Eddy Zhou

00 - C++ Table of Contents

3 min read

C++ Programming - Index

Overview

This collection covers essential C++ programming concepts with a focus on modern C++ practices, object-oriented programming “knobs,” and practical implementation patterns. The content emphasizes understanding the mechanisms behind C++ features and their proper usage in robotics and systems programming.

You might be wondering why I learned this. Well I like roboting. Why do I keep Roboting?

Topic Structure

Core Concepts

1. Passing Arguments

Core concepts: Parameter passing mechanisms

  • Pass by Value: Copy semantics
  • Pass by Pointer: Address copying and ownership implications
  • Pass by Reference: Alias creation and performance considerations
  • Memory and performance implications of each approach

Object-Oriented Programming Fundamentals

2. Encapsulation

Core concepts: Access control and data hiding

  • Access Specifiers: public, private, protected
  • Friend Classes/Functions: Breaking encapsulation selectively
  • Getters/Setters: Controlled access patterns
  • Namespaces: Code organization and visibility control

3. Construction and Lifetime

Core concepts: Object lifecycle management

  • Constructor patterns and initialization
  • Destructor behavior and cleanup
  • RAII (Resource Acquisition Is Initialization)
  • Object lifetime considerations

4. Inheritance

Core concepts: Class hierarchies and relationships

  • Base and derived class relationships
  • Virtual functions and method overriding
  • Access control in inheritance hierarchies
  • Multiple inheritance considerations

5. Composition, Aggregation & Dependency Injection

Core concepts: Object composition patterns

  • Composition: “Has-a” relationships with strong ownership
  • Aggregation: “Uses-a” relationships with weak ownership
  • Dependency Injection: Loose coupling through external dependency provision
  • Design patterns for flexible object relationships

Polymorphism and Advanced OOP

6. Polymorphism

Core concepts: “Many forms” - interface flexibility

  • Compile-time Polymorphism: Function/operator overloading, templates
  • Runtime Polymorphism: Virtual functions and dynamic dispatch
  • V-tables: Virtual table mechanism and function pointer resolution
  • Virtual destructors and proper cleanup

7. More Polymorphism

Core concepts: Polymorphism implementation details

  • Specific polymorphism patterns and “knobs”
  • Advanced polymorphism techniques
  • Performance considerations

Templates and Generic Programming

8. Templates

Core concepts: Compile-time code generation

  • Function Templates: Generic function implementations
  • Class Templates: Generic class definitions
  • Non-type Template Parameters: Compile-time constants
  • Template instantiation and specialization

Language Features and Utilities

9. explicit keyword

Core concepts: Preventing implicit conversions

  • Constructor explicit marking
  • Preventing unintended type conversions
  • Safer API design patterns

10. Koenig Lookup

Core concepts: Argument-dependent lookup (ADL)

  • Name resolution in C++
  • Function lookup rules
  • Namespace interaction patterns

11. C Preprocessor Directives

Core concepts: Compile-time text processing

  • Macro definitions and usage
  • Include guards and header management
  • Conditional compilation

Design Patterns and Best Practices

12. PIMPL and Forward Declarations

Core concepts: “Pointer to Implementation” pattern

  • Header dependency reduction
  • Compilation firewall technique
  • Forward declarations and opaque pointers
  • Library interface design

13. Std Library Stuff

Core concepts: Standard library utilities

  • Move Semantics: std::move and efficient resource transfer
  • Containers: std::vector usage patterns and best practices
  • Algorithms: std::copy, iteration, and algorithm integration
  • Memory Management: Smart pointers and RAII patterns

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