TTCP2000: Introduction to Programming and C++ Basics for Non-Programmers

About this Course

Introduction to Programming and C++ Basics for Non-Developers is a five-day, basic-level training course geared for IT candidates who have little or no prior experience in computer programming. You’ll gain light hands-on programming experience, while you begin your journey to develop a programmer’s mindset. Throughout this gentle introduction to programming and C++, students will learn to create applications and libraries using C++ using best practices and sound OO development techniques for writing object-oriented programs in C++. Special emphasis is placed on object-oriented concepts and best practices throughout the training.

Becoming a modern software developer is like learning a new language; it requires study, practice, and dedication well beyond this course to apply your new skills effectively. While this five-day program won’t transform you into an experienced developer, it will lay a solid foundation in coding basics using C++, while teaching you to think like a programmer. Although this course is technical in nature, our instructors will guide you every step of the way, providing a supportive environment for you to explore, ask questions, and prepare for your next learning milestones.

NOTE: Although this course is geared for non-developers, it is helpful for attendees to have a somewhat technical background and to be comfortable working with computers, having the ultimate goal of becoming a C++ software developer.

Audience Profile

Although this course is geared for non-developers, it is helpful for attendees to have a somewhat technical background and to be comfortable working with computers, having the ultimate goal of becoming a C++ software developer.

Attendees might include:

· Technically-oriented attendees who want or who want to begin the process of becoming an OO application developer

· Technical team members from non-development roles, re-skilling to move into software and application development roles within an organization

· Recent college graduates looking to apply their college experience to programming skills in a professional environment, or perhaps needing to learn the best practices and standards for programming within their new organization

At Course Completion

This “skills-centric” course is about 50% hands-on lab and 50% lecture, designed to train attendees in basic coding with C++, coupling the most current, effective techniques with the soundest industry practices. Our engaging instructors and mentors are highly experienced practitioners who bring years of current "on-the-job" experience into every classroom.

Working in a hands-on learning environment, guided by our expert team, attendees will learn:

· Learn about basic computer architecture (memory, CPU, IO)

· Gain basic knowledge of the C++ programming language, features and functions in today’s development initiatives

· Gain hands-on practice using C++ basic syntax and functions to build basic software applications

· Learn about Object Oriented development and best practices

· Learn and apply core development functions such as dynamic memory, inheritance, value type / reference types, exceptions and more

· Get a light introduction to the C++ Standard Library

· Gain skills required to exit the course with a foundation in basic programming skills and C++ knowledge to carry forward to additional study and practice.

Outline

Getting Started with Computer Programming Basics

1. Getting Started

· Overview of computing

· Understanding data types

2. Programming Tools

· Overview of tools used in C++ programming

· Explain why we use various tools when programing

3. Programming Basics

· C++ Syntax fundamentals

· Basic program elements

· Primitive data types in C++

· Literal types and variables

· Auto variables

· C++ Source files – headers, compile units

· Program flow

· If/else

· Loops

· Intro Functions

4. Data Structures

· Structures

· Arrays

5. Functions

· Return types

· Parameters

· Calling functions

· Overloaded functions

6. Pointers & Memory

· Understanding pointers

· Taking an address

· Dereferencing pointers

· Pointer operations

· Pass by Value/Passing pointers

· Default argument values

· Inline functions

7. Namespaces

· Overview

· The problem

· Defining a namespace

· Using a namespace

· Aliases

· Nested Namespaces in C++ 20

8. Strings

· Overview

· Using strings

· String methods

· String operators

· Strings and char*

9. Input and Output

· Overview

· ostream and istream

· Reading and writing to the console

· Reading and writing files

· Manipulators

Getting Started with OO / Object-Orientation

10. Intro Object-Oriented Features

· Overview of O-O concepts

· Defining a class in C++

· Encapsulation

· Class members

· Member functions

· Class organization

· Inline

· Friends

· this

· Class vs type

11. Dynamic Memory

· Memory concepts

· References

· Passing by value or reference

· new

· delete

· Construction/Destruction

· Initializer lists

· Copy constructor

· const & constexpr

12. A Practical Example

· Planning an application

· Defining an algorithm

· Implementing a solution

13. Templates

· Overview

· Using function templates

· Using class templates

14. Inheritance

· Base Classes

· Derived Classes

· Overriding members

· Abstract members and classes

15. Exceptions

· Throwing

· Catching

· Defining custom exceptions

Survey of C++ library components

16. Intro C++ Standard Library

· I/O classes

· Collections

· Utility

Prerequisites

Before attending this course, students must have:

· Ability to use computers to start programs, open and save files, navigate application menus and interfaces

· Ability to understand logical concepts such as comparisons

· Understand number theory

· Ability to create, understand, and follow structured directions or step-by-step procedures

· Ability to understand and apply abstract concepts to concrete examples