Scribd
Upload
59 views

1 2 CPP Tutor PDF

This tutorial covers C++ concepts like pointers, arrays, strings, parameter passing, classes, constructors, destructors, class hierarchy, and virtual functions. It also provides tips for coding in C++ and discusses advanced topics that won't be required for the course.

Uploaded by

Hasan Pehlivanlar
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
59 views

1 2 CPP Tutor PDF

This tutorial covers C++ concepts like pointers, arrays, strings, parameter passing, classes, constructors, destructors, class hierarchy, and virtual functions. It also provides tips for coding in C++ and discusses advanced topics that won't be required for the course.

Uploaded by

Hasan Pehlivanlar
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 21

C++ Tutorial

Rob Jagnow
This tutorial will be best for students who have at least had some exposure to Java or another comparable programming language.

Overview
Pointers Arrays and strings Parameter passing Class basics Constructors & destructors Class Hierarchy Virtual Functions Coding tips Advanced topics

Advanced topics: friends, protected, inline functions, const, static, virtual inheritance, pure virtual function (e.g. Intersect(ray, hit) = 0), class hierarchy.

Pointers
int *intPtr; intPtr = new int; *intPtr = 6837;

Create a pointer Allocate memory Set value at given address


*intPtr intPtr 6837 0x0050

delete intPtr; int otherVal = 5; intPtr = &otherVal; *intPtr intPtr

Deallocate memory Change intPtr to point to a new location


5 0x0054 otherVal &otherVal

Arrays
Stack allocation
int intArray[10]; intArray[0] = 6837;

Heap allocation
int *intArray; intArray = new int[10]; intArray[0] = 6837; ... delete[] intArray;

C++ arrays are zero-indexed.

Strings
A string in C++ is an array of characters
char myString[20]; strcpy(myString, "Hello World");

Strings are terminated with the NULL or '\0' character


myString[0] = 'H'; myString[1] = 'i'; myString[2] = '\0'; printf("%s", myString);

output: Hi

Parameter Passing
pass by value
int add(int a, int b) { return a+b; } int a, b, sum; sum = add(a, b);

Make a local copy of a & b

pass by reference
int add(int *a, int *b) { return *a + *b; } int a, b, sum; sum = add(&a, &b);

Pass pointers that reference a & b. Changes made to a or b will be reflected outside the add routine

Parameter Passing
pass by reference alternate notation
int add(int &a, int &b) { return a+b; } int a, b, sum; sum = add(a, b);

Class Basics
#ifndef _IMAGE_H_ #define _IMAGE_H_ #include <assert.h> #include "vectors.h class Image { public: ... private: ... }; #endif
Note that private: is the default

Prevents multiple references Include a library file Include a local file

Variables and functions accessible from anywhere Variables and functions accessible only from within this class

Creating an instance
Stack allocation
Image myImage; myImage.SetAllPixels(ClearColor);

Heap allocation
Image *imagePtr; imagePtr = new Image(); imagePtr->SetAllPixels(ClearColor); ... delete imagePtr;

Stack allocation: Constructor and destructor called automatically when the function is entered and exited. Heap allocation: Constructor and destructor must be called explicitly.

Organizational Strategy
image.h

Header file: Class definition & function prototypes

void SetAllPixels(const Vec3f &color);

image.C

.C file: Full function definitions

void Image::SetAllPixels(const Vec3f &color) { for (int i = 0; i < width*height; i++) data[i] = color; } main.C

Main code: Function references

myImage.SetAllPixels(clearColor);

Constructors & Destructors


class Image { public: Image(void) { width = height = 0; data = NULL; } ~Image(void) { if (data != NULL) delete[] data; } int width; int height; Vec3f *data; };

Constructor: Called whenever a new instance is created Destructor: Called whenever an instance is deleted

Constructors
Constructors can also take parameters
Image(int w, int h) { width = w; height = h; data = new Vec3f[w*h]; }

Using this constructor with stack or heap allocation:


Image myImage = Image(10, 10); Image *imagePtr; imagePtr = new Image(10, 10);

stack allocation heap allocation

The Copy Constructor


Image(Image *img) { width = img->width; height = img->height; data = new Vec3f[width*height]; for (int i=0; i<width*height; i++) data[i] = new data[i]; }

A default copy constructor is created automatically, but it is usually not what you want:
Image(Image *img) { width = img->width; height = img->height; data = img->data; }

Warning: if you do not create a default (void parameter) or copy constructor explicitly, they are created for you.

Passing Classes as Parameters


If a class instance is passed by reference, the copy constructor will be used to make a copy.
bool IsImageGreen(Image img);

Computationally expensive

Its much faster to pass by reference:


bool IsImageGreen(Image *img);

or
bool IsImageGreen(Image &img);

Class Hierarchy
Child classes inherit parent attributes Object3D
class Object3D { Vec3f color; }; class Sphere : public Object3D { float radius; }; class Cone : public Object3D { float base; float height; };

Sphere

Cone

Class Hierarchy
Child classes can call parent functions
Sphere::Sphere() : Object3D() { radius = 1.0; Call the parent constructor }

Child classes can override parent functions


class Object3D { virtual void setDefaults(void) { color = RED; } }; class Sphere : public Object3D { void setDefaults(void) { color = BLUE; radius = 1.0 } };

Virtual Functions
A superclass pointer can reference a subclass object
Sphere *mySphere = new Sphere(); Object3D *myObject = mySphere;

If a superclass has virtual functions, the correct subclass version will automatically be selected
Superclass Subclass class Object3D { virtual void intersect(Vec3f *ray, Vec3f *hit); }; class Sphere : public Object3D { virtual void intersect(Vec3f *ray, Vec3f *hit); }; myObject->intersect(ray, hit);

Actually calls
Sphere::intersect

The main function


This is where your code begins execution
int main(int argc, char** argv);

Number of arguments
argv[0] argv[1]

Array of strings

is the program name through argv[argc-1] are command-line input

Coding tips
Use the #define compiler directive for constants
#define PI 3.14159265 #define sinf sin

Use the printf or cout functions for output and debugging


printf("value: %d, %f\n", myInt, myFloat); cout << "value:" << myInt << ", " << myFloat << endl;

Use the assert function to test always true conditions


assert(denominator != 0); quotient = numerator/denominator;

Segmentation fault (core dumped)


Typical causes:
int intArray[10]; intArray[10] = 6837;

Access outside of array bounds

Image *img; img->SetAllPixels(ClearColor);

Attempt to access a NULL or previously deleted pointer

These errors are often very difficult to catch and can cause erratic, unpredictable behavior.

Advanced topics
Lots of advanced topics, but few will be required for this course or protected class members inline functions const or static functions and variables pure virtual functions
friend virtual void Intersect(Ray &r, Hit &h) = 0;

compiler directives operator overloading


Vec3f& operator+(Vec3f &a, Vec3f &b);

You might also like