapter 20 – Classes

• Programming Paradigms
• Object Oriented Programming (OOP)
• Class Definition
• Public Interface
• Class Header File
• Construction
• In-Class Defaults
• Default Constructor
• Destruction
• Synthesised Functions
• Member Function Implementation
• Member Initializer List (MIL)
• std::initializer_list Constructor
• Static Storage
• Class Static Data
• Class Static Functions
• Struct

Chapter 21 – Inheritance

• Inheritance Hierarchy
• Liskov substitution
• Public Inheritance
• Function Specialisation
• Protected Access
• Private Inheritance
• Accessing Base Class Members
• Multiple Inheritance
• Base Class Construction
• Constructor Delegation
• Generalisation
• Abstract Classes

Chapter 22 – Polymorphism

• Virtual Functions
• Override
• Virtual Destructor
• Pure Functions
• Pure Abstract Class (Interface Class)
• Null-Objects

Chapter 23 – Association

• Association
• Composition
• Inheritance
• Aggregation
• Object Creation for Aggregation
• new and delete
• Array New & Delete
• New and Delete Problems
• Expressive Lifetime Management
• unique_ptr
• shared_ptr
• Safe Aggregation
• Multiple Association
• Friendship