Course Overview
Introduction to C++
History and evolution of C++
Setting up the C++ development environment (IDEs like Visual Studio, Code::Blocks, etc.)
Basics of a C++ program (syntax, compilation process)
Basic Syntax and Data Types
Variables and constants
Data types (int, float, double, char, etc.)
Operators (arithmetic, relational, logical, bitwise)
Control Flow
Conditional statements (if, switch)
Loops (for, while, do-while)
Functions
Defining and calling functions
Function parameters and return types
Function overloading
Recursion
Pointers and References
Pointers (declaration, dereferencing, pointer arithmetic)
References
Dynamic memory allocation (new, delete)
Smart pointers (unique_ptr, shared_ptr)
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
Classes and objects
Constructors and destructors
Inheritance and polymorphism
Operator overloading
Encapsulation and abstraction
Interfaces (abstract classes and virtual functions)
Standard Template Library (STL)
Containers (vector, list, map, set)
Iterators
Algorithms (sort, search, etc.)
Functors and lambda expressions
Advanced C++ Concepts
Templates (function and class templates)
Exception handling (try, catch, throw)
File I/O (reading and writing files)
Multithreading and concurrency
Design patterns (Singleton, Factory, Observer, etc.)
Development Tools and Best Practices
Debugging techniques
Unit testing with frameworks like Google Test
Build systems (CMake, Makefile)
Version control (Git)
Code optimization and performance tuning
Project Work
Capstone project to apply learned concepts
Real-world problem-solving scenarios
Detailed Course Content
1. Introduction to C++
History and Evolution: Understanding the origin of C++, its development over time, and its current standards.
Development Environment: Installing compilers (GCC, Clang), setting up IDEs, writing the first C++ program.
2. Basic Syntax and Data Types
Variables and Constants: Declaration, initialization, scope, and lifetime.
Data Types: Primitive types, user-defined types (struct, enum).
Operators: Understanding operator precedence and associativity.
3. Control Flow
Conditional Statements: Using if-else and switch for decision making.
Loops: For, while, and do-while loops for iteration.
4. Functions
Function Definition and Call: Syntax, scope, and lifetime of functions.
Parameters and Return Types: Passing by value, reference, and pointer.
Function Overloading: Creating multiple functions with the same name but different parameters.
Recursion: Solving problems using recursive functions.
5. Pointers and References
Pointers: Basics of pointers, pointer arithmetic, pointers to functions.
References: Reference variables, passing by reference.
Dynamic Memory Allocation: Using new and delete for memory management.
Smart Pointers: Managing dynamic memory with unique_ptr, shared_ptr, and weak_ptr.
6. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
Classes and Objects: Defining classes, creating objects, understanding the object lifecycle.
Constructors and Destructors: Initialization and cleanup of objects.
Inheritance and Polymorphism: Base and derived classes, virtual functions, runtime polymorphism.
Operator Overloading: Overloading operators for user-defined types.
Encapsulation and Abstraction: Data hiding and abstracting implementation details.
Interfaces: Abstract classes, pure virtual functions.
7. Standard Template Library (STL)
Containers: Using vector, list, deque, map, set, etc.
Iterators: Accessing elements in containers.
Algorithms: Using STL algorithms for sorting, searching, etc.
Functors and Lambdas: Creating and using function objects and lambda expressions.
8. Advanced C++ Concepts
Templates: Creating generic functions and classes.
Exception Handling: Writing robust code using try-catch blocks.
File I/O: Reading from and writing to files using fstream.
Multithreading: Creating and managing threads, synchronization techniques.
Design Patterns: Implementing common design patterns in C++.
9. Development Tools and Best Practices
Debugging Techniques: Using debugging tools, understanding common bugs.
Unit Testing: Writing and running tests using Google Test or similar frameworks.
Build Systems: Automating builds with CMake or Makefile.
Version Control: Basics of Git, branching, merging, and repository management.
Code Optimization: Techniques for writing efficient and performant code.
10. Project Work
Capstone Project: Integrating various concepts learned throughout the course into a comprehensive project.
Assignments: Practical tasks and coding exercises to reinforce learning.
Course Format
Lectures: Theoretical explanations of key concepts.
Hands-on Labs: Practical coding sessions to implement learned concepts.
Assignments: Regular tasks to apply and reinforce learning.
Projects: Real-world projects to build practical experience.
Quizzes and Exams: Periodic assessments to gauge understanding and retention.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of programming concepts.
Familiarity with another programming language (optional but helpful).
Enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
Career Opportunities
Completing a C++ course can open doors to various career opportunities, such as:
C++ Developer
Software Engineer
Game Developer
Systems Programmer
Embedded Systems Engineer
High-Performance Computing Specialist