Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Effective C++ Imp Points
Shifting from C to C++
Item 1: Prefer const and inline to #define.
Item 2: Prefer <iostream> to <stdio.h> .
Item 3: Prefer new and delete to malloc and free.
Item 4: Prefer C++-style comments.
Memory Management
Item 5: Use the same form in corresponding uses of new and delete.
Item 6: Use delete on pointer members in destructors.
Item 7: Be prepared for out-of-memory conditions.
Item 8: Adhere to convention when writing operator new and operator delete.
Item 9: Avoid hiding the "normal" form of new.
Item 10: Write operator delete if you write operator new.
Constructors, Destructors, and Assignment Operators
Item 11: Declare a copy constructor and an assignment operator for classes with dynamically allocated memory.
Item 12: Prefer initialization to assignment in constructors.
Item 13: List members in an initialization list in the order in which they are declared.
Item 14: Make sure base classes have virtual destructors.
Item 15: Have operator= return a reference to *this.
Item 16: Assign to all data members in operator=.
Item 17: Check for assignment to self in operator=.
Classes and Functions: Design and Declaration
Item 18: Strive for class interfaces that are complete and minimal.
Item 19: Differentiate among member functions, non-member functions, and friend functions.
Item 20: Avoid data members in the public interface.
Item 21: Use const whenever possible.
Item 22: Prefer pass-by-reference to pass-by-value.
Item 23: Don't try to return a reference when you must return an object.
Item 24: Choose carefully between function overloading and parameter defaulting.
Item 25: Avoid overloading on a pointer and a numerical type.
Item 26: Guard against potential ambiguity.
Item 27: Explicitly disallow use of implicitly generated member functions you don't want.
Item 28: Partition the global namespace.
Classes and Functions: Implementation
Item 29: Avoid returning "handles" to internal data.
Item 30: Avoid member functions that return non-const pointers or references to members less accessible than themselves.
Item 31: Never return a reference to a local object or to a dereferenced pointer initialized by new within the function.
Item 32: Postpone variable definitions as long as possible.
Item 33: Use inlining judiciously.
Item 34: Minimize compilation dependencies between files.
Inheritance and Object-Oriented Design
Item 35: Make sure public inheritance models "isa."
Item 36: Differentiate between inheritance of interface and inheritance of implementation.
Item 37: Never redefine an inherited nonvirtual function.
Item 38: Never redefine an inherited default parameter value.
Item 39: Avoid casts down the inheritance hierarchy.
Item 40: Model "has-a" or "is-implemented-in-terms-of" through layering.
Item 41: Differentiate between inheritance and templates.
Item 42: Use private inheritance judiciously.
Item 43: Use multiple inheritance judiciously.
Item 44: Say what you mean; understand what you're saying.
Miscellany
Item 45: Know what functions C++ silently writes and calls.
Item 46: Prefer compile-time and link-time errors to runtime errors.
Item 47: Ensure that non-local static objects are initialized before they're used.
Item 48: Pay attention to compiler warnings.
Item 49: Familiarize yourself with the standard library.
Item 50: Improve your understanding of C++.
Shifting from C to C++
Item 1: Prefer const and inline to #define.
Item 2: Prefer <iostream> to <stdio.h> .
Item 3: Prefer new and delete to malloc and free.
Item 4: Prefer C++-style comments.
Memory Management
Item 5: Use the same form in corresponding uses of new and delete.
Item 6: Use delete on pointer members in destructors.
Item 7: Be prepared for out-of-memory conditions.
Item 8: Adhere to convention when writing operator new and operator delete.
Item 9: Avoid hiding the "normal" form of new.
Item 10: Write operator delete if you write operator new.
Constructors, Destructors, and Assignment Operators
Item 11: Declare a copy constructor and an assignment operator for classes with dynamically allocated memory.
Item 12: Prefer initialization to assignment in constructors.
Item 13: List members in an initialization list in the order in which they are declared.
Item 14: Make sure base classes have virtual destructors.
Item 15: Have operator= return a reference to *this.
Item 16: Assign to all data members in operator=.
Item 17: Check for assignment to self in operator=.
Classes and Functions: Design and Declaration
Item 18: Strive for class interfaces that are complete and minimal.
Item 19: Differentiate among member functions, non-member functions, and friend functions.
Item 20: Avoid data members in the public interface.
Item 21: Use const whenever possible.
Item 22: Prefer pass-by-reference to pass-by-value.
Item 23: Don't try to return a reference when you must return an object.
Item 24: Choose carefully between function overloading and parameter defaulting.
Item 25: Avoid overloading on a pointer and a numerical type.
Item 26: Guard against potential ambiguity.
Item 27: Explicitly disallow use of implicitly generated member functions you don't want.
Item 28: Partition the global namespace.
Classes and Functions: Implementation
Item 29: Avoid returning "handles" to internal data.
Item 30: Avoid member functions that return non-const pointers or references to members less accessible than themselves.
Item 31: Never return a reference to a local object or to a dereferenced pointer initialized by new within the function.
Item 32: Postpone variable definitions as long as possible.
Item 33: Use inlining judiciously.
Item 34: Minimize compilation dependencies between files.
Inheritance and Object-Oriented Design
Item 35: Make sure public inheritance models "isa."
Item 36: Differentiate between inheritance of interface and inheritance of implementation.
Item 37: Never redefine an inherited nonvirtual function.
Item 38: Never redefine an inherited default parameter value.
Item 39: Avoid casts down the inheritance hierarchy.
Item 40: Model "has-a" or "is-implemented-in-terms-of" through layering.
Item 41: Differentiate between inheritance and templates.
Item 42: Use private inheritance judiciously.
Item 43: Use multiple inheritance judiciously.
Item 44: Say what you mean; understand what you're saying.
Miscellany
Item 45: Know what functions C++ silently writes and calls.
Item 46: Prefer compile-time and link-time errors to runtime errors.
Item 47: Ensure that non-local static objects are initialized before they're used.
Item 48: Pay attention to compiler warnings.
Item 49: Familiarize yourself with the standard library.
Item 50: Improve your understanding of C++.
