Learn C++ for Beginners

Syllabus

Course Syllabus:

Module 1: Introduction to C++

• Overview of C++ language and its uses
• Setting up the development environment: Installing a compiler and IDE (e.g., Visual Studio, Code::Blocks, or Clion)
• Your first C++ program: “Hello, World!”
• Understanding the basic structure of a C++ program
• Compiling and running a program
• Introduction to the C++ syntax: Comments, variables, and constants

Module 2: Variables, Data Types, and Operators

• Primitive data types in C++: int, float, double, char, bool
• Declaring variables and constants
• Type conversion and type casting
• Arithmetic operators, relational operators, logical operators
• Assignment and compound operators
• Input and output in C++ using cin and cout

Module 3: Control Flow Statements

• Conditional statements: if, else, else if, switch
• Comparison and logical operators
• Looping constructs: for, while, and do-while
• Using break and continue in loops
• Nested loops and conditional statements

Module 4: Functions in C++

• Understanding functions and their role in modular programming
• Function syntax: Declaration, definition, and calling functions
• Passing arguments to functions (by value and by reference)
• Function overloading: Creating multiple functions with the same name but different signatures
• Default function arguments and their use
• Recursion in functions

Module 5: Arrays and Strings

• Declaring and initializing arrays
• Accessing and manipulating array elements
• Multi-dimensional arrays
• Introduction to strings in C++: Character arrays and the string class
• String manipulation functions (strlen, strcpy, strcat, etc.)
• Passing arrays and strings to functions

Module 6: Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) in C++

• Introduction to OOP concepts: Classes, objects, and methods
• Defining classes and objects in C++
• Access modifiers: public, private, and protected
• Constructors and destructors: Understanding object initialization and destruction
• Overloading constructors and destructors
• Inheritance: Creating derived classes from base classes
• Polymorphism: Function overriding and virtual functions
• Operator overloading: Overloading +, -, =, etc., for custom classes
• Friend functions and access to private data

Module 7: Pointers and Memory Management

• Introduction to pointers in C++: Pointer syntax, dereferencing, and pointer arithmetic
• Working with references in C++
• Dynamic memory allocation: new and delete operators
• Pointers to functions and arrays
• Memory management best practices to avoid memory leaks
• Smart pointers: unique_ptr, shared_ptr, and weak_ptr

Module 8: Exception Handling in C++ (Optional)

• Introduction to exceptions: try, catch, and throw
• Handling multiple exceptions and custom exceptions
• Best practices for exception handling in C++
• Writing robust code with proper error management

Module 9: File Handling in C++ (Optional)

• Understanding file streams: ifstream, ofstream, and fstream
• Reading from and writing to text files
• Binary file handling and data serialization
• File I/O best practices
• Error handling during file operations

Module 10: Introduction to the Standard Template Library (STL) (Optional)

• Introduction to STL: Vectors, Lists, Stacks, Queues, Maps, and Sets
• Iterators in STL containers
• Using algorithms with STL containers
• Introduction to std::sort, std::find, and other useful functions in STL

Module 11: Debugging, Optimization, and Best Practices

• Using a debugger to step through code (gdb, Visual Studio debugger)
• Common C++ bugs and how to fix them (e.g., segmentation faults, infinite loops)
• Code optimization techniques: Reducing time and space complexity
• Writing clean, maintainable code
• Introduction to code profiling tools

Module 12: Final Project and Wrap-Up

• Final project: Build a simple C++ application (e.g., a calculator, a simple game, or a contact management system)
• Presenting your project: Code walkthrough and demonstration
• Review of key concepts learned in the course
• Next steps for advancing in C++ and learning more advanced topics

Course Delivery and Format:

• Duration: 6-8 weeks (self-paced or instructor-led)
• Format: Video lectures, interactive coding exercises, quizzes, and hands-on assignments
• Assignments: Weekly coding exercises to practice key concepts, including small projects and challenges
• Final Project: Develop a complete C++ program incorporating all the concepts learned in the course

Prerequisites:

• No prior programming experience is required; this course is designed for beginners.
• Basic understanding of computer concepts (e.g., what a variable is, how programs run) will be helpful but not necessary.

Tools and Resources:

• C++ IDE or compiler (e.g., Code::Blocks, Visual Studio, or any online compiler)
• Access to online C++ documentation and resources
• GitHub for version control and project management (optional)