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Title: Learning Computer Programming (With CD-ROM; CyberRookies Series) (Cyberrookies Series)
ISBN: 1584500611
Author:
Mary E. Farrell
Publicate Date: 2002-04
Publish: 2002-04
List Price: $34.95
Average Customer Rating: 3.0
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $21.84
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $7.99
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| Customer Review: |
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1: My Opinion of "Learning Computer Programming"
The book starts out appearing to be a good beginning programming book. But it quickly becomes apparent that it is "C++"-centric. The author states "you can't do this" or "you have to do that", which is true of C++ but not of other languages. There are also examples of problems and solutions "explained" in the book that are oversimplified and have no accompanying code (see the part on merge sort).
I think I'll choose another text.
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2: Good resource but quite dry going down...
I'm about halfway through this book and I have to agree with the other reviewers -- it's a very good primer on programming concepts. The only fault I can find with it is that it reads like a college textbook...and not in a good way. Granted, I doubt many people read computer books for fun, but even so, the palpable academic flavor of this book does not do the subject of programming any favors.
I won't say the book is boring to read -- the author is clearly knowledgeable and taking great pains as it is to present these concepts as clearly and simply as possible. But you know, there's something to be said for authors who can engage readers, especially with regard to technical matters. It makes the learning process all the more enjoyable and readers are far more likely to retain the info they read. Once I've finished this book, I will probably feel grateful that I've finished in the same way one feels grateful for having survived an interminable (though informative) Powerpoint presentation.
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3: Read this one first!
After reading programming for dummies and learning an arcane language I was left wishing for a better book to expose me to the basics of programming. The subtitle of this book is "Its not about languages" and that is the approach of this book. Farrell focuses on the logic of programming and mentions the actual syntax in passing. This makes this book valuable and a helpful tool for all programmers no matter what their language destination is. I wish that I had read this book first!
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4: Good overview for beginners
I bought this book as a refresher, since I had taken a programming class several years ago and wanted to re-learn the basic concepts. This book is good for doing just that. It will help a beginner get familiar with the concepts, and it goes easy on the more complex stuff. Anyone who is interested in programing but gets scared off by books that are hard to read should read this book first. It will lay a good foundation and make other books easier to read.PROS: easy to read, use simple language.
CONS: author sometimes tries too hard to simplify explanations, some typos (a couple that will stop the code from compiling) Overall, a good book. The cons, even the typos, are not that bad, you just need to be paying attention when you read.
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