Beginner's Guide
    First Steps
    Input & Output
    Custom Types – Part 1
    Diagnostics
    Standard Library – Part 1
    Function Objects
    Standard Library – Part 2
    Code Organization
    Custom Types – Part 2
    Generic Programming
    Memory Management
    Software Design Basics

    Type System Basics Type System Basics Type Basics

    Declare Constants With const Constants: const const

    • value can't be changed once assigned
    • initial value can be dynamic (= set at runtime)
    int i = 0;
    cin >> i;
    int const k = i;  // "int constant"
    k = 5;  //  COMPILER ERROR: k is const!

    Always declare variables as const if you don't need to change their values after the initial assignment!

    • avoids bugs: does not compile if you accidentally change the value later
    • helps understanding your code better: clearly communicates that the value will stay the same further down in the code
    • can improve performance (more compiler optimizations possible)

    Type Aliases using

    using NewType = OldType;C++11

    typedef OldType NewType;C++98

    using real = double;
    using ullim = std::numeric_limits<unsigned long>;
    using index_vector = std::vector<std::uint_least64_t>;

    Prefer the more powerful (we'll later see why) using over the outdated and ambiguous typedef!

    Type Deduction: autoC++11 auto

    • variable type deduced from right hand side of assignment
    • often more convenient, safer and future proof
    • also important for generic (type independent) programming
    auto i = 2;                 
    auto u = 56u;               
    auto d = 2.023;             
    auto f = 4.01f;             
    auto l = -78787879797878l;  
    
    auto x = 0 * i; auto y = i + d; auto z = f * d;
    int
    unsigned int
    double
    float
    long int
    
    x: int y: double z: double

    Constant Expressions: constexprC++11 constexprC++11 constexpr

    • must be computable at compile time
    • can be computed at runtime if not invoked in a constexpr context
    • all expressions inside a constexpr context must be constexpr themselves
    • constexpr functions may contain
      • C++11  nothing but one return statement
      • C++14  multiple statements
    // two simple functions:
    constexpr int cxf (int i) { return i*2; }
              int foo (int i) { return i*2; }
    
    // OK '2' is a literal:constexpr int i = 2; // OK '2' is a literal
    // OK, 'cxf' is constexpr:constexpr int j = cxf(5); // OK, cxf is constexpr // OK, 'cxf' and i are constexpr:constexpr int k = cxf(i); // OK, cxf and i are constexpr
    int x = 0; // not constexpr // non-constexpr context: int l = cxf(x); // OK// OK, not a constexpr context
    // constexpr contexts: // constexpr int m = cxf( x ); // // constexpr int n = foo( 5 ); //