Reference

The Java/C++: Cross-Reference Handbook (Hewlett-Packard Professional Books (Paperback))

Format: Paperback
Author: Frederick F. Chew
ReleaseDate: December, 1997
Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR
Rating:

Not for a experience Java programmer either
The argument is amplified for an experience Java programmer wishing to learn C++. Most of the complaints have been that the book is inappropriate for a C++ programmer, because it deals very little with C++. From my perspective, the book only told me things I already knew, i. e. how to program in Java. There is very little here which explains how to do analogous programming in C++. Case in point, whereas I'm used to dealing with Arrays and Strings solely as their classes, the book offers no help in using non-object oriented arrays and strings in C++. Poorly written and code heavy too.

very misleading title

This is not a cross-reference. The title made me buy the book, but actually this trick is the smartest thing in the whole book. It's a text book, but a poor one.

For an experienced C++ programmer there are too many pages of trivialities to wade through. The authour seems to have little background on languages and compilers.

For a beginner things are not explained well.

Doesn't deliver on its promises

Maybe because it attempts to be everything to everyone: both textbook and reference; for both novices and experts; good for Java and C++ and even C developers. The book has low signal-to-noise ratio, lots of ommissions, and extremely poor and superficial explanations. While this is an excellent marketing ploy, it is dishonest to the book readers. The author or the publisher should have seen the problem, and changed their target to something more modest.

Frankly, I bought the book with very high expectations: I thought with 450 pages devoted solely to the differences between C++ and Java, it must go to a lot of depth and subtleties. What a disappointment. . . I am still looking for a real "Java for Experienced C++ Developers" kind of book.