Understanding Basic C++ Assumptions

This chapter will briefly identify the basic language syntax, constructs, and features of C++, which you are assumed to have from familiarity either with the basic syntax of C++, C, Java, or similar languages. These core language features will be reviewed concisely. If these basic syntax skills are not familiar to you after completing this chapter, please first take the time to explore a more basic syntax-driven C++ text before continuing with this book. The goal of this chapter is not to teach each of the assumed skills in detail but to briefly provide a synopsis of each basic language feature to allow you to quickly recall a skill that should already be in your programming repertoire.

In this chapter, we will cover the following main topics:

• Basic language syntax
• Basic I/O
• Control structures, statements, and looping
• Operators
• Function basics
• User defined type basics
• Namespace basics

By the end of this chapter, you’ll have a succinct review of the very basic C++ language skills in which you’re assumed to be proficient. These skills will be necessary in order to move forward with the next chapter successfully. Because most of these features do not utilize OO features of C++, I will refrain from using OO terminology (as much as possible) and will instead introduce appropriate OO terminology when we move into the OO sections of this book.