C++ Programming Introduction to C++ Syllabus

Why is C++ often described as offering "low-level" control despite being high-level?

It allows direct memory manipulation through pointers and manual memory management, giving hardware-level control alongside high-level abstractions.

What is RAII in C++?

Resource Acquisition Is Initialization—a technique where resource lifetime is tied to object lifetime, so resources are released automatically when the object goes out of scope.

Does standard C++ have built-in automatic garbage collection?

No. C++ uses manual memory management (new/delete) and RAII/smart pointers rather than a built-in garbage collector.

What key advantage does C++ retain by being largely backward-compatible with C?

Most valid C code can be compiled as C++, allowing reuse of existing C libraries and code.

Compare C++ vs Java regarding memory management.

C++ uses manual memory management (new/delete, smart pointers); Java uses automatic garbage collection.

Compare C++ vs Java regarding platform independence.

C++ compiles to platform-specific machine code ("write once, compile anywhere"); Java compiles to bytecode run on the JVM ("write once, run anywhere").

Compare C++ vs Python in terms of typing and execution.

C++ is statically typed and compiled (faster); Python is dynamically typed and interpreted (easier, slower).

Why is C++ generally faster than interpreted languages like Python?

C++ is compiled directly to native machine code and has no interpreter/VM overhead, plus it allows low-level optimization.

Does C support classes and object-oriented programming like C++?

No. C is a procedural language without classes; C++ adds OOP features such as classes, inheritance, and polymorphism.

Compare C++ vs Java regarding multiple inheritance.

C++ supports multiple inheritance directly; Java does not (it uses interfaces instead).

Does C++ support pointers, and how does this differ from Java?

C++ supports explicit pointers and pointer arithmetic; Java hides pointers and does not allow direct pointer manipulation.

In what application domains is C++ especially preferred?

System/OS software, game engines, embedded systems, high-frequency trading, real-time and performance-critical applications.

What is a compiler?

A program that translates human-readable source code into machine code (an executable) that the computer can run directly.

Name three widely used C++ compilers.

GCC (g++), Clang (LLVM), and Microsoft Visual C++ (MSVC).

On Linux, which command-line tool is commonly used to compile C++ programs?

g++, the C++ front end of the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC).

On Windows, which popular free toolchain provides GCC/g++ for compiling C++?

MinGW (Minimalist GNU for Windows) or MSYS2.

On macOS, which compiler is provided with Xcode Command Line Tools?

Clang (invoked via clang++ or g++), part of the LLVM project.

What is the difference between a compiler and an IDE?

A compiler translates source code into machine code; an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is a full application that combines an editor, compiler/build tools, and debugger in one interface.

Name three popular IDEs or editors used for C++ development.

Visual Studio, Code::Blocks, and CLion (also VS Code with C++ extensions).

What does the acronym IDE stand for?

Integrated Development Environment.

What command compiles a file named hello.cpp into an executable called hello using g++?

$g++\ \text{hello.cpp}\ -o\ \text{hello}$

What is the standard entry-point function of every C++ program?

The main() function; execution always begins there, and it typically returns an int.

Write a minimal C++ program that prints "Hello, World!".

#include <iostream> int main() { std::cout << "Hello, World!" << std::endl; return 0; }

What preprocessor directive is needed to use std::cout for console output?

#include <iostream>, which provides the input/output stream facilities.

What is std::cout and which operator sends data to it?

std::cout is the standard output stream object; the insertion operator << sends data to it.

What is the purpose of "return 0;" at the end of main()?

It returns exit status 0 to the operating system, signaling that the program completed successfully.

What does "std::endl" do when used with std::cout?

It inserts a newline character and flushes the output buffer.

What does the "using namespace std;" statement do?

It brings all names from the std namespace into scope so you can write cout instead of std::cout (though it is often discouraged in large projects).

What punctuation must terminate most C++ statements?

A semicolon ( ; ).

What are the two main stages of turning C++ source code into a running program?

Compilation (source code to object/machine code) and linking (combining object code with libraries into a final executable).