Think Like a Programmer by V. Anton Spraul

Think Like a Programmer

An Introduction to Creative Problem Solving

V. Anton Spraul

No Starch Press · Print & ebook · August 12, 2012

The real challenge of programming isn't learning a language's syntax—it's learning to creatively solve problems so you can build something great.

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Who it’s for
A practical-minded look at the creative work behind programming, beyond memorizing a language's syntax.
Themes
Creative problem solving, Programming concepts, Problem-solving strategies
Genres
C++ Programming, Programming Basics, Algorithms

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About this book

The real challenge of programming isn't learning a language's syntax—it's learning to creatively solve problems so you can build something great. In this one-of-a-kind text, author V. Anton Spraul breaks down the ways that programmers solve problems and teaches you what other introductory books often ignore: how to Think Like a Programmer.

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Each chapter tackles a single programming concept, like classes, pointers, and recursion, and open-ended exercises throughout challenge you to apply your knowledge. You'll also learn how to: –Split problems into discrete components to make them easier to solve –Make the most of code reuse with functions, classes, and libraries –Pick the perfect data structure for a particular job –Master more advanced programming tools like recursion and dynamic memory –Organize your thoughts and develop strategies to tackle particular types of problems Although the book's examples are written in C++, the creative problem-solving concepts they illustrate go beyond any particular language; in fact, they often reach outside the realm of computer science. As the most skillful programmers know, writing great code is a creative art—and the first step in creating your masterpiece is learning to Think Like a Programmer.

Beyond Syntax

A practical-minded look at the creative work behind programming, beyond memorizing a language's syntax.

Come here for

  • Breaking problems into manageable parts
  • Exercises that put programming concepts to work

Expect

  • Examples in C++, with ideas that travel beyond one language
  • Classes, pointers, recursion, and choosing data structures

Where it sits

Programming Basics52%
C++ Programming49%
Algorithms33%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Programming Basics
  • C++ Programming
  • Algorithms
Authors
V. Anton Spraul
Publisher
No Starch Press
Published
August 12, 2012
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Creative problem solving · Programming concepts · Problem-solving strategies
Reading lane
Programming Basics