Think Like a Programmer by V. Anton Spraul

The real challenge of programming isn't learning a language's syntax-it's learning to creatively solve problems so you can build something great.In this one-of-a-kind text, author V. Anton Spraul breaks down the ways that programmers solve problems and teaches readers what other introductory books often ignore: how to Think Like a Programmer. Each chapter tackles a single programming concept-such as classes, pointers, and recursion-and illustrates how you can apply these tools to real problems in innovative ways. You'll learn techniques for organizing your thoughts, strategies to apply to particular types of problems, and ways you can avoid the frustration that often accompanies especially tricky challenges.You'll also learn how to:
[*]Split problems into discrete components to make them easier to solve
[*]Make the most of code reuse with functions, classes, and libraries
[*]Pick the perfect data structure for a particular job
[*]Master more advanced programming tools like recursion and dynamic memoryThough the book's examples are written in C++, the creative problem-solving concepts they illustrate go beyond any particular language-in fact, they often reach outside the realm of computer science. As the most skillful programmers know, writing great code is a creative art-and the first step in creating your masterpiece is learning to Think Like a Programmer.