Data Structures and Problem Solving Using C++ (2nd Edition)

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Summary: datastructures using c++
Review: fdgds

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Summary: Bright academic tries in vain to write textbook.
Review: I am writing this review of Data Structures and Problem Solving Using C++ by Mark Allen Weiss on the heels of completing an undergraduate course in data structures. On a scale of 5 ( being the best ) and 1 ( being the worst), I would rate this text at a 2. I am being generous because I don't want to underestimate the possibility of this book having some future usefullness.

Mr. Weiss has an impressive academic record. With a PhD from Princeton in Computer Science and having studied under Dr. Sedgewick, a king of algorithms, he now teaches at Florida International University. Clearly, he is an authority on the subject. However, he should pursue something other than writing textbooks. Let's examine the flaws in his approach.

The author works heartily to impress you with his ability to demonstrate proofs for algorithms. He illustrates various proofs throughout the text and gives a liberal discussion of each. He then provides implementations of each algorithm and spends considerable time discussing the C++ language statements that are used. What he never does adequately is to provide a discussion of data structures and algorithms absent the details which distract the reader of an introductory text. As a point of comparison and constrast, I ask you to consult Data Structures with C++ using STL by William Ford/William Topp.

Consider the study of stacks and how compilers utilize them to evaluate expressions. This is a subject taught in every data structures class. Let's examine the approaches of Weiss and Ford/Topp.

Pages devoted to the topic. Weiss ( 38 ) vs Ford/Topp ( 45 )
Number of tables+figures(excluding code listings) Weiss( 5 ) vs Ford/Topp( 27 )
Pages devoted to writing about data structures ( not C++ implementation ) Weiss ( 8 ) vs Ford/Topp ( 17 )
Questions at the end of chapter with solutions provided . Weiss ( 0 ) vs Ford/Topp ( 11 )

From the brief analysis above, you may recognize a pattern that Dr. Weiss himself admits to following in the writing of his book. In the preface, he says that "fundamental choices need to be made including ... level of mathematical rigor, balance between implementation of data structures and their use ... and programming details related to language chosen ". Regrettably Dr. Weiss has made poor choices on all three areas.

First, the mathematical rigor which might be highly valued in a graduate level text is seen here as a mere annoyance. Second, the balance between implementation and their use is skewed toward the former when it is needed toward the latter. Finally, students who have had adequate instruction in C++ do not need to be led by the hand as the author guides the reader through an implementation. Too many other authors do a much better job with C++ than Dr. Weiss ( read Schildt, Meyers, many more ). Dr. Weiss would be well advised to keep the code examples in play but cut out the narratives on the code.

I was able to do well in my class because I recognized the deficiencies in Dr. Weiss' book and quickly abandoned it in favor of the Topp/Ford text.

On a final note of disappointment, the binding of this book, purchased brand new, failed after just two weeks. I treat my books with respect and in the last twenty years have had only one other occasion of a binding failure ( the pages separate from the web and glue that holds everything together ). My bookseller replaced the text without question.

You will probably be required to buy this book for your data structures class ( as I was ). It is a sad waste of money but many faculty remain impressed with Dr. Weiss' output. I recommend buying a used version ( absent the broken bindings ) and gettinf another readable text from a different author. To be fair, I did give this book a 2 rather than a 1 ( worst ) on a scale of 1 to 5. Since I am planning graduate study in computer science, I believe that the book might hold some value as a reference for the very items that I criticize here. That is, the proofs might be of some interest in a advanced data structures or advanced algorithms course.

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Summary: Excellent book on Data Structures
Review: I found this book is well organised, covers every topic of Data Structures (beginner to advance level) in detail, and with clean implementation of each structure using C++, which is required for Computer Science students. Author gave pretty good know how to implement theortical ideas into practical and also discuss the application of each structure in the real world.

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Summary: Makes a Nice Coaster
Review: i really wanted to give this book a good review since i actually paid for it. unfortunately, the author doesn't provide enough explantion to go with the theory, proofs, or code fragments included within. the problems and projects at the end of each chapter come from left field, and leave you wondering if you missed something along the way. the introduction to algorithm analysis and Big Oh notation is quite terrible, and i would suggest using a discrete structures book as a supplement. the code fragments are tight and sparse, which adds complexity to an already complex set of algorithms. if you can find this book used, purchase it used. save your money for a book that goes into more detail regarding algorithm design and analysis, as opposed to the idiosyncrasies of the language. too many assumptions are made on behalf of the author. maybe programmers shouldn't write books on programming...

Rating:
Summary: Makes a Nice Coaster
Review: i really wanted to give this book a good review since i actually paid for it. unfortunately, the author doesn't provide enough explantion to go with the theory, proofs, or code fragments included within. the problems and projects at the end of each chapter come from left field, and leave you wondering if you missed something along the way. the introduction to algorithm analysis and Big Oh notation is quite terrible, and i would suggest using a discrete structures book as a supplement. the code fragments are tight and sparse, which adds complexity to an already complex set of algorithms. if you can find this book used, purchase it used. save your money for a book that goes into more detail regarding algorithm design and analysis, as opposed to the idiosyncrasies of the language. too many assumptions are made on behalf of the author. maybe programmers shouldn't write books on programming...

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Summary: Nice cut and paste job!
Review: The author has done a fine job of replacing every instance of the word Java with C++. Keep up the mediocre work!

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Summary: C++ implementation
Review: This book gave a lot of useful examples for code in programs and defined the algorithms clearly.

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Summary: Data Structure & Algorithms Using "Real" C++
Review: This book is definitely the best from Mark Weiss yet. The explainations about Data structures and algorithms are very good and not-so-academic as in his other book (named "Data Structures & Algorithm Analysis in C++", which is also very good one).

I found that the books about Data structures & algorithm are always given a not-so-good review, because it doesn't show enough code example or for being too academic. However, this one really deserved 5 stars from me.

The code examples are very good and easy-to-understand for any intermediate C++ programmer (and, of course, for any advenced C++ programmer). So, you can easily use this book for self-study (a lot of people said that his previous book, the one I mentioned above, doesn't suit for self-study, dued to being too-academic). And moreover, the code in this book is true to its name "using C++".

All codes examples are written in real C++, no C-style code fragment here! And with the ability of the Standard Template Library (not all example, only the suitable one). For example : the STL's priority_queue container class was used in Dijkstra's shortest path algorithm, and that is the way it should be implement.

Last word I wish to say about this book is, "It is clearly one of the best book on Data Structures, Algorithms, C++ and How-To-Use C++ I've read so far."

Thank you, Mr.Weiss. Keep up a good work. I hope this one will get even better in its next edition.

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Summary: Lots of interesting topics but poor explanation
Review: This book was required for a data structures and algorithms class. At first it seemed interesting. By looking at the table of contents, lots of topics were covered. But the problem is that each chapter lacks a good introduction context or example. That is, when you dont know anything about hash tables or binary trees, this book starts by telling you what are the rules and types of binary trees or hash tables, but does not tell you really why they exist or how can it be useful in the first place. But the most frustrating part is the examples after each chapter that does include any answers, it is nearly useless.

Please excuse me for my poor english, it is not my primary languange.

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Summary: Nearly useless.
Review: This is probably the worst book I have read on C++ to date. The author does not clearly explain the details of the C++ language or how to implement them. Contrary to some of the other comments, I believe this book is NOT a good choice for someone learning data structures and algorithms for the first time.