Tag Archives: C++

Desktop Application Development, Software Engineering Curriculum

Topic 6 – Introduction to Windows Programming

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Why do I need to learn about Windows programming?

Because Windows is the most popular OS and most companies use it for their daily work. So your software must run on Windows in order to help users do their work.

What can I do after finishing learning Windows programming?

You will know how to create Windows applications that are similar to Notepad, or Paint, or Calculator.

You could also create a dictionary application or an application for storing and searching for books.

It sounds interesting! What should I do now?

Windows  programming is a very big topic. You need to master at least 3 specific technologies: Windows API, Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation.

First, please read the books below to learn about Windows APIs:

After that, please read this book to learn about Windows Forms: Chris Sells and Michael Weinhardt (2006). Windows Forms 2.0 programming. Addison-Wesley.

After that, please read this book to learn about Windows Presentation Foundation: Chris Sells and Ian Griffiths (2007). Programming WPF: Building Windows UI with Windows Presentation Foundation. O’Reilly Media.

Can I learn Java stuff instead of Microsoft stuff for Windows programming?

Yes, you can. However please remember that Microsoft is the one who created and has been developing Windows. Therefore we believe that the good approach for learning programming for Windows is to learn Microsoft technologies.

Can I create a desktop application that can run in Windows, macOS and Linux using one code base?

Yes, you can.  Please consider one of the tools below:

Terminology Review:

  • Windows, Menus, Panels, Tabs.
  • Buttons, Text Boxes, Combo Boxes, Images, Trees.
  • Windows API.
  • Windows Forms.
  • Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF).
  • Graphics Device Interface (GDI).
  • Dynamic-Link Library (DLL).
  • Processes.
  • Threads.
  • Shared Memory.
  • Windows Sockets 2 (Winsock).
  • Windows Services.
  • Office Add-ins.

After finishing windows programming, please click on Topic 7 – Introduction to Database Management Systems to continue.

 

Object-Oriented Programming, Programming Languages, Software Engineering Curriculum

Topic 5 – Object-Oriented Programming

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Why do I need to learn about object-oriented programming?

Because most of modern software are written using object-oriented programming languages. Using object-oriented programming as a tool and more importantly as a problem solving approach will save you a lot of time and cost when you create modern software systems.

What can I do after finishing learning object-oriented programming?

You will be able to write a program to allow a user
– to draw a picture, save it, then load it, or
– to play ping-pong game, or
– to store and search for an employee’s CV.

Alright! What should I do now?

First, please read this book to gain a fundamental understanding of object-oriented programming with intuitive examples, and to distinguish object-oriented concepts from procedural programming concepts: Jim Keogh and Mario Giannini (2004). OOP Demystified. McGraw-Hill.

After that, please read this book to learn how to apply object-oriented concepts to creating real world software using a specific object-oriented programming language (i.e. C# language): RB Whitaker (2017). The C# Player’s Guide. Starbound Software.

After that, please take a quick look at one of the books below so you can refer to a specific topic that requires further study when developing real-world software:

I hear that there are many object-oriented programming languages, such as C++, C#, Java, PHP, Objective-C, Swift, Python, and Ruby. How many object-oriented programming languages do I need to learn?

You should learn as many as possible. However, at this stage, we recommend that you focus on learning only C++, C#, or Java.

C++ is the most widely used language for developing high-performance software systems, including games, operating systems, compilers, database management systems, web browsers, graphics editors, and medical or engineering applications.

Java and C# are the most widely used languages for developing enterprise systems.

If you are required or prefer to learn C++, please read this book to learn the core concepts of object-oriented programming with C++ implementation and specific features: Bjarne Stroustrup (2013). The C++ Programming Language. Pearson Education.

If you are required or prefer to learn Java, please read this book to learn the core concepts of object-oriented programming with Java implementation and specific features: Herbert Schildt (2019). Java: The Complete Reference. McGraw-Hill Education.

You should focus on mastering the core object-oriented principles such as encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction, rather than trying to learn every OOP language. Once you understand these principles well, you can apply them across different languages with relatively little effort.

After that, please read the two books below to deepen your understanding of OOP concepts and to learn how to design software more efficiently using this approach:

Terminology Review:

  • Abstraction.
  • Encapsulation.
  • Class-based Inheritance.
  • Prototype-based Inheritance.
  • Polymorphism.
  • Types.
  • Method Variables (C++ Function Pointers, C# Delegates).
  • Concurrency.
  • Collections.
  • Object-Oriented Analysis.
  • Object-Oriented Design.
  • Object-Oriented Programming.

After finishing learning about object-oriented programming, please click on Topic 6 – Introduction to Windows Programming to continue.

Programming Languages, Software Engineering Curriculum

Topic 3 – Introduction to Programming

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Why do I need to know a programming language?

Because you will develop your software using a programming language.
A programming language is a language that both you and a computer will understand.
It’s a tool for you to express what you want a computer to do.
It’s a tool for you to write the instructions of your computer programs.
Without knowledge of a programming language, you cannot develop software.

I hear that there are many programming languages such as C, C++, C#, Objective-C, Java, Swift, Ruby, Python, JavaScript, PHP, F#, Kotlin, Clojure, Go, and Lisp.
How many programming languages should I know?

As many as possible. However, at this stage, you should first learn about the structure of a computer program and a procedural language (e.g., C or C++).

What can I do after finishing learning programming language?

You will be able to write programs that tell a computer to:

  • perform calculations,
  • count the occurrences of a string,
  • store and search for a string,
  • sort a list of numbers, or
  • display an image.

What should I do now?

Please read this book to learn programming using the C language: Stephen Prata (2011). C Primer Plus. Pearson.

Alternatively, you can read this book to learn programming using the C++ language: Stephen Prata (2012). C++ Primer Plus. Pearson.

Alternatively, you can read these books to learn programming using the Python language:,

Alternatively, you can read this book to learn programming using the Ruby language: Chris Pine (2013). Learn to Program: The Facets of Ruby Series. The Pragmatic Bookshelf.

Alternatively, you can read these books to learn programming using the Go language:

After that, if you would like to study system programming in depth, please read one of the following books:

After that, if you would like to build your vocabulary and gain in-depth knowledge of programming, especially the relationship between mathematics and programming, as well as the ideas of functional programming and logic programming, then please read the book or the notes below:

Terminology Review:

  • Computer Programs.
  • Compilers.
  • Just-In-Time Compilers.
  • Interpreters.
  • Structured Programming.
  • Procedural Programming.
  • Object-Oriented Programming.
  • Functional Programming.
  • Declarative Programming.
  • Logic Programming.
  • Primitive Types: int, float, double, string, date/time, null.
  • Basic Constructs: variables & assignments, pointers, declarations, functions, macro.
  • Control Flow: if/else, while, switch, for, break, continue, recursion, exception, parallelism, signal, jump.
  • User-defined Types: struct, class, type.
  • Data Structures: Arrays, Lists, Linked Lists, Dictionaries.
  • Object-Oriented Programming: abstraction, encapsulation, class-based inheritance, prototype-based inheritance, polymorphism.
  • Functional Programming: first-class and higher-order functions, no side effects, recursion.
  • Modularity: files, packages, namespaces, libraries, modules.
  • Concurrency: processes, threads, locks, channels, timers, callbacks, events, promises, event loop.
  • Type system: static type, dynamic type.
  • Error handling: try/catch.
  • Metaprogramming: reflection, template programming, DSL.
    • Clojure.
    • Garbage Collection: Cheney’s Algorithm, Baker’s Algorithm.

    After finishing programming, please click on Topic 4 – Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms to continue.