Book: The C++ Programming Language

Overview
The C++ Programming Language (1985) by Bjarne Stroustrup is the first comprehensive presentation of C++ as a practical programming language. It introduces C++ as an extension of C that adds facilities for data abstraction, object orientation, and improved type safety while preserving the efficiency and low-level control prized by C programmers. The book captures both the language design goals and the concrete constructs provided by the implementation then in use, offering a coherent picture of how C++ supports writing clear, reusable, and efficient software.

Content and Structure
The book is organized to serve both as a tutorial for learning the language and as a reference for experienced programmers. Early chapters present the basic elements: types, expressions, control flow, functions, and user-defined data types. Subsequent chapters develop the core of C++ programming: classes and objects, constructors and destructors, encapsulation, operator overloading, inheritance and derived classes, virtual functions and runtime polymorphism, and mechanisms for managing resources and separate compilation. Throughout the presentation, the text emphasizes practical examples and idioms that demonstrate how language features combine in realistic programs.

Library and Implementation Details
Stroustrup documents the library components and utilities that accompanied the C++ implementation of the time, describing input/output mechanisms, support routines, and commonly used helper classes that complement the language. Attention is paid to the interaction between the language and its implementation, including compilation, linkage, and the tradeoffs required to maintain compatibility with existing C code. The book explains how the language features are intended to work in practice and how programmers can use the provided utilities to write robust and maintainable code.

Style and Approach
The writing balances concise descriptions with worked examples and design rationale. Rather than merely listing syntax, the text explains why certain constructs exist, how they relate to programming tasks, and what their performance or safety implications are. Stroustrup's perspective as the language designer informs a pragmatic focus: features are presented with an eye toward expressive power, minimal runtime cost, and clear programming technique. The book pays particular attention to common pitfalls and to patterns for writing reusable abstractions.

Legacy and Context
As the canonical first exposition of C++, the book played a central role in spreading the language beyond its original users and in shaping early C++ practice. It provided a single, authoritative source for the language as implemented at that time, and its combination of tutorial material, reference information, and design commentary made it indispensable to students, academics, and professional developers. While the language evolved significantly in later years through additional features and standardization, the 1985 edition remains historically important for documenting the origins, motivations, and early programming style of C++.