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Books and Magazines

Perhaps the most popular source of information on software development is found in books and magazines. Books tend to contain a large amount of relevant information, and magazines provide a constant stream of regular articles. Both cover a wide variety of topics.

In this section, we will look at several books and magazines related to C++Builder. Detailed information on books, online purchasing, and book reader reviews can be found at reputable online book stores, such as Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com), FatBrain (http://www.fatbrain.com), or Barnes and Noble (http://www.bn.com/).

TIP

Excerpts from many books published by Pearson imprints (Sams, Que, and so on) can be found at InformIT. The excerpts include selected chapters and, in some cases, the entire book! Join for free and read at http:// safari.informit.com.

C++Builder Books

To date, there have been close to a dozen books written about C++Builder, including this one. Although this book provides a lot of in-depth material and practical examples, it is, by no means, exhaustive. Some of the previously published C++Builder books listed here provide additional insight that might still be relevant under C++Builder 6.

Borland C++Builder 4 Unleashed , Reisdorph, K. ( 1999), Sams, pp. 1248, ISBN 0672315106 ” This book covers many topics, from beginner to advanced experience levels, with the focus on the intermediate level. It covers databases and distributed programming quite well, which account for almost 30% of the content. Borland C++Builder 4 Unleashed is a perfect companion to C++Builder 6 Developer's Guide .

C++Builder How-To: The Definitive C++Builder Problem Solver , Miano, J., Cabanski, T. and Howe, H. ( 1997), Waite Group, pp. 822, ISBN 157169109X ” Somewhat dated, this book still contains many useful how-to's and techniques for C++Builder programmers. When it was first published, it was the C++Builder book to own. Unfortunately, it only covers features of Borland C++Builder 3, many of which have changed in later versions of C++Builder. However, this book is still practical.

Sams Teach Yourself Borland C++Builder 4 in 24 Hours , Reisdorph, K. & Gill,resourcesbooksSams Teach Yourself Borland C++Builder 4 in 24 HoursbooksSams Teach Yourself Borland C++Builder 4 in 24 HoursSams Teach Yourself Borland C++Builder 4 in 24 Hours (italic) B. ( 1999), Sams, pp. 451, ISBN 0672316269 ” Aimed at beginner-intermediate programmers, this book is all about learning how to program with C++Builder. It provides a general overview to the most common programming tasks and techniques.

Because of the similarities between C++Builder and Delphi, books written on Delphi can also be very relevant. Here are a few that you might find as useful resources.

Delphi 6 Developer's Guide , Teixeira, S., Teixeira, J., and Pacheco, X. ( 2002), Sams, pp. 1169, ISBN 0672321157 ” This is a fantastic resource for Delphi developers and for C++Builder developers who want to understand the technology behind CLX, BizSnap, DataSnap, and SOAP.

Mastering Delphi 6 , Cantu, M. ( 2002), SYBEX, pp. 1104, ISBN 0782128742 ” For another perspective on Delphi that covers many of the features also supported by C++Builder 6, Marco Cantu's book can be an extremely helpful resource. Although it's not quite as advanced as Delphi 6 Developer's Guide , it still covers a wide range of topics including COM, XML, and SOAP.

We mention these books because C++Builder and Delphi share a lot of common features: similar IDE and Wizards, compatible Delphi components , equivalent SOAP client/server capabilities, and much more. In fact, the primary difference between C++Builder 6 and Delphi 6 is the programming language itself. If you are versed in C++, it is not too difficult to understand Delphi's Object Pascal and apply it to your C++ development. For a list of other relevant books available, try searching the online bookstores for C++Builder or Delphi . In fact, excerpts from Delphi 6 Developer's Guide , and Delphi 5 Developer's Guide are available online at InformIt.

General C++ Books

A vast number of C++ books are available and in print that developers find extremely useful. The most popular (and arguably the best) are listed here with brief comments.

Sams Teach Yourself Borland C++ in 21 Days (Fourth Edition) , Liberty, J. ( 1999), Sams, pp. 912, ISBN 067232072 ” Aimed at beginner-intermediate programmers, this might be the most practical reference for both C++ neophytes and C++ veterans . It covers the latest ANSI/ISO Standard C++ and provides a solid foundation on object-oriented development techniques with C++.

Thinking in C++, Vol. 1 (Second Edition) , Eckel, B. ( 2000), Prentice-Hall, pp. 720, ISBN 0139798099 ” In this, the second edition of his Thinking in C++ tutorial, Bruce Eckel explains the ins and outs of the C++ programming language in a clear and concise manner that has proved invaluable to novices and experts alike. It is provided for free on the companion CD-ROM that ships with C++Builder Professional and Enterprise , and it is also available online from http://www.mindview.net/Books/TICPP/ThinkingInCPP2e.html.

Effective C++ (Second Edition) , Meyers, S. ( 1997), Addison-Wesley, pp. 304, ISBN 0201924889 ” This is also a must-have book for C++ developers. It isn't designed to teach the C++ language but, with great use of examples, it gives tips on improving your C++ programming techniques, particularly class design.

The C++ Programming Language (Third Edition) , Stroustrup, B. ( 1997), Addison-Wesley, pp. 928, ISBN 0201889544 ” The creator of C++, Bjarne Stroustrup, presents the full specification of the language and standard template library. This is not really a book for the beginner, but it is the ultimate C++ reference and is essential for everyone who is serious about programming with C++.

For details on other C++ “related books, search for C++ on the online bookstores previously mentioned. The full copy of Sams Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days , Third Edition, and various excerpts from other C++ books are available at InformIT.

Magazines

There are several magazines relevant to C++Builder. One devoted entirely to C++Builder, whereas others contain articles on C++ in general. There are also several Delphi magazines. Some of the most relevant magazines are described in the following list.

C++Builder Developer's Journal ”Published by Bridges Publishing, provides a monthly periodical containing tips and techniques for C++Builder. This journal contains many high-quality articles from prominent developers each month. It is available in print via subscription. Registered customers can access back issues online. For a list of back issues, and subscription information, visit http://www.bridgespublishing.com/.

C/C++ Users Journal ” This monthly magazine is available in print, and several articles each month are made available online. For more information visit http://www.cuj.com.

Delphi Informant ” This monthly magazine focused on Delphi is available in print, and many articles are made available online. We mention it here because many of the concepts associated to Delphi are applicable to C++Builder. For information visit http://www.delphizine.com/.

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