Think Like a Programmer: An Introduction to Creative Problem Solving
- 5h 28m
- V. Anton Spraul
- No Starch Press
- 2012
The real challenge of programming isn't learning a language's syntax—it's learning to creatively solve problems so you can build something great. In this one-of-a-kind text, author V. Anton Spraul breaks down the ways that programmers solve problems and teaches you what other introductory books often ignore: how to Think Like a Programmer. Each chapter tackles a single programming concept, like classes, pointers, and recursion, and open-ended exercises throughout challenge you to apply your knowledge. You'll also learn how to:
- Split problems into discrete components to make them easier to solve
- Make the most of code reuse with functions, classes, and libraries
- Pick the perfect data structure for a particular job
- Master more advanced programming tools like recursion and dynamic memory
- Organize your thoughts and develop strategies to tackle particular types of problems
Although the book's examples are written in C++, the creative problem-solving concepts they illustrate go beyond any particular language; in fact, they often reach outside the realm of computer science. As the most skillful programmers know, writing great code is a creative art—and the first step in creating your masterpiece is learning to Think Like a Programmer.
About the Author
V. Anton Spraul has taught introductory programming and computer science for more than 15 years. This book is a distillation of the techniques he has used and honed over many one-on-one sessions with struggling programers. He is also the author of Computer Science Made Simple (Broadway).
In this Book
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Think Like a Programmer—An Introduction to Creative Problem Solving
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Strategies for Problem Solving
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Pure Puzzles
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Solving Problems with Arrays
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Solving Problems with Pointers and Dynamic Memory
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Solving Problems with Classes
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Solving Problems with Recursion
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Solving Problems with Code Reuse
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Thinking Like a Programmer
