C++ syntax (differences between C and C++)

• Data: Definition, initialization, types of data.
• Expressions: Notion of reference, casting mechanisms.
• Operators (: :, new, delete).
• Functions (passing parameters and returning values by reference, default values, inlining, overload).
• Using C code in a C++ program.
• References (arguments and return values).
• Constant types.
• Namespaces.
• "Automatic" typing with the keyword auto (C++ 11).
• Hands-on work ¤Getting started with the development environment and programming a simple program.

Object-Oriented Approach

• General principles of Object techniques.
• C++ and Object programming.
• Introduction to Object-oriented methodologies.
• An introduction to UML diagrams and rating (static diagram, dynamic diagram, collaboration diagram, scenario).
• Hands-on work ¤Applying concepts to a case study that will be central to the exercises that follow.

C++ classes and objects.

• Syntactical aspects: Fields, methods, constructors.
• Access control.
• Self-reference.
• Fields and static methods.
• Functions.
• Friend methods and classes.
• Dynamically creating object tables.
• Methodological aspects: Designing classes.
• Copy and move constructors (C++ 11).
• Delegating constructors (C++ 11).
• Introduction to memory management issues (stack, heap, garbage collector).
• Hands-on work ¤Programming the case study. Designing and building a class and interface hierarchy.

Derivation and inheritance.

• Principle of derivation.
• Syntactical aspects: Definition of derived classes, constructors.
• Access control.
• Implementing polymorphism: Virtual functions.
• Reusing code: Abstract classes.
• Interfaces.
• Multiple inheritance.
• Semantic and methodological aspects: Code factoring.
• Hands-on work ¤Setting up polymorphism in the case study.

Exceptions

• Syntactical aspects: Try blocks, generating exceptions.
• Methodological aspects: Constructing an exception hierarchy, use of exceptions.
• Hands-on work ¤Introducing exceptions into the case study.

Overloading operators

• Principle of overload.
• Overloading binary operators.
• Particular overload: Index operator, function, conversion.
• Overloading memory management operators.
• Overloading the operators '<<' and '>>'.
• Hands-on work ¤Overloading some simple operators.

Models

• Class models. Principles and general mechanisms. Overloading models and redefining methods.
• Function model. Principles and general mechanisms. Overloading templates.
• Templates and overloading operators.
• Templates and derivation mechanisms.
• Improvements offered by C++ 11.
• Hands-on work ¤Model exercises.

I/O and overview of STL

• I/O.
• The principle of streams and input/output class hierarchy.
• Description of some input/output classes.
• Overview of STL.
• Objectives and principles.
• Descriptions of some templates and classes.
• Containers, iterators, range-based for loop (C++ 11).

Conclusion

• Software lifecycle: Testing, integration, release method.
• Interaction with other environments.
• Critical analysis of C++.
• Evolution of C++.