iv Preface
The emphasis is on the overall design goals, practical constraints, and people that
shaped C++. The key design decisions relating to language features are discussed and
put into their historical context. The evolution of C++ is traced from C with Classes
through Release 1.0 and 2.0 to the current ANSI/ISO standards work and the explo-
sion of use, interest, commercial activity, compilers, tools, environments, and
libraries. C++'s relationship to C and Simula is discussed in detail. C++'s relation-
ship to other languages is discussed briefly. The design of major language facilities
such as classes, inheritance, abstract classes, overloading, memory management, tem-
plates, exception handling, run-time type information, and namespaces are discussed
in some detail.
The primary aim of this book is to give C++ programmers a better idea of the
background and fundamental concepts of their language and hopefully to inspire them
to experiment with ways of using C++ that are new to them. This book can also be
read by experienced programmers and students of programming languages and might
help them decide whether using C++ might be worth their while.
Acknowledgments
I am very grateful to Steve Clamage, Tony Hansen, Lorraine Juhl, Peter Juhl, Brian
Kernighan, Lee Knight, Doug Lea, Doug McIlroy, Barbara Moo, Jens Palsberg, Steve
Rumsby, and Christopher Skelly for reading complete drafts of this book. Their con-
structive comments caused major changes to the contents and organization of this
book. Steve Buroff, Martin Carroll, Sean Corfield, Tom Hagelskjær, Rick Hollin-
beck, Dennis Mancl, and Stan Lippman helped by commenting on selected chapters.
Also, thanks to Archie Lachner for asking for this book before I had thought of writ-
ing it.
Naturally, I owe thanks to the many people who helped make C++. In a sense, this
book is a tribute to them and some of their names can be found throughout the chap-
ters and in the index. Should I single out individuals, it must be Brian Kernighan,
Andrew Koenig, Doug McIlroy, and Jonathan Shopiro, each of whom has been a
steady source of help, encouragement, and ideas for more than a decade. Also, thanks
to Kristen Nygaard and Dennis Ritchie as the designers of Simula and C from which
the key ingredients of C++ were borrowed. Over the years, I have come to appreciate
them not only as brilliant and practical language designers, but also as gentlemen and
thoroughly likable individuals.
Murray Hill, New Jersey Bjarne Stroustrup
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