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Getting Started with C++

C++ is a powerful and widely used programming language that combines high-level abstraction with precise control over data and memory. This course introduces the core ideas of C++ through clear explanations, worked examples, and regular programming practice.

After an introduction to C++, we study data types, variables, input and output, and arithmetic. Week 3 introduces arrays, strings, and structures; Week 4 brings them together in a guided lab. Week 5 introduces pointers and the free store. We then study loops, branching statements, functions, objects and classes, and class inheritance, with a lab for each of these five topics. References and object initialization are introduced where they are needed. The final week is for review.

Lectures and labs focus on one core idea at a time. Students complete starter code, run simple tests, and explain their changes. Student information examples connect the object-oriented labs.

9 THEORY WEEKS · 6 LAB WEEKS · 1 REVIEW WEEK

Course Schedule

Week	Mode	Topic	Materials	Assignments
1	Theory 1	Getting Started with C++	Slides	Assignment
2	Theory 2	Dealing with Data	Slides	Assignment
3	Theory 3	Compound Types	Slides	Assignment
4	Lab 1	Data and Compound Types	Slides	Assignment
5	Theory 4	Pointers and the Free Store	Slides	Assignment
6	Theory 5	Loops and Relational Expressions	Slides	Assignment
7	Lab 2	Loops and Relational Expressions	Slides	Assignment
8	Theory 6	Branching Statements and Logical Operators	Slides	Assignment
9	Lab 3	Branching Statements and Logical Operators	Slides	Assignment
10	Theory 7	Functions: C++’s Programming Modules	Slides	Assignment
11	Lab 4	Functions	Slides	Assignment
12	Theory 8	Objects and Classes	Slides	Assignment
13	Lab 5	Objects and Classes	Slides	Assignment
14	Theory 9	Class Inheritance	Slides	Assignment
15	Lab 6	Class Inheritance	Slides	Assignment
16	Review	Review	Slides	Assignment

Weekly Learning Notes

Use these notes to prepare for each theory week and its class check. The six lab assignments remain short, guided exercises.

Week 1 — Getting Started with C++

Create, compile, and run a program. Read #include <iostream>, main(), std::cout, return, braces, and semicolons. Use std:: to identify names from the standard library.
Class check: change the message in Hello, World! and fix a missing semicolon. Learn to read the compiler's first error message.

Week 2 — Dealing with Data

Declare and initialize int, double, char, and bool variables. Distinguish initialization from assignment; introduce const and simple type conversions.
Use std::cin and std::cout, +, -, *, /, and %. Explain integer division, floating-point division, operator precedence, and compound assignment such as +=.
Class check: read two integers and print their sum. Compare 5 / 2 with 5 / 2.0. Predict 5 % 2. Use valid numeric input throughout these first exercises.

Week 3 — Compound Types

Initialize arrays and use indexes starting at 0 within valid bounds. Store and read text with std::string and std::getline.
Group related values in a structure and access its members with the dot operator. Compare built-in arrays with std::array and std::vector.
Class check: store a student's name and two scores, then print the name and average. Explain which array indexes are valid.

Week 5 — Pointers and the Free Store

Explain addresses and pointer variables. Declare and initialize a pointer with &, read or change its pointed-to value with *, and recognize nullptr. Never dereference a null, uninitialized, or dangling pointer.
Relate array elements to their addresses. Read the first two elements through a pointer and explain p + 1 within the same array. Distinguish a pointer variable from an array.
Introduce new and delete with a small example. Match new[] with delete[] for dynamic arrays, and explain that released storage must not be accessed. Detailed manual memory management is beyond this introductory lesson.
Class check: initialize int value = 10 and int* p = &value; predict value after *p = 20. Explain what p and *p represent.

Week 6 — Loops and Relational Expressions

Trace for and while loops using initialization, a test condition, and an update. Use relational operators and ++; recognize the do while loop and its first execution before the test.
Review array initialization, indexes starting at 0, and valid bounds from Compound Types. Use a short for loop to read the elements of a three-integer array.
Class check: trace the sum from 1 to 3 and explain why a loop for n = 0 does not run. Identify the valid indexes of int scores[3].

Week 8 — Branching Statements and Logical Operators

Use if, if else, and else if with relational operators and the logical operators &&, ||, and !. Distinguish == from = and explain short-circuit evaluation with a small example.
Read a simple switch statement and recognize break and continue. Class check: test a passing-score condition with 59 and 60; write a condition for a score from 0 to 100.

Week 10 — Functions: C++’s Programming Modules

Define, declare, and call a function. Distinguish formal arguments from actual arguments; trace passing by value, return values, and local scope.
Introduce a reference as another name for an existing variable. Compare passing an int by value with passing it by reference; recognize a const reference as read-only access through that reference.
Class check: write add(a, b), then predict whether changing an int formal argument changes the caller's variable.

Week 12 — Objects and Classes

Review std::string by storing and printing a name. Then define a class with data members and member functions; explain objects, public and private access, and the dot operator.
Use a constructor to set up an object. Compare initialization with assignment in the constructor body. Introduce member initialization lists and const member functions; trace when a local object's constructor and destructor run.
Class check: create two Student objects and call show() on each. Explain why changing one student's score leaves the other student's score unchanged.

Week 14 — Class Inheritance

Explain the is-a relationship, base and derived classes, and public inheritance. Access private base-class data through a public member function.
Read the supplied member initialization list: construct the base-class part first, then initialize derived data members. Class check: explain Person(studentName) and reuse getName() when displaying a Student.

Week 16 — Review

Week 16 revisits data, compound types, pointers, loops, branching statements, functions, objects and classes, and class inheritance using the lab programs and short code-reading questions.

Textbook terminology: C++ Primer Plus, 6th Edition

Class tasks: Theory weeks use a short exit check; lab assignments include instructions, starter code, and submission requirements. Submit a lab report for each lab. Extra homework is assigned only when needed.

Grading

Here’s more information about the class grade:

Breakdown

Below is the breakdown of the class grade:

— 60%: Final Examination — open-book written examination.
— 40%: Continuous Assessment — attendance, class performance, assignments, and labs.

COURSE MATERIALS

Learning Resources

TEXTBOOK REFERENCE

C++ Primer Plus, 6th Edition

Course topics and C++ terminology follow Stephen Prata’s English edition.

View Textbook Contents

LOCAL ALIGNMENT

Chinese Course Materials

Local topic boundaries, examples and grading alignment.

MODERN EXAMPLES

PPP3 · LearnCpp · CS106L

Selected C++ explanations for containers, classes, streams and project organization.

ONLINE IDE

OnlineGDB

Write, compile, run, and debug C++ programs directly in your browser.

Open Online C++ Compiler

Course boundary: move semantics, smart-pointer implementation, template metaprogramming, and advanced manual memory management are not core requirements.