Re: Why don't large companies use Ada?

In article <785104767snz_at_rippleco.demon.co.uk>

           Doug_at_rippleco.demon.co.uk "Doug Robertson" writes:

> I'm not sure I'm clear on OOP - but I *THINK* I've now managed to
> migrate from being a C programmer to at least a semi-C++ one.
>
> I've read several OOP/OOD books - but I'm still not sure that I'm
> clear on exactly what OO C++ *IS*.
>
> Could some kindly soul direct me towards some GOOD examples of
> OO C++ application source code ?

This is a common problem. C++ is an OO language, but it is also a non-OO language (thanks to its C legacy). Many programmers who learn C++ find it difficult to figure out what this OO stuff is, but most prefer not to admit it.

First, take a look in Grady Booch's "Object-oriented Design with Applications". You will find several example apps, with code. One of these is in C++.

Then read "Object-Oriented Software Construction" by Bertrand Meyer, and *learn Eiffel*. This last point is important.

You will want to know how learning Eiffel is going to help you learn C++. It won't. What it will do is help you learn OO design. There are a number of things that C++ does very badly (exception handling, multiple inheritance and templates spring to mind). As a result these things are difficult to understand and all C++ books treat them as advanced topics. These are all things that Eiffel does well, so if you learn Eiffel you will learn how these things *should* be done.

You can get "Personal Eiffel for Windows" from Roger Browne <rogerb_at_eiffel.demon.co.uk>. Email him for a price list.

Paul.

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