Books About Programming?

Question

Plan on really getting into programming as it may be a career choice or a serious hobby in the future. 

I've done a few beginner books that hold your hand and tell you what to write for code but none that really have explained the true concepts and what they do. I've done my best to go over the web through forums to help myself and its worked well enough. 

My focus for programming is game programming but I know that learning any sort of coding would help me in the future. I'm focusing now on C and C++ coding. I thought about learning BASIC first and I did do some simple BASIC coding a year back but never really pushed to far into it and don't really want to learn a simple language then have to switch to C.

What I'm looking for is any good books for someone who knows enough about coding (some of the very early concepts like variables and a little into loops) but not seriously advanced. A lot of the game programming books I've read have done the hand holding thing so I'd like some pure C or C++ books that have info for beginners and intermediate users. 

I plan to also study source code but until then I'd rather have a sturdy foundation from some text books. 

Any books would be great or general tips. Thanks.

tbshmkr · Accepted Answer

C/C++
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Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ by Bjarne Stroustrup
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The C++ Programming Language by Bjarne Stroustrup
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Programming in C by Stephen G. Kochan

Ryuu · Answer

K&R, while outdated is still a good introduction to C. Then UNIX programming environment might be a good reading (while unrelated, it teachs some good concepts).

Then, you should read about C++ again, I recommend: Â«The C++ Programming Language
(Third Edition) [Addison-Wesley, ISBN 0-201-88954-4 or 0-201-70073-5 (hardcover)]Â» and Â«Programming -- Principles and Practice Using C++ [Addison-Wesley ISBN 978-0321543721. December 2008]Â».

Those are the definitive publications on the topic. Then you should practice and get into something real (e.g. some open-source software) to have experience... experience is the ultimate experience (pun intended). BTW, there are some open-source games, like ioQuake or Wesnoth, which you really should look at if you're serious about game programming.

Also, you may want to learn Go, which is an excellent example of practical design improvements in the field of programming languages [many grabbed from Limbo and the Plan9 C compiler].

Laurence I · Answer

you are missing the point

the point is the processor and how registers work
then how hardware interfaces work

this is what proper programming is about
if you miss out this vital step you will not 
produce good code.

get two books
one that covers accessing video memory directly(low level language)
one that covers other hardware such as sound and how
to access the hardware (using higher level language)
between them they should cover how to create a proper system driver too

the books i have are old but i will
mention them, but there may be other much better ones.

Tricks of the windows game programming gurus.
EGA/VGA a programmers reference guide, 2nd edition

basically you need books that have the words "Programmers Reference Guide"
in their title as this will include Assemmbler and how it makes the processor
do the things you want it to do.

then you need something that helps describe how languages like C++ can be 
used to create real applications that do things.

thats my thoughts

Thinker · Answer

I've been using C++ Program: Program Design Including Data Structures by D.S. Malik as a reference when I'm coding as it has great examples and review problems.

http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Program-Design-Including-Structures/dp/142390222X

Frank · Answer

C++ is getting outdated.  Learn C# or Java.  Big Java is a good book for learning Java, and NetBeans is a free IDE to write your code in.

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Books About Programming?

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