A Computer Science Tapestry: Exploring Computer Science with C++

First, I really like the way the author explain things, it's very easy to understand, concise and clear. The programming style is also very good.

Second, this book teach C++ in the way C+ should be taught. For example, instead of using the array of characters or pointer to charecters to make string, this book use standard string class from the beginning. And instead of using array, it use vector container class.. and so on. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those STL crazed person. However, I have to admit that STL changed the way of programming the C++ dramatically. And at least, Bjarne Stroustrup, the creator of C++, said the same thing (the way C++ should be taught, something like that. You can refer to this homepage for more information about this).

And one thing that made this book different from the rest, the approach of introducing the "Class". Instead of creating the class first, then use your own class in your program, this book teach you how to "use" class to code. The reader will see how easier things (and more beautiful code) become when using classes, compare to not using them. Then, after using those classes for a while, you'll know how you "should" write your own.

This book, of course, also teach you how to implement the class. But the "idea" of what the class is, how important it is, and how should blah blah blah, is also very important.. And that sort of information seems to be missed from the other books, at least missed from where it should be mentioned. (Anyway, in real world programming... you'll likely to use the class libraries someone had implemented, and then expand them, more than write your own classes from scrath).

One downside... using his own classes in the example means.. most of the example are not ANSI compliant. Therefore, you can't just type them down and compile them without downloading those files (maybe it's in CD-ROM, I've checked the CD yet.. since I already download them from this book's website at Duke university). And, therefore, someone who is really "novice" might have no idea what this book is talking about when it start mentioning the strange header files which are not parts of Standard library.

And also, there're also some little problems with the examples. However, it's not the severe like those in Herbert Schildt's and Walter Savitch's books.

This book will, believe me, help you a lot in your programming career with C++ and Object-Oriented. And it's definitely one of the best in this genre.


One of the best, yet forgotten, book of OOP & C++ , Period.   August 9, 2000
Rawitat Pulam (University of Tsukuba, Japan)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

What should I say about this book... Hmm, from my feeling, this is one of the best in "Introduction" to Object-Oriented Programming in C++ (from more than 20 C++ books I've read..). Why?

First, I really like the way the author explain things, it's very easy to understand, concise and clear. The programming style is also very good.

Second, this book teach C++ in the way C+ should be taught. For example, instead of using the array of characters or pointer to charecters to make string, this book use standard string class from the beginning. And instead of using array, it use vector container class.. and so on. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those STL crazed person. However, I have to admit that STL changed the way of programming the C++ dramatically. And at least, Bjarne Stroustrup, the creator of C++, said the same thing (the way C++ should be taught, something like that. You can refer to this homepage for more information about this).

And one thing that made this book different from the rest, the approach of introducing the "Class".

Instead of creating the class first, then use your own class in your program, this book teach you how to "use" class to code. The reader will see how easier things (and more beautiful code) become when using classes, compare to not using them. Then, after using those classes for a while, you'll know how you "should" write your own.

This book, of course, also teach you how to implement the class. But the "idea" of what the class is, how important it is, and how should blah blah blah, is also very important.. And that sort of information seems to be missed from the other books, at least missed from where it should be mentioned. (Anyway, in real world programming... you'll likely to use the class libraries someone had implemented, and then expand them, more than write your own classes from scrath).

One downside... using his own classes in the example means.. most of the example are not ANSI compliant. Therefore, you can't just type them down and compile them without downloading those files (maybe it's in CD-ROM, I've checked the CD yet.. since I already download them from this book's website at Duke university). And, therefore, someone who is really "novice" might have no idea what this book is talking about when it start mentioning the strange header files which are not parts of Standard library.

And also, there're also some little problems with the examples. However, it's not the severe like those in Herbert Schildt's and Walter Savitch's books.

This book will, believe me, help you a lot in your programming career with C++ and Object-Oriented. And it's definitely one of the best in this genre.


Choose any book but this!   May 1, 2000
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

This book was used to teach my intro to C++. It is not organized well at all. If you want to know anything,ex: about vectors, you must search the 5 or 6 unrelated areas of the book that have vector information. Its almost as if it is written with attention defecit as its goal. If you find any redeeming educational value in this book, I promise that this book will be useless as a future reference.

If you are a beginner, find a book that groups topics, defines topics, and then shows you code as an example. This book garbles the information into mixed groups of topics and uses code to explain topics that haven't been introduced in any meaningful way.

I regret my exposure to this book, and will seek another for reference.


From The Perspective of The Author's Student   January 14, 2000
Adam Mercer (USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

When I first signed up for professor Astrachan's class of Computer Programming for beginners, I thought to myself: "this guy must think he is some kind of genius or somehting... writing our textbook is just too much." Later I found out that Professor Astrachan really knows his computer science, and this fact is definately reflected in his work on A Computer Science Tapestry. The Tapestry, as we now all call it, has proven to be one of the most valuable books in my career of computer programming. I have spent time refrencing it, studying it, and skimming it's pages just before a project to be sure I knew exactly what I needed to know to make the computer code work for me. Professor Astrachan makes coding in C++ easy to grasp in a way that many professors could only wish for. This Computer Science Tapestry is what C++ is based upon, and what C++ could be built upon.


Its the best book, especially if you plan on majoring in it   November 8, 1999
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

Daaaaamn Solid! I use this book im my class, Mr. Astrachan is my teacher in fact.. haha... there is one minor flaw though; it doesnt give me all the answers to questions that I might have, though he has a very good way of presenting it. There are a few concepts he goes to briefly, oh well, im sure he did that purposely so people like me would have to actually program in his class.. hehe.. anyways... yeah, this book is the best and the professor ROCKS!