COMP6771 Week 1

Course Outline

What is C++

• C++ is a more complex language than C
• C++ code is much simpler than C code
• C++ is a powerful, low level language, that allows you to write code that is fast, concise, and easy to understand
• There is nothing between C++ and the hardware
  • Unlike Java, Python, Javascript - which contain an abstraction layer
• C++ has zero over-head abstractions - abstractions are a big part
  • STL library has abstract containers, algorithms, and iterators
• C++ has a principle of don't pay for what you don't use
  • ​You can use OOP, but you're not obliged to pay the extra runtime cost for polymorphism
  • Things automatically get freed up, but you don't pay for garbage collection
• In this course we will focus on C++17

What is C++ used for

• Operating systems
  • Despite myths, C++ is as fast as C, but far more concise and easier to write correct code
• Low latency software (eg. high frequency trading)
  • C++ can have direct control over the hardware
• Games
• Just about anything you can think of

C++ IS NOT C

• C++ is backwards compatible with C, so it's easy to think that you can build your C++ understanding directly on top of your C understanding
• However, while valid C code is often valid C++, good C is is almost never good C++ code
  • Over the years C++ continues to diverge from C
• For example, when we teach you best practice, we will not be using:
  • malloc
  • free
  • C-style arrays
  • C-style strings
• And will be sometimes discouraging use of:
  • raw pointers (char *, int *)

Staff

• Lecturer in charge:
  • Hayden Smith
• Lecturers:
  • Hayden Smith
  • Matthew Stark
  • (Guest) Christopher Di Bella
• Tutors:
  • Adam Tizzone, Gaganjot Singh, Gary Bai, Ivor Metcalf, Hayden Smith, Matthew Phillips, Nathaniel Shead, Nicholas Malecki, Nicholas Mulianto, Simon Haddad

Where to get help

Your question-answer hierarchy

1. Webcms3 forum (on every page)
2. Your tutor (Emails on your tutorial page)
3. Lecturer(s) cs6771@cse.unsw.edu.au
4. Hayden hsmith@cse.unsw.edu.au (for personal)

Questions that are non-personal will only be answered on the forum.

Where to get resources

• Books
  • Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ (Bjarne Stroustrup, 2nd Edition - May 25, 2014) ( updated for C++11/C++14 ) An introduction to programming using C++ by the creator of the language. A good read, that assumes no previous programming experience, but is not only for beginners.
  • Here is a list, but use with caution: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/388242/the-definitive-c-book-guide-and-list
• Websites:
  • We recommend: cppreference.com
  • Do not use: cplusplus.com
    • It frequently is first in search results.
    • Frequently inaccurate and outdated

Schedule & Structure

• Please see course outline for full course schedule
• Teaching provided includes:
  • 3 hours of physically delivered lectures (recorded)
  • 1 optional hour of online delivered lectures (catch up, guest lecturing)
  • 1 hour of tutorial with your tutor

Feedback

In your first tutorial your class will choose a class rep to represent your class to simplify feedback processes.

Zoox

Top 10 performing students, pending an interview with Hayden, will be referred to a personal contact at Zoox for employment opportunities.

https://zoox.com/