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Summary: Great Book. A classic introduction to COM
Review: Inside COM is a clear, concise introduction to COM programming through C++. The author starts with a simple non-COM example, and evolves it into a full-fledge COM component, explaining along the way how COM solves various software problems.This is the best introduction to COM programming I've read. It's better written and more focused than COM/DCOM Primer Plus by Corry, Mayfield, and Cadman, and it's a smoother introduction to COM than Beginning ATL COM Programming by Grimes, et al. I was able to start doing some simple COM development shortly after reading the book. If your not interested in C++ COM development, or already have experience with COM development, this text will probably not offer you much. However, this book is perfect for programmers new to COM (and even new to C++).
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Summary: The Perfect way to start learning COM
Review: A very easy and useful book. The book doesn't use complex C++ or compiler specific features or MFC. You need to know only about classes and a little knowledge of Win32 programming. It also explains the COM concept and how it can be used for operating systems other than Windows. I liked chapter where the author showed in few steps how to create a remote COM object running on different machine using DCOM. This book is essential if you want to learn COM
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Summary: The best way to *really* understand the fundamentals of COM
Review: This book begins by assuming the reader knows little more than basic C++. In the second chapter it introduces some simple C++ classes about which the reader will think to herself, "okay, this is simple". From there it builds: adding incremental changes to the original C++ code, gradually making it more useful, explaining each change as it goes. By the end of the book, the original example has grown up into a full fledged COM component, written completely from scratch. No wizards, no templates. At this point the reader will not only be able to recognize the elements of a COM component, but more importantly, she will understand *why* COM works the way it does. The mystery surrounding the ATL and Visual Studio wizards evaporates, and the developer can see them for what they really are: simple shortcuts.
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Summary: Learn COM Now!!!
Review: If you want to learn COM in C++, this book is DEFINITELY where you should start. If you find COM difficult to grasp, don't worry, it is most likely because you haven't learned from the right resources, or you haven't read this book. This book really covers all the essentials of COM programming. The author does a great job in making COM simple to comprehend. For instance, the author takes you step by step in every step of the way in every detail that required for you to get your hands dirty with code practises. Not only the explainations and code samples in the book are CLEAR, they are also backed up with diagrams on topics that are just can not be dissolved by words alone. Nicely done! If you were to take COM in University, this would be one of the two books required for the course. "Inside COM" would be for COM 100, and "COM and ATL 3.0" would be for COM 200. So if you want to learn COM in C++, these are your BEST BET. They get you started coding immediately, they provide all the required fundumentals, and best of all, they both are well written with NO mumble-jumble space filler! TIPS: Atfer you done with Andrew's book, go back and read Dale's book on chapter twelve - "Multiple Threads". See how much you had missed, and how everything ties together.
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Summary: The best way to *really* understand the fundamentals of COM
Review: This book begins by assuming the reader knows little more than basic C++. In the second chapter it introduces some simple C++ classes about which the reader will think to herself, "okay, this is simple". From there it builds: adding incremental changes to the original C++ code, gradually making it more useful, explaining each change as it goes. By the end of the book, the original example has grown up into a full fledged COM component, written completely from scratch. No wizards, no templates. At this point the reader will not only be able to recognize the elements of a COM component, but more importantly, she will understand *why* COM works the way it does. The mystery surrounding the ATL and Visual Studio wizards evaporates, and the developer can see them for what they really are: simple shortcuts.
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Summary: A Key to Understanding COM Architecture and Implementation
Review: Hi. In Inside COM, Dale Rogerson breaks down a software architecture that defies the limit of software reusability via an innovative model: Component Object Model. Rogerson demonstrates a very good understanding of COM. And in this book, he shares his in-depth knowledge via a breakdown of the foundation of COM. The concepts and advices Rogerson presents are imperative for understanding the architecture and creation process of COM components. For instance, the author analyzes object containment and aggregation and demonstrates fully implemented examples of both forms of components. Furthermore, he discusses the importance of reference counting in COM and possible problems programmers face when implementing aggregated components such as memory leak. Rogerson breakdown of COM architecture in this book definitely helps programmers learn COM at its core and move one step closer to designing and implementing their own COM components. COM design and implementation is an involved process. I believe even the experienced COM programmers would agree. However, in Inside COM Rogerson provides a clear analysis of the theories behind COM and demonstrates each aspect of COM architecture with valuable C++ examples. Lastly, he concludes the book with a complete C++ implementation of a set of COM components that utilizes most if not all the theories he discusses throughout this book. COM architecture offers developers an unparalleled flexibility and Inside COM is a key book to understanding COM. I recommend Inside COM to advanced C++ programmers and real-world COM developers. Kuphryn
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Summary: A thorough guide to COM
Review: This book is pretty old, but it is still one of the best books on COM available. The other book I would recommend you buy with this one is Developer's Workshop to COM and ATL 3.0.
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Summary: The best book on COM
Review: COM was black box for me. Fortunately I got this book.I think its the best book on COM. Go ahead and buy it.
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Summary: Great book on COM
Review: Of all the books on COM they either go right into using the library functions with no explination behind them or they get over techincal. This book is the best bet for someone looking to truly learn COM and the methods behind the libraries. I'd recomend this book highly.
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Summary: Great description of how COM works, and why
Review: This book starts out with a simple C++ class called by some other code, and works to encapsulate it into a component, basically implementing COM from scratch. This really lets you understand how it works and why. It's well written and does a good job describing all the details. As others have mentioned, this is not a book about ActiveX, OLE, ATL, or any of that, and it doesn't pretend to be. This book just describes COM, the basis for those technologies. If you want to really understand what's going on with COM, I highly recommend this book.
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