C++ Crash Course
by Josh Lospinoso · first published 2019
8mentions
7recommended by
7HN commenters
2019–2025first – last mentioned
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
Fast-paced, modern C++ (C++17) introduction that skips pre-C++11 legacy material; praised as well written and easy to follow, suited to returning programmers and those who already know C.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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…Two of those predate C++11, but most of the advice is still applicable. As for introductory texts, I guess there's: Accelerated C++, C++ Primer, Discovering Modern C++, A Tour of C++, and of course C++ Crash Course (the book under discussion). I wouldn't get too hung up on "modern" C++. The vast majority of C++ programmers learned the old stuff (the vast majority of which is still valid), then caught up on the…
on “On Writing a C++ Book” ↗…is a recently released book[1] by No Starch that gives a tour of modern C++ with details about implementations and librairies and even has a great chapter on unit testing. [1]:https://www.amazon.com/C-Crash-Course-Josh-Lospinoso/dp/1593...
on “C++ Is the New Python” ↗Very recently, I went through learning C++. While I tried several books from the C++ definitive guide book [0] (including books from Stroustrup & Meyer), I found this book to especially knowledgeful. C++ Crash Course: A Fast-Paced Introduction [1] [0]. https://stackoverflow.com/questions/388242/the-definitive-c-... [1]. https://www.amazon.com/C-Crash-Course-Josh-Lospinoso/dp/1593...
on “Ask HN: Do you recall any book or course that made a topic finally click?” ↗If you are coming back to C++, a great book is "C++ Crash Course" by Josh Lospinoso. Don't be put off by the jokey title and cartoons, it is comprehensive and goes directly to modern c++ ground up (c++17) without going through the dreadful pre-modern c++ parts (ex.…
on “Bjarne Stroustrup Weighs in on Distributed Systems, Type Safety and Rust” ↗Actually "C++ Crash Course: A Fast-Paced Introduction" by Josh Lospinoso seems to cover some good ground.
on “C++20 has been approved” ↗I would recommend the book "C++ Crash Course" by Josh Lospinoso. It covers modern C++ through C++ 17 and is well written and easy to understand.
on “Ask HN: How would you learn C++ in 2022?” ↗…Stroustup's latest book, it's a good introduction to programming using C++ --- Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ 3rd Edition. Takes you all the way to C++23 from the creator of the language. C++ Crash Course: A Fast-Paced Introduction by Josh Lospinoso is a very fun book and will give you a through grounding in working with C++ in a professional setting. However, it stops at C++17 and while the second edition…
on “Ask HN: Starting C++ in 2024, what to know?” ↗My top-rated books this year: * C++ Crash Course by Josh Lospinoso * Deng Xiaoping And The Transformation Of China by Ezra Vogel * Magic: A Very Short Introduction by Owen Davies * Trigonometry by Hugh Neill I rated each one 9/10
on “Ask HN: What did you read in 2025?” ↗