Multi-Threaded Programming in C++

Rating:
Summary: hungry for such kind of book
Review: Client/Server Application is one of the hottest topic in today tech field. The chance to understand concept how to programming is rare to find. This book :Multi-Threaded Programming in C++ is a great help to freshment or junior level programer.

Rating:
Summary: Good Title Bad book
Review: I really looked forward to getting this book, and was very disappointed. There is room for a C++ book on multi threading, but Mr. Wamsley, I think, missed the mark.

I found the format somewhat confusing. There was commentary and source code file text interspersed together. Considering you have to type in the examples this was especially annoying. I always believe that source code should be included on disk or CD.

Although I know it is a lot of work, I believe examples should work. If there are dependencies - state them clearly! Extra compiling help should also be volunteered.

Also the book was expensive. Why a hardcover? I'd rather have a paperback with a CD. Save your money until a more thorough and complete book comes out on C++ multi threading. (hint hint for any budding authors out there).

Rating:
Summary: Skimpy coverage, low organization and readability
Review: Prior to purchasing this book, I had a hard time understanding how multithreading fits into the object oriented paradigm. Mark Walmsley approaches this subject with comfort. He explains how POSIX threads may easily be incorporated into a C++ program in an object-oriented manner. I recommmend this book to anyone interested in multi-threading from an object oriented perspective.

Rating:
Summary: MT programming in C++
Review: Prior to purchasing this book, I had a hard time understanding how multithreading fits into the object oriented paradigm. Mark Walmsley approaches this subject with comfort. He explains how POSIX threads may easily be incorporated into a C++ program in an object-oriented manner. I recommmend this book to anyone interested in multi-threading from an object oriented perspective.

Rating:
Summary: This book is excellent
Review: Some reviewers cited very weak reasons for disliking this book. I believe that they missed the point of the book.

This book will be most useful to skilled C++ programmers who wish to implement portable multi-threaded code. I do not believe novice programmers will benefit from this book because the subject is advanced.

This book provides you with an object-oriented, cross-platform, multi-threading library for Unix and Win32. Walmsley effectively abstracts away the details of Unix pthreads and Windows threads so that you can concentrate purely on multi-threading concepts. A cross-platform multi-threading library is a rare treat. On these grounds alone, this book is a must-have.

In teaching the material, he introduces the header files for objects in the order in which he needs to introduce key concepts. His goal is to teach you how to do multi-threading properly, so you have to read everything, and you must cling on to every word. This book is not for people who skim books and want instant gratification.

At the end of each chapter, he provides the Unix and Windows implementations of his classes. From a learning perspective, you can easily skip these sections.

Here are some weaknesses in his book: - The code examples would occasionally have benefitted from better variable naming. In particular, he does not prefix member variables with "m", "_", or "m_", which hurts readability. - The code examples would have been easier to understand if he had used the Standard Template Library. In particular, he used lots of char * and arrays instead of strings and vectors. - He does not provide a CD or link to code samples. Instead, you will have to type them in yourself.

Want to know how to write effective multi-threaded C++ objects? Buy this book!

Rating:
Summary: This book is excellent
Review: Some reviewers cited very weak reasons for disliking this book. I believe that they missed the point of the book.

This book will be most useful to skilled C++ programmers who wish to implement portable multi-threaded code. I do not believe novice programmers will benefit from this book because the subject is advanced.

This book provides you with an object-oriented, cross-platform, multi-threading library for Unix and Win32. Walmsley effectively abstracts away the details of Unix pthreads and Windows threads so that you can concentrate purely on multi-threading concepts. A cross-platform multi-threading library is a rare treat. On these grounds alone, this book is a must-have.

In teaching the material, he introduces the header files for objects in the order in which he needs to introduce key concepts. His goal is to teach you how to do multi-threading properly, so you have to read everything, and you must cling on to every word. This book is not for people who skim books and want instant gratification.

At the end of each chapter, he provides the Unix and Windows implementations of his classes. From a learning perspective, you can easily skip these sections.

Here are some weaknesses in his book: - The code examples would occasionally have benefitted from better variable naming. In particular, he does not prefix member variables with "m", "_", or "m_", which hurts readability. - The code examples would have been easier to understand if he had used the Standard Template Library. In particular, he used lots of char * and arrays instead of strings and vectors. - He does not provide a CD or link to code samples. Instead, you will have to type them in yourself.

Want to know how to write effective multi-threaded C++ objects? Buy this book!

Rating:
Summary: Skimpy coverage, low organization and readability
Review: Somehow this book is too broad yet too narrow at the same time. The author tries to cover multiple platforms at once, but it only makes things less readable. Unfortunately, thread implementations are still rather platform-specific, and learning one implementation doesn't necessarily transfer to another. Java is a better alternative for threaded programming if true multi-platform code is your goal. If not, there are other, platform-specific books on threaded programming that might be more suitable ("Programming with POSIX Threads", "Win32 Multithreaded Programming").

I did not think this book was very readable. I can understand why it would assume a good knowledge of C++, but it felt like it assumed you already had a good understanding of how threads worked, too. For example this sentence: "An important note is that an event contains a kind of built-in memory so that if one thread signals before another starts to wait, then the signal is not lost." I thought I already understood the basic operation and uses of semaphores and events, but "a kind of built-in memory"? That is a non-explanation, and it's on the third page of the book. I also thought there could be more thorough worked out examples included, and again the mix & matching of win32 & unix code, sometimes on the same page....I'm glad I only checked this out from the library and didn't purchase it.

Rating:
Summary: It's OK, can be useful
Review: The book is fine, with a few cautions: first, contrary to some reviews here, it's not an introductory book. In order to read it easily you need to be familiar with pthreads and Win32 thread API. Otherwise you son't get it, it doesn't cover the basics. And second, it's a bit shallow (and that's why some reviewers decided it's introductory, I think.)

So, to summarize my view on it, I'd say it's one of those books that may be good to read in addition, among other books -- it does have some interesting ideas to share, you will improve your understanding of the matter, BUT of course for such a book it's overpriced. For a hardback it's skimpy, yes, I agree with that. ...