Ebook: Using the STL: The C++ Standard Template Library

A lot has happened since the first edition of this book was written. When the first edition was prepared, there was only one version of the Standard Template Library (STL) available-the Hewlett-Packard version. Since then, several other versions have appeared from major compiler and library vendors. This is in an effort to conform to the recent International Standards Organization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) C++ standards, which define the STL as part of the Standard C++ Library. As expected, the STL is becoming widely available and an accepted part of C++ program development. This is good. Unfortunately, the proliferation of implementations makes it difficult to exactly define the STL. We now have mul­ tiple implementations, many of which are slightly incompatible with one another. The reasons for this are largely due to different capabilities of the compilers on which they are implemented. Many compilers do not implement the most recent features of the language since production of standards often precedes conform­ ing implementations by many months. This will improve over time as the com­ pilers add the necessary capabilities to support the full STL.

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The standard template library for C++ (the STL) is an important addition to C++ and is rapidly becoming required knowledge for all C++ programmers. It provides a collection of generic data structures and algorithms written in C++ and has been adopted by the ANSI committee for the standardization of C++. The STL is increasingly becoming an extension to the language that will be supported by most if not all C++ compilers. The principal strengths of the STL are that: * the STL generalizes the concept of iterator * the STL algorithms can be used on regular arrays, thus increasing the applicability of the algorithms * The STL pays particular attention to the efficiency of the algorithms used. This book provides a comprehensive introduction and guide to the STL pitched at the level of readers already familiar with C++. It presents a thorough overview of the capabilities of the STL, detailed discussions of the use of containers, descriptions of the algorithms and how they may be used, and how the STL may be extended. An appendix provides an alphabetical reference to the entire STL. As a result, programmers of C++ and students coming to the STL for the first time will find this an extremely useful hands-on text. About the author: Dr. Robson has been involved in the computer industry and academics for the past seventeen years. He holds a Ph.D. from McGill University in Software Engineering, spent a decade in academics, and currently works in the industry.

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The standard template library for C++ (the STL) is an important addition to C++ and is rapidly becoming required knowledge for all C++ programmers. It provides a collection of generic data structures and algorithms written in C++ and has been adopted by the ANSI committee for the standardization of C++. The STL is increasingly becoming an extension to the language that will be supported by most if not all C++ compilers. The principal strengths of the STL are that: * the STL generalizes the concept of iterator * the STL algorithms can be used on regular arrays, thus increasing the applicability of the algorithms * The STL pays particular attention to the efficiency of the algorithms used. This book provides a comprehensive introduction and guide to the STL pitched at the level of readers already familiar with C++. It presents a thorough overview of the capabilities of the STL, detailed discussions of the use of containers, descriptions of the algorithms and how they may be used, and how the STL may be extended. An appendix provides an alphabetical reference to the entire STL. As a result, programmers of C++ and students coming to the STL for the first time will find this an extremely useful hands-on text. About the author: Dr. Robson has been involved in the computer industry and academics for the past seventeen years. He holds a Ph.D. from McGill University in Software Engineering, spent a decade in academics, and currently works in the industry.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xv
Introduction....Pages 1-27
Iterators....Pages 29-62
The STL Algorithms....Pages 63-72
Sequence Algorithms....Pages 73-119
Sorting and Related Algorithms....Pages 121-164
Generalized Numeric Algorithms....Pages 165-182
Sequence Containers....Pages 183-247
Associative Containers....Pages 249-284
Adaptors....Pages 285-311
Memory Management....Pages 313-327
Putting the STL to Work....Pages 329-369
The Story Continues....Pages 371-374
Back Matter....Pages 375-594

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The standard template library for C++ (the STL) is an important addition to C++ and is rapidly becoming required knowledge for all C++ programmers. It provides a collection of generic data structures and algorithms written in C++ and has been adopted by the ANSI committee for the standardization of C++. The STL is increasingly becoming an extension to the language that will be supported by most if not all C++ compilers. The principal strengths of the STL are that: * the STL generalizes the concept of iterator * the STL algorithms can be used on regular arrays, thus increasing the applicability of the algorithms * The STL pays particular attention to the efficiency of the algorithms used. This book provides a comprehensive introduction and guide to the STL pitched at the level of readers already familiar with C++. It presents a thorough overview of the capabilities of the STL, detailed discussions of the use of containers, descriptions of the algorithms and how they may be used, and how the STL may be extended. An appendix provides an alphabetical reference to the entire STL. As a result, programmers of C++ and students coming to the STL for the first time will find this an extremely useful hands-on text. About the author: Dr. Robson has been involved in the computer industry and academics for the past seventeen years. He holds a Ph.D. from McGill University in Software Engineering, spent a decade in academics, and currently works in the industry.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xv
Introduction....Pages 1-27
Iterators....Pages 29-62
The STL Algorithms....Pages 63-72
Sequence Algorithms....Pages 73-119
Sorting and Related Algorithms....Pages 121-164
Generalized Numeric Algorithms....Pages 165-182
Sequence Containers....Pages 183-247
Associative Containers....Pages 249-284
Adaptors....Pages 285-311
Memory Management....Pages 313-327
Putting the STL to Work....Pages 329-369
The Story Continues....Pages 371-374
Back Matter....Pages 375-594
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