In this course you’ll learn in a practical way, with a combination of slides and demo code, the basic aspects of the C programming language and tools, so that you can start being productive with the C language.
Starting from this course page, you can freely play the course overview, and read a more detailed course description and the table of content.
Some of the major topics include: understanding the role of the C compiler, and compiling from both the command line and using an IDE; learning about common basic types and basic I/O; learning the syntax for decision making in C (e.g. the if-else and switch statements) and how to write loops (e.g. for, while and do-while); the basics of working with strings; learning how to write your own functions. Pointers will be introduced, as well.
I’ll also show some subtle C beginner’s bugs, I will analyze them and discuss how to fix them.
Inspecting the content of a C string.Discussing the memory layout of strings in C.Analyzing a subtle bug.Introducing pointers in C.
These are some feedback notes frommy reviewers:
The content is presented with great clarity and is organized effectively. Great module. [Peer Review]
I really like that your demos are very concise and tightly focused on the syntax and concepts you’re explaining. There’s nothing extra to cause confusion. Well done! [Peer Review]
Your code slides are well-designed and easy to read. [Peer Review]
I REALLY like that you explained the potential problem with […]. I wish more people would heed the advice you present here. [Peer Review]
Very clean module with clear explanations and demos. Great job! [Peer Review]
Just a heads up to let you know that Pluralsight is offering 33% off Annual and Personal Premium subscriptions for a limited time: offer valid Aug 17th – Aug 28th.
In this course, you’ll learn with a combination of slides and demo code, how to use associative containers like std::set, std::map, and std::unordered_map.
This is a follow up course of my previous course, which I encourage you to watch before this one.
Starting from this course page, you can freely play the course overview, and read a more detailed course description and the table of content.
Comparing the performance of std::unordered_map vs. std::map.Analyzing a subtle bug when working with std::map.
These are some feedback notes frommy reviewers:
Nice use of the PowerPoint slides and Camtasia callouts to keep the learners focused and engaged. [Peer Review]
Enjoyable clip of std::map string to string dictionary translation. [Peer Review]
Overall, a strong module that’s well-explained, approachable and professionally polished. Looking forward to more! [Peer Review]
The content is logically sequenced, building on concepts as we go. The clips are nice and short, which makes it easy to move through and absorb the content. You also do a great job transitioning across the clips; there’s a cohesive flow to the module. [Peer Review]
I’m glad you showed this error, explained why it’s happening, and how to fix it. It’s a good opportunity to reiterate learnings from earlier in the module, and also seems like a common gotcha. [Peer Review]
In this course, you’ll learn how to use some important containers implemented in the C++ Standard Library, with a combination of theoretical introduction using slides, and practical C++ implementation code, including analyzing and fixing some common bugs.
Comparing the memory layout of std::list vs. std::vector.
C++ Standard Library implementations offer high-quality well-tested and highly-optimized standard containers, that are very powerful tools when developing software written in C++.
In particular, I’ll discuss std::vector (which is a Standard Library workhorse), std::array, and std::list, including how to use them, discussing their pros and cons, and giving some guidance on picking one or the other, based on the problem at hand. Other containers (e.g. std::map) will be the topic of follow-up courses.
No prior knowledge of C++ Standard Library containers is required. You only need a basic knowledge of C++ language features.
Working on the implementation of a case-insensitive string search.
Containers and algorithms are kind of like “bread and butter”, so in this course you’ll also learn about the C++ Standard Library design based on the teamwork between containers, iterators and algorithms, and you’ll see how to perform important operations on containers leveraging some useful algorithms already implemented in the C++ Standard Library.
Explaining the erase-remove idiom.
Note that this course is boththeory and practice! In fact, I’ll show practical demo code, and I’ll also discuss some bugs that are especially common for those who are just starting to learn the C++ Standard Library’s containers.
Analyzing a subtle bug when working with std::list.
These are some feedback notes from my reviewers:
The narration is clear, animated, and engaging. The visuals are particularly helpful. [Peer Review]
You do a particularly good job clearly stating the problem here (and elsewhere) so that the solution, when it comes, makes sense and fits nicely. [Peer Review]
Great simple example of undefined behavior to reinforce the concepts you’ve introduced as well as a bonus of uncovering a security issue. [Peer Review]
Very nice module with good examples. Also excellent visuals when describing list, vectors and the various operations. [Peer Review]
Very nice discussion of the trade-offs between a linked list and a vector [Peer Review]
Nice use of a bug to teach a key concept [Peer Review]
Starting from this course page, you can freely play the course overview, and read a more detailed course description and the table of content.
Let me also express my gratitude to all the Pluralsight persons involved in the production of this course: It’s always a pleasure to work with you all!
In this course, you’ll learn how to implement some fundamental data structures and algorithms in C++ from scratch, with a combination of theoretical introduction using slides, and practical C++ implementation code.
Introducing the stack with an interesting metaphor
No prior data structure or algorithm theory knowledge is required. You only need a basic knowledge of C++ language features (please watch the “Prerequisites” clip in the first module for more details about that).
Explaining linear search using slides
During this course journey, you’ll also learn some practical C++ coding techniques (ranging from move semantic optimization, to proper safe array copying techniques, insertion operator overloading, etc.) that you’ll be able to use in your own C++ projects, as well.
So, this course is boththeory and practice!
Spotting a subtle bug
Here’s just a couple of feedback notes from my reviewers:
The callouts are helpful and keep the demo engaging as you explain the code. [Peer Review]
To say that this is an excellent explanation of Big-O notation would be an understatement. The way you illustrate and explain it is far better than the way it was taught to me in college! [Peer Review]
Big-O doesn’t have to be boring!
Starting from this course page, you can freely play the course overview, and read a more detailed course description and table of content.
We are in 2018, and there have been C++14 and C++17 in the meantime. So, a legit question is: “Does it make sense for me to watch your C++11 course today for a beginner-oriented introduction to C++?” And the answer is a BIG STRONG YES! 😊
In fact, in that course you will learn modern C++ topics that are valid in both C++11, and also in next versions of the language. For example, what you will learn about the parameter passing rules, like passing by reference vs. passing by value, is perfectly valid in C++11, C++14, and C++17 as well.
Moreover, the practical introductions I gave to standard library’s classes like std::string, or std::vector, and to the std::sort algorithm, just to name a few, are totally valid also in C++14 and C++17.
Similarly, my discussions on defining custom types, constructors, destructor, the RAII pattern and the scope-based lifetime of objects are still valid in C++14 and C++17, as well.
Maybe a better title for that course would be “Modern C++ from Scratch”. Anyway, the content is already there, available for an enjoyable learning experience, with a mix of slides containing interesting visuals, and demo code.
C++14 and C++17 added many new features to the C++ language. This course will teach you practical features introduced in C++14 and C++17, that you will be able to use to write clearer, simpler, and higher-quality modern C++ code.
You can take this course to learn about practical features added in C++14 and C++17, ranging from syntactic sugar like digit separators, to more substantial features like polymorphic lambdas (this course will offer an introduction to basic lambdas as well), relaxed constexpr functions, the Chrono library with its standard-defined duration suffixes, and C++17 juice ranging from nested namespaces, variable declarations in if statements, to “constexpr if” and structured bindings, just to name a few.
Building an Italian-to-English dictionary with std::map
I discussed these topics with both slides and demo code, including showing some bugs and how to fix them.
Demo: Sorting by string length using lambdas
You can watch the course trailer and read a more detailed course description and the table of content starting from this course page.
Proper unit conversions are important!
I put the discussed features in proper context for learners who are already familiar with basic elements of C++11. For example, when I introduced C++14 std::make_unique, I also talked about smart pointers and introduced std::unique_ptr as well. If you need an introduction to basic elements of modern C++, you can take my “C++11 from Scratch” course.
Here’s some feedback from my reviewers:
You’ve done an excellent job with the animated shapes/callouts throughout the module. They really help me to follow along with the narrative explanations. [Peer Review]
The content is logically organized and chunked into bite-size clips. I also like your mix of slides and demos. [Peer Review]
This is an excellent challenge to the viewer to spot the bug in the code. [Peer Review]
Overall, a strong module that will be well-received by an intermediate audience. The explanations are clear and the concepts build on each other, making it easy to follow along. Keep up the great work! [Peer Review]
Raw owning pointers are radioactive!
Thank You
Writing and producing this course has been an interesting journey and a rewarding experience for me. There are several people who worked with me during this journey and with their contributions helped me producing this quality course. I’d like to thank my ASM (former Editor) Beth Gerard-Hess, my Production Editor Austin Crawford, my Curriculum Director Tod Gentille, my reviewers (both QA and peer), and all the Pluralsight persons who worked on this course project. Thanks also to Stephan T. Lavavej for interesting e-mail conversations that provided good food for thought.
