An Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming

A comprehensive guide for programmers that want an introduction to object-oriented programming and design with a survey of the most popular languages available. The general principles of OOP are illustrated with examples from four languages: C++, SmallTalk, Objective C, and Object Pascal.

This slender volume provides a great first taste of object- oriented concepts such as encapsulation and inheritance. An Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming explains all the key technical concepts and goes on to explore the "whys" of programming, such as why a program that one programmer could write in two months probably couldn't be written by two programmers in one month. The reason? Complexity.

As a textbook, An Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming does what you would expect--it explains all the key object-orientation concepts clearly and understandably. This book then goes beyond the basics to show why the object concept is strong in terms of design and economics, allowing readers to grasp more than just the technical aspects of the subject. Because examples are in C++, SmallTalk, Objective C, and Object Pascal, this book works well if you're trying to learn object orientation generally, without focusing too much on the mechanics of a particular language. An added attraction is that this book has been recently revised to include some Java information, helping readers to see how object orientation works on the cutting edge as well as in more established languages. This book is useful if you have some experience in programming, but want to expand your knowledge into object orientation by way of clear examples and technical but far-reaching prose.