Ultimate C++ Course Overview

Introduction to C++

• Learn everything about C++ from basics to advanced concepts.
• No prior knowledge of C++ or programming is required.
• Taught by Mosh Hamadani, a software engineer with over 20 years of experience.
• Comprehensive course structure to build confidence in writing C++ code.

Importance of C++

• C++ is widely used for performance-critical applications:
  • Video games
  • Device drivers
  • Web browsers
  • Operating systems
  • Used by companies like Adobe, Google, Microsoft, and NASA.
• C++ is fast and efficient, often taught to computer science students.
• Average salary of a C++ programmer in the US: $170,000/year.

Mastering C++

1. Learn the C++ language syntax.
2. Learn the C++ Standard Library (STL): pre-written code for data structures and algorithms.

Tools for Coding in C++

• Integrated Development Environments (IDEs):
  • CLion (cross-platform, 30-day free trial).
  • Microsoft Visual Studio (Community Edition is free for Windows).
  • Xcode (for Mac).
• Focus on C++ language rather than specific tools.

C++ Basics

• C++ Program Structure:
  • Entry point: main function.
  • Case sensitivity in C++.
  • Use of #include for libraries (e.g., #include <iostream>).

Writing Your First Program

• Use std::cout to print output (e.g., "Hello, World!").
• Return type of main should be int.
• Compile and run the program using IDE tools.

Course Structure

• Part 1: Basics (fundamentals of programming in C++, data types, loops, functions).
• Part 2: Intermediate concepts (arrays, pointers, strings).
• Part 3: Advanced concepts (classes, templates).

Variables and Constants

• Variables are used to store data temporarily in memory.
• Best practice: Use meaningful names for variables.
• Concepts of initialization and garbage values if not initialized.
• Constants prevent accidental changes in variable values.

Naming Conventions

• Snake case: file_size
• Pascal case: FileSize
• Camel case: fileSize
• Hungarian notation (not commonly used anymore).

Mathematical Expressions and Operators

• Arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division.
• Increment/Decrement operators: ++, --.
• Modulus operator: returns the remainder of a division.

Input/Output in C++

• Use cin for input and cout for output.
• Understand the difference between floating-point and integer handling.

Fundamental Data Types

• Integer types: int, short, long, long long.
• Floating-point types: float, double, long double.
• Character type: char.
• Boolean type: bool.

Random Number Generation

• Use rand() and srand() functions to generate random numbers.
• Seed random number generator with time for different results each run.

Comments in Code

• Single-line comments: // comment.
• Multi-line comments: /* comment */.
• Use comments to explain "why" and "how" rather than "what".

Next Steps

• Prepare for the next section on data types in more detail.
• Download cheat sheets and summary notes linked in the course.