TLDR;
This C++ course provides a comprehensive guide from basic to advanced concepts, enabling learners to write C++ code confidently. It covers essential tools, fundamental data types, and practical exercises to enhance understanding and problem-solving skills. The course also emphasizes the importance of the C++ standard library and offers a cheat sheet for quick reference.
- Introduction to C++ and its applications in various industries.
- Setting up the development environment with IDEs like CLion, Visual Studio, or Xcode.
- Covering basics: variables, constants, naming conventions, mathematical expressions, and console I/O.
- Exploring fundamental data types, number systems, and random number generation.
Course Introduction [0:00]
The course aims to teach C++ from the ground up, requiring no prior programming knowledge. It promises a comprehensive, easy-to-follow, and practical approach to mastering C++. The instructor, Mosh Hamadani, highlights his extensive experience and encourages viewers to subscribe for regular content updates.
Introduction to C++ [0:56]
C++ is a popular language for performance-critical applications like video games and operating systems, used by companies such as Adobe and Google. Despite newer languages, C++ remains fast and efficient, especially for memory management. It's often taught in computer science programs and has influenced languages like Java and JavaScript. Mastering C++ is a valuable career investment, with competitive salaries. Key to mastering C++ is learning the language syntax and the C++ Standard Library (STL), which offers pre-written code for common functionalities like data structures and algorithms.
Popular IDEs [4:14]
To create C++ programs, an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is essential, providing an editor, build tools, and debugging capabilities. Popular IDEs include Microsoft Visual Studio (Community Edition is free for Windows), Xcode (for Mac), and CLion (cross-platform, free trial available). CLion is used in the course, but any IDE can be used. Beginners are recommended to download the free version of CLion. Ensure the correct DMG is downloaded for Mac, based on the processor type (Intel or Apple Silicon), for optimal performance.
Your First C++ Program [6:11]
The lesson guides through creating a first C++ program in CLion, starting with setting up a new project and choosing the C++ language standard (version 20 recommended). The main.cpp file is the primary location for code. The main function serves as the program's entry point, similar to a TV's power button. C++ is case-sensitive. The main function returns an integer to indicate successful or unsuccessful termination to the operating system. Whitespaces are generally ignored by the compiler. The code includes the iostream file from the standard library for input/output operations. The std::cout object is used to print "Hello World" to the console, and the line is terminated with a semicolon. The function returns 0 to signal successful completion.
Compiling and Running a C++ Program [13:36]
To run a C++ program, the code must first be compiled into machine code specific to the computer's operating system. Executables created on Windows will not run on Mac or Linux without recompilation. The play icon in the toolbar, or the shortcut (Ctrl+R on Mac), is used to compile and run the program. The console or terminal window displays the program's output. Compilation errors, such as missing semicolons, are normal for beginners. Patience and close attention to detail are crucial for debugging.
Changing the Theme [16:01]
This section explains how to change the theme in CLion for better visibility. Access the preferences menu, select appearance and behavior, then appearance. Additional themes can be installed from the provided link, with Dracula theme being a popular choice.
Course Structure [17:16]
The course is structured into three parts, each approximately 3-4 hours long. The first part covers the basics, including fundamentals, data types, decision-making statements, loops, and functions. Exercises are provided to develop problem-solving skills. The second part explores intermediate concepts like arrays, pointers, strings, structures, enumerations, and streams. The final part covers advanced topics such as classes, exceptions, templates, and containers.
Cheat Sheet [18:48]
A complete cheat sheet and summary notes are available for download as a PDF. The instructor encourages viewers to support the work by liking, sharing, and subscribing to the channel.
Section 1: The Basics [19:20]
The section will cover variables, constants, naming conventions, mathematical expressions, writing to and reading from the console, working with the standard library, and comments.
Variables [19:52]
Variables are used to temporarily store data in the computer's memory. To declare a variable, specify the data type (e.g., int for integers) and a meaningful name (e.g., fileSize). Variables can be initialized with a value at the time of declaration. It is a good practice to always initialize variables before using them to avoid garbage values. Multiple variables can be declared on the same line, but it's better to declare each variable on a separate line. An exercise is given to swap the values of two variables, solved using a third temporary variable.
Constants [26:00]
Constants are variables whose values should not change. The const keyword is used to declare a constant. Attempting to modify a constant will result in a compilation error.
Naming Conventions [27:28]
Different naming conventions exist for variables and constants, including snake case (lowercase with underscores), Pascal case (capitalize first letter of each word), camel case (lowercase first letter, capitalize subsequent words), and Hungarian notation (prefixing variable names with type indicators). Camel case is used for variables and constants, and Pascal case for classes. Consistency in naming conventions is crucial for code readability and maintainability.
Mathematical Expressions [30:25]
Mathematical expressions are used to perform calculations. Basic operators include addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (*), division (/), and modulus (%). Division between integers results in an integer. To get a floating-point result, one of the operands must be converted to a double. Increment (++) and decrement (--) operators can be used as prefixes or postfixes, affecting when the value is updated. The order of operators (PEMDAS/BODMAS) matters, but parentheses can override the default order.
Order of Operators [36:39]
When writing mathematical expressions, the order or priority of operators must be considered. Multiplication and division have higher priority than addition and subtraction. Parentheses can be used to change the order of operations.
Writing Output to the Console [39:49]
The std::cout object is used to write output to the console. The stream insertion operator (<<) is used to insert data into the output stream. Multiple insertions can be chained together. std::endl is used to add a new line. The using namespace std; directive can be used to avoid repeatedly typing std::.
Reading from the Console [49:06]
The std::cin object is used to read input from the console. The stream extraction operator (>>) is used to extract data from the input stream and store it in a variable. Multiple values can be read in a single statement.
Working with the Standard Library [53:41]
The standard library provides many useful functions. The cmath library includes mathematical functions like floor (rounds down) and pow (power). To use these functions, the corresponding header file must be included using the #include directive.
Comments [58:19]
Comments are used to clarify code and make it easier to understand. Single-line comments start with //. Multi-line comments are enclosed in /* and */. Comments should be used to explain why and how, not what. Overusing comments can make code harder to understand and maintain.
Introduction to Fundamental Data Types [1:00:51]
C++ is a statically typed language, meaning that the type of a variable must be specified when it is declared and cannot change throughout the lifetime of the program. C++ has several built-in data types, including int, short, long, long long, double, float, long double, bool, and char.
Section 2: Fundamental Data Types [1:01:41]
This section covers fundamental data types in C++ in detail, including various built-in types, their sizes, and limits.
Initializing Variables [1:04:45]
Different ways to declare and initialize variables are explored. When declaring a float, the F suffix should be used to avoid treating the number as a double. Similarly, the L suffix should be used for long types. The auto keyword can be used to let the compiler infer the type of a variable. Brace initialization can be used to prevent assigning the wrong value to a variable and to initialize variables to zero if no value is provided.
Working with Numbers [1:09:29]
Different number systems, including decimal, binary, and hexadecimal, are used in math and programming. In C++, binary numbers are prefixed with 0b and hexadecimal numbers with 0x. The unsigned keyword can be used to specify that a numerical type cannot accept negative values, but it is generally recommended to avoid using it.
Narrowing [1:13:03]
Narrowing occurs when a variable of a smaller type is initialized using a larger type, potentially resulting in data loss. Brace initialization can prevent narrowing conversions.
Generating Random Numbers [1:15:17]
Random numbers can be generated using the rand function, which is defined in the cstdlib library. To get different random numbers each time the program is run, the random number generator must be seeded with a different value using the srand function. The time function can be used to get the current time in seconds, which can be used to seed the random number generator. The modulus operator can be used to limit the range of the random number.