C++ Code Examples

This directory contains code examples organized by topic to help students learn C++ concepts through practical implementations.

Directory Structure

Basic Examples (basic/)

Description: Fundamental C++ programs demonstrating basic syntax and concepts.

Files:

• c1.cpp - Basic C++ example
• chello.cpp - Hello World and basic I/O
• pointers.cpp - Pointer fundamentals and usage

Topics: Basic syntax, I/O, pointers, memory

File Handling (file-handling/)

Description: Examples demonstrating file I/O operations in C++.

Files:

• filematcher.cpp - File matching implementation (v1)
• filematcher2.cpp - Enhanced file matcher (v2)
• filematcher3.cpp - Advanced file matcher (v3)

Topics: File I/O, string processing, pattern matching

Related Lectures: Lecture 12, 13

BMP Image Processing (bmp/)

Description: Working with BMP image format - reading, modifying, and creating bitmap images.

Files:

• bmp.hpp - BMP file handling header
• test.cpp - BMP test program
• grad.cpp - Gradient generation
• progressbar.cpp - Progress bar visualization
• progressbar2.cpp - Enhanced progress bar
• argtest.cpp - Command-line argument handling
• Sample BMP files: a.bmp, out.bmp, rect.bmp

Topics: Binary files, image processing, structs, file formats

Related: Assignment 2, Assignment 2.5

Algorithms (algorithms/)

Description: Implementation of various algorithms and problem-solving techniques.

Files:

• sudoku.cpp - Sudoku solver implementation

Topics: Backtracking, recursion, constraint satisfaction

External: Sudoku Solver Repository

Lecture Code (lectures/)

Description: Code examples from specific lectures.

Files:

• lec6_2.cpp - Lecture 6 example 2
• lec6_3.cpp - Lecture 6 example 3

Topics: Various (see lecture notes)

Exam Review (exam_review/)

Description: Review materials and example problems for exams.

Files:

• review.md - Exam review notes and sample problems

Compilation Instructions

For Most Examples (Linux/macOS)

g++ -std=c++11 -o output filename.cpp
./output

For Most Examples (Windows)

g++ -std=c++11 -o output.exe filename.cpp
output.exe

For BMP Examples

cd bmp
g++ -std=c++11 -o test test.cpp
./test

Compilation Flags Explained

• -std=c++11 - Use C++11 standard (or later: c++14, c++17, c++20)
• -o - Specify output file name
• -Wall - Enable all warnings (recommended for learning)
• -g - Include debugging information

How to Use These Examples

1. Start with basics: Begin with examples in basic/ directory
2. Read the code: Understand what each line does before running
3. Modify and experiment: Change values, add features, break things!
4. Compile frequently: Compile early and often to catch errors
5. Use debugging tools: Learn to use gdb or IDE debuggers

Related Materials

• Topics: topics/ - Concept explanations
• Assignments: assignments/ - Graded projects
• Practice Problems: practice-problems/ - Additional practice
• Lectures: lectures/ - Lecture notes and schedules

External Code Repositories

• Sudoku Solver
• BMP Image Processing Quick start
• SimdJson Quickstart
• Unit Test Examples

Tips for Learning from Code Examples

1. Don’t just copy-paste: Type the code yourself to build muscle memory
2. Experiment: Modify the code to see what happens
3. Debug: When something breaks, figure out why
4. Comment: Add your own comments explaining what you learned
5. Extend: Add new features to existing examples

Compilation Best Practices

• Always use a recent C++ standard (C++11 or later)
• Enable compiler warnings to catch potential issues
• Test with different inputs and edge cases
• Use version control (git) for your own code
• Keep code organized and well-commented

Need Help? Check the resources/ directory for books, cheat sheets, and external learning materials.