Ultimate C++ Course

Introduction

Course Overview

• Instructor: Mosh Hamedani, 20+ years experience, taught millions to code.
• Course Objective: Learn C++ from basics to advanced concepts, enabling confident coding by course end.
• Target Audience: Beginners with no prior knowledge of C++ or programming; comprehensive and organized.
• Relevance: Widely used in performance-critical applications by companies like Adobe, Google, Microsoft, NASA.
• Salary: Average C++ programmer salary in the US ~$170,000/year.

Mastering C++

Key Learning Areas

• Language Syntax: Grammar and rules of C++.
• Standard Library (STL): Pre-written C++ code for data structures (lists, maps) and algorithms (searching, sorting).
• Versioning: A new version every three years; latest is C++20.

Tools and Environment

• IDEs: Visual Studio (Windows), Xcode (Mac), CLion (Windows, Mac, Linux).
• Setup Recommendations: Use CLion for ease; download from jetbrains.com, ensure correct version for macOS (Intel vs Apple Silicon).

Getting Started with C++

Writing the First Program

• Structure: Main function as the entry point (int main() {}); returns 0 for success.
• Libraries: #include <iostream> for printing to the screen using std::cout.
• Compilation and Execution: Compiling into machine code; running using IDE's play button.
• Common Errors: Missing semicolons causing compilation failures.

Coding Best Practices

• Formatting: Consistent use of spaces, braces style, and code readability.
• Comments: Use for explaining 'why' and 'how', not 'what'. Avoid overuse.

C++ Basics

Variables and Data Types

• Variable Declaration: Type followed by name, e.g., int fileSize = 100;
• Types: int, double, float, char, bool
• Best Practices: Meaningful variable names, initialization at declaration.

Constants

• Usage: Prevent value changes using const keyword, e.g., const double PI = 3.14;

Naming Conventions

• Styles: Snake case (file_size), Pascal case (FileSize), Camel case (fileSize). Use Camel case for variables and Pascal case for classes.

Mathematical Expressions

• Operators: Addition (+), Subtraction (-), Multiplication (*), Division (/), Modulus (%), Increment (++), Decrement (--).
• Precedence: Multiplication/Division before Addition/Subtraction; use parentheses to alter precedence.
• Usage Examples: Basic arithmetic, swapping variables, handling floating-point division.

Input/Output

• Output: std::cout for writing to console.
• Input: std::cin for reading from the console.
• Projects Example: State and county tax calculation, temperature conversion from Fahrenheit to Celsius.

Standard Library Functions

• Math Functions: cmath library for functions like floor, pow.
• Usage: Generating random numbers using rand, seeding random generator with srand.

Advanced Topics

Seeding Random Numbers

• Purpose: Use current time to seed for true randomness; srand(time(nullptr)).
• Example: Rolling a dice, bounded random number using modulus operator.

Fundamental Data Types

• Overview: int, short, long, float, double, char, bool
• Memory Use: 2-4 bytes for integer types, float/double for differing precision.
• Signed vs. Unsigned: Avoid unsigned due to potential overflow issues.

Brace Initialization

• Usage: Prevents narrowing conversions; initializes variables to zero by default.
• Example: int number{1.2}; causes an error, int number{}; initializes to zero.

Number Systems

• Types: Decimal (base 10), Binary (base 2), Hexadecimal (base 16).
• Usage in C++: Representation with prefixes (0b for binary, 0x for hexadecimal).

Conclusion

• Further Learning: Complete C++ series covers basics to advanced concepts like classes, exceptions, templates.
• Career Path: Understanding C++ opens opportunities in various fields including gaming (Unreal Engine).
• Additional Resources: Download cheat sheet and summary notes provided in the course.

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