The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5)

Free IDE --> Free Texts?

Thank you for your many responses regarding the free IDEs.

According to your suggestions, most of the free IDEs that are available are for C++, C#, Java and Delphi.

Are there any free (as in beer) texts available on the Net for these languages. Books that can take someone from newbie to comfortable (the point where they are able to recognise their own mistakes and learn from them)?

PDF (or zipped html) is preferable to html sites.... (download once if and when net connection available).

Once again, many thanks.

LoveByte
Tuesday, February 24, 2004

Delphi uses ObjectPascal. ObjectPascal is in fact the Pascal language, but with A LOT of improvements and with some modifications.

It's not the Pascal you know from the university, but a much improved Pascal, similar to Java.

In order to learn the ObjectPascal language itself, there are 2 free books you can use:

Essential Pascal

http://www.marcocantu.com/epascal/default.htm

Essential Delphi

http://www.marcocantu.com/edelphi/default.htm

MX
Tuesday, February 24, 2004

ObjectPascal is a multiparadigm language, like C++.

You can use in a procedural/structured style, or you can use it in a pure object-oriented style.

Or, you can mix the two.

The object model is very similar to the one in Java - it's simple (compared to the C++ object model) and reference based.

In my opinion the fact that ObjectPascal is a multiparadigm language is an advantage - you can adapt your coding to the problem at hand, instead of being forced to use a pure OO style.

MANY important libraries, including Windows API, are still coded in procedural style. It's best to interface with them in a procedural style.

MX
Tuesday, February 24, 2004

Bruce Eckel wrote "Thinking in Java" and "Thinking in C++". Some people say that his Java book is one of the best introductory books on the shelf. I'm not sure I agree with that, but it's a pretty good book nonetheless.

All of Eckel's books are available for free (in a variety of formats) on his website, here:

http://mindview.net/Books

Benji Smith
Tuesday, February 24, 2004

For C#...

http://www.gotdotnet.com/

http://www.msdn.com/

...are your best choices.

Andrew Burton
Tuesday, February 24, 2004

I have read recent editions of both Thinking in Java and Thinking in C++.

Thinking in C++ *rocks*.

However, in my opinion, "Thinking in Java" contains lots of text, but too little information.

John
Tuesday, February 24, 2004