Summary

In this first chapter, we've learned a little about the history of C++, covered its various applications throughout multiple industries, and deconstructed an example program. This allowed us to identify the core components and concepts that comprise a C++ application.

First, we discussed the history of the language, looking at the problems that it was designed to solve. With that context in place, we deconstructed an example application, identifying the key features of a C++ application.

With those key concepts now identified, we moved onto looking at each in greater detail. We learned some common C++ keywords and what they do. We looked at preprocessor directives and how we can use them to perform operations before our code is compiled. We then looked at basic IO statements, using std::cin and std::cout to get information in and out of our applications. And finally, we looked at functions, ways in which we can encapsulate behaviors into nice re-usable blocks of code.

To put all of this into practice, we ended with a programming task in which we constructed an application from a set brief. By developing an application that allows users to input their details, and then sorting them into groups, we put into practice the skills we've learned.

With this fundamental understanding of the anatomy of a C++ application, we can now start to delve into C++'s language features and tools. Gaining this initial understanding of an application was necessary so that we understand how our applications are built and run. Next, we're going to be looking at control flow—the means by which we control which code executes and when, allowing us to build bigger and more complex applications.