C++ Course Notes

Introduction to C++

• Instructor: Mike
• C++ is a popular programming language, related to C.
• Great for beginners and carries over knowledge for other languages.

Course Overview

• Starting with basics:
  • Setup (installation of C++ and text editor).
  • Writing the first program.
• Intermediate:
  • Variables, data manipulation, simple games.
• Advanced:
  • Control structures: if statements, loops, classes, objects.

Setting Up for C++ Programming

• Requirements:
  1. A text editor (preferably an IDE).
  2. A C++ compiler.
  • Recommended IDE: Code::Blocks (install via www.codeblocks.org).

Installation Steps:

1. Visit www.codeblocks.org.
2. Click on downloads and then binary release.
3. Download the appropriate version (e.g., Code::Blocks 16.01 MinGW setup).
4. Install following the default options.

Writing Your First C++ Program

• Basic program structure.
• Using cout and cin for printing and getting input.

Basic Terminology

• Variables: Containers for storing data (e.g., int, double, string).
• Functions: Blocks of code that perform specific tasks.
• Classes and Objects: Templates for creating objects in OOP.

Variables and Data types

• String: Text.
• Integer: Whole number.
• Double: Decimal number.
• Char: Single character.
• Boolean: True or false.

Example: Creating and Modifying Variables

int age = 19;
double GPA = 2.7;
string name = "Mike";

Pointers

• Store memory addresses of variables.
• Use of & to get address and * for dereferencing.

Example

int* pAge = &age;
cout << *pAge; // prints 19

Classes and Objects

• Classes specify what objects can do (attributes and methods).
• Objects are instances of classes.

Example of a Class

class Movie {
    public:
        string title;
        string director;
        int rating;
};

Constructors

• Special function that initializes objects.

Example

Movie(string title, string director, int rating) {
    this->title = title;
    this->director = director;
    this->rating = rating;
}

Getters and Setters

• Control access to attributes.
• Use public methods for interacting with private attributes.

Inheritance

• Create new classes based on existing ones.
• Example: ItalianChef inherits from Chef.

class ItalianChef : public Chef {
    void makePasta() {
        cout << "Making pasta";
    }
};

Object Functions

• Methods that define actions and behaviors of objects.

Switch Statements

• Allow easy comparison of a variable against many values.

Example

switch(day) {
    case 0: cout << "Sunday";
    case 1: cout << "Monday";
    default: cout << "Invalid day";
}

Loops

• While Loop: Executes code while a condition is true.
  • Be cautious of infinite loops.
• For Loop: Executes code a specific number of times.

for(int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    cout << i;
}

Guessing Game

• Allow user to guess a number, use loops and conditional statements to validate guesses.

Example of Game Logic

while (secretNum != guess && !outOfGuesses) {
    // Prompt user
}
if (outOfGuesses) {
    cout << "You lose!";
} else {
    cout << "You win!";
}

Two-Dimensional Arrays

• An array of arrays.

Example

int numberGrid[3][2] = {{1, 2}, {3, 4}, {5, 6}};

Nested Loops

• For loops inside other loops to traverse multi-dimensional arrays.

Example

for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
    for (int j = 0; j < 2; j++) {
        cout << numberGrid[i][j];
    }
}

Comments

• Use // for single line comments
• Use /* */ for multi-line comments.

Summary

• Pointers: Store memory locations.
• Classes: Blueprints for objects.
• Inheritance: Allow classes to inherit attributes and behaviors from others.
• Getters and Setters: Control access within classes.
• Loops and Conditional Statements: Structure program flow based on conditions.