Re: Books

Contrary to what you said Mohn, I think when a function is virtual in a base class, it need not be virtual in all derived classes. If it is defined differently in those derived classes (the base function would get overridden), it would be just a regular non-virtual function of that derived class, right? So I suppose this would also be the answer to your query... to make a function non-virtual in a derived class, just define it there - it would become non-virtual.


As Dinesh already said, if the function is NOT virtual in all derived class objects as well, then the purpose of polymorphism will be lost. I really don't think there is a way to "stop" virtualness in the heirarchy. Once virtual, always virtual in all objects. That's why in C++, the "virtual" keyword is optional in derived classes. Whether or NOT it is present, it is still virtual. I guess for better readability you should make it a point to always include it.


BTW, how the &#%^ do I 'reply' to the posts?!


Yeah unfortunately, the blog medium is NOT the greatest when it comes to organization. A newgroup/message board would have been better. We could have subject threads and continue each discussion in the appropriate one. Here it is just linear posts. You just have to copy previous message posts and include it in your reply.

Also, just to add to what Dinesh said about the HTML bit. You can just use the color names itself in place of the hex values. So you can say < font color="blue" > instead of < font color="#ff0000" >. Much easier to remember.



C++ books ... i have read lafore, C++ complete reference (Herbert Schildt) ... and right now reading "C++ The Programming Language by Bjarne Stroustrup" .. and the bjarne book is by far one of the best i've read .. it's simply awesome


I had looked at the Stroustrup book a few years back when I knew NOTHING about c++ and it looked too advanced. It just felt more like a manual than explaning concepts. I'll look at it again - Maybe this time will be different. How detailed does it get?

Another book I was wondering if you had looked at was "The Design and Evolution of C++". I think this might be a worthwhile read. It seems quite interesting.


Inside the C++ Object Model by Stanley B. Lippman

i think with the Lippman book i will come close to knowing a lot in C++


Just hopped over to amazon.com and read the reviews. This is EXACTLY what I've been looking for - It explains what lies beneath (Wasn't that a movie?). Just to understand stuff that goes on under the covers. I'm most interested in those kinds of things. Probably not the most useful thing when doing day to day programming, but its just something that could help.


other books on C++ i have seen and which r supposed to be extremely good r

The C++ Standard Library : A Tutorial and Reference by Nicolai M. Josuttis


I have this book. It is NOT too good. It is just more of a reference than anything. And even that is NOT the best. I dunno why it is recommended so highly.


arre yaar main problem is not reading these books ... problem is getting ur hands on them ... books without indian edition r like 2500 ... thats just not affordable ... and it takes too much time for them to come to Indian Edition's


Yeah I know what you mean. I don't buy books. They are just TOO expensive. More often than not you will read them only once. And for reference your best bet will be the net, not a book, since it is more up to date. I just look to libraries and HOPE they will have the book. Somebody should do a Project Gutenberg type thing for tech related books.

One volume of books that I REALLY REALLY want to read before I croak is Donald Knuth's "The Art of Computer Programming". That man is a freakn genius. I've heard SO much about him and his books. If I ever finish this volume I will feel like I have accomplished something in my life.


one thing i haven't read r books which are technology specific .. like the ones u mentioned mohnish ... is it important to read them? .. maybe i should get my hands on the .NET book .. u tell me the pro's and con's :)


I guess it depends on what you like. Rahul and myself tend towards these books cause thats where our interests lie. We are more into web/client app development than game programming/AI. To develop them we need to know what capabilities the platform provides - what libraries/APIs are available to us. I'm sure it's the same with game programming - you got OpenGL and DirectX etc...


ok sorry guys but i had to include this, i'm also a philosophy freak .. try to get ur hands on "Atlas Shrugged" or "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand :):) .. totally awesome ..


What kind of philosophy are you talking about? I used to think that I would like philosophy, but I'm taking a "Human Nature" class this sem and it's just awful. Dunno if it's the prof or the material - I just can't stand it.

My dad's company is actually called Fountainhead Solutions. He said he's read "The Fountainhead", but won't tell me if its based off of that or not.


have just seen a few oreilly and wrox titles. wrox might be a little lengthy


I generally prefer Orielly to Wrox. Wrox gets TOO long and they have like a million authors for one book ;-) Orielly is more to the point and sticks to 1-3 authors.


does .net have open community projects?


www.gotdotnet.com is a .NET community site and has "workspaces" where you can join in with open projects.