A visual, interdisciplinary approach to solving problems in numerical methods

Computing for Numerical Methods Using Visual C++ fills the need for a complete, authoritative book on the visual solutions to problems in numerical methods using C++. In an age of boundless research, there is a need for a programming language that can successfully bridge the communication gap between a problem and its computing elements through the use of visual-ization for engineers and members of varying disciplines, such as biologists, medical doctors, mathematicians, economists, and politicians. This book takes an interdisciplinary approach to the subject and demonstrates how solving problems in numerical methods using C++ is dominant and practical for implementation due to its flexible language format, object-oriented methodology, and support for high numerical precisions.

In this book, C++ game developers get everything they need to add sound, music, video cut-scenes, and other special effects to digital games—including reusable code, copyright-free media samples, and expert instruction.

C++ is the primary language used in game development; however, game programming has a unique set of challenges, which general application development techniques and recommendations don't apply to. Written to address this issue, C++ for Game Programmers provides practical suggestions for what C++ features to use in game development and why. Many of the misconceptions of C++ are clarified, and programmers learn the most effective methods for using the language to create games. This is primarily a book about ideas and concepts: it is not just a source of C++ code to use in your game project. Instead, C++ for Game Programmers covers how things work from a game-development perspective, and provides practical rules to follow. It points out the most effective C++ practices and steers developers away from the potentially dangerous ones. It describes common C++ techniques to solve specific problems faced by most developers, and focuses on techniques that have been proven in real games. Additionally, specific new technologies such as STL are covered in detail, along with the challenges specific to different platforms such as PCs or game consoles. The techniques presented apply to all aspects of game programming, including graphics, physics, and AI. C++ for Game Programmers is the perfect resource for game programmers looking to perfect their C++ skills, and experienced programmers interested in entering the game industry. Graphics, embedded systems, and real-time systems programmers facing the same challenges as game programmers will also benefit from the ideas and techniques covered.

Written for the intermediate or advanced C++ programmer, renowned C++ expert Scott Meyers provides essential techniques for getting more out of the Standard Template Library in Effective STL, a tutorial for doing more with this powerful library.

STL is a hugely powerful feature of today's C++, but one with a well-earned reputation for complexity. The book is organized into 50 tips that explore different areas of the STL. Besides providing a list of dos and don'ts, Meyers presents a lot of background on what works and what doesn't with STL. Each tip is demonstrated with in-depth coding samples, many of which make use of two-color printing to highlight the most important lines of code. (Advanced developers will enjoy Meyers's in-depth explanations, while those who are in a hurry can skip ahead to the recommended tip itself.)

A good part of this book involves using containers, like vectors and maps, which are built into STL. (Besides the standard built-in containers, the author also highlights recent additions to STL like B-trees, which are available as extensions from other vendors.) You'll learn the best ways to allocate, add, change, and delete items inside containers, including associative containers like maps. You'll also learn to avoid common pitfalls, which can result in writing code that is slow or just plain wrong.

On the Effective C++ CD, well-known C++ guru Scott Meyers combines the complete text of two of his books, Effective C++ and More Effective C++. Since the format of these two books provides a laundry list of tips for improving C++ code (Effective C++ contains 50 tips, while More Effective C++ adds 35 more), the CD-ROM format is a natural fit and a convenient way to read both titles. The CD-ROM format adds extra material, including several magazine articles and an annotated list of books for further reading. A handy full-text search engine lets you cross-reference material from both books. (Alternatively, you can just browse and read at your own pace.) The CD-ROM provides full control of image size and other options, making it useful for virtually any system, from desktop to laptop. (It requires only Netscape 4 or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 browsers or later). While the author himself writes that he likes printed books, this CD-ROM makes good use of the greater flexibility of HTML. The additional material makes this electronic version even more comprehensive than the two previous titles combined. –Richard Dragan