One hour  C++ Crash Course

Outline

A lot of Robotics applications are written in C++. Here is a refresher

1. Overview of Modern C++ Features (15 minutes)

• C++11 to C++20 (and beyond): Highlight the most impactful features introduced in each standard, such as auto, lambda expressions, smart pointers, constexpr, range-based for loops, thread support library, and more.
• Best Practices for Modern C++: Discuss how modern C++ practices have evolved, emphasizing readability, performance, and safer code.

2. Advanced Object-Oriented Programming and Design Patterns (10 minutes)

• Advanced Use of Inheritance and Polymorphism: Best practices for designing class hierarchies, interface segregation, and when to use composition over inheritance.
• Design Patterns in C++: Quick overview of commonly used patterns in C++ projects (Singleton, Factory, Observer, and Strategy patterns) and their modern implementations.

3. Modern Memory Management (10 minutes)

• Smart Pointers: Unique_ptr, shared_ptr, weak_ptr, and best practices for resource management.
• Move Semantics: Understanding std::move, rvalue references, and how to leverage them for optimizing resource management and container classes.

4. Concurrent and Parallel Programming (10 minutes)

• Thread Management: Creating and managing threads, thread safety, mutexes, locks, and condition variables.
• Parallel Algorithms: Introduction to the parallel algorithms in the Standard Template Library (STL) and how to use them to improve performance.

5. Modern C++ Idioms and Techniques (10 minutes)

• Rule of Three/Five/Zero: Resource management idioms for modern C++.
• Template Metaprogramming: A brief on compile-time computations and type manipulations.
• constexpr and inline variables: Understanding their importance and usage.

6. Latest Trends and Tools (5 minutes)

• Overview of the Latest C++ Standards (C++23 and upcoming): Quick overview of the latest features and what’s on the horizon for C++.
• Tooling: Briefly introduce tools for code formatting (clang-format), static analysis (Cppcheck, Clang-Tidy), and modern IDEs that support C++ development.

Closing (Q&A Session) (5 minutes)

• Open the floor for questions, allowing participants to discuss specific topics of interest or clarify doubts.

Aimed at the Beginner

1. Introduction to C++ and Setup (10 minutes)

• Brief History and Significance of C++: Highlight C++'s role in software development.
• Setting up the Environment: Quick guide on installing a C++ compiler and IDE or using an online compiler for practice.
• Hello World Program: Write and explain a simple program to demonstrate basic syntax and compiling.

2. Variables, Data Types, and Operators (10 minutes)

• Variables and Data Types: Introduction to basic data types (int, char, float, double) and how to declare variables.
• Basic Operators: Arithmetic, assignment, and comparison operators to manipulate data.

3. Control Structures (10 minutes)

• Conditional Statements: Use of if , else , and switch statements to make decisions in code.
• Loops: Introduction to for , while , and do-while loops for repeating code blocks.

4. Functions (10 minutes)

• Defining and Calling Functions: How to write reusable code blocks with functions.
• Parameters and Return Types: Passing data to functions and returning a result.

5. Basic Object-Oriented Programming (10 minutes)

• Classes and Objects: Concept of classes as blueprints and objects as instances.
• Basic Class Members: Attributes and methods; how to define and access them.
• Constructors: Special functions for initializing new objects.

6. Basic Input/Output and Practice Problem (10 minutes)

• Cin and Cout for Input/Output: Demonstrating how to read from and write to the console.
• Simple Practice Problem: Apply learned concepts in a small challenge, like calculating the area of a shape, to reinforce learning.

Closing Remarks and Resources for Further Learning (5 minutes)

• Summary of key points covered.
• Encourage practice and exploration.
• Provide resources for further learning: recommended books, online tutorials, and practice websites.