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For many years, I have been re-reading John Lakos's classic Large-Scale C++ Software Design. Not only it was the first guidebook of this kind, but it also revolutionized how to develop a project in C++, in an efficient fashion to this day!

Do you feel his ideas are outdated now? Some C++ techniques in the book are in fact old (don't forget that book has been written before the latest standard was published) .

What's a good authority to guide building of a big system in C++ nowadays.

Don't get me wrong, I am not giving up Lakos at all. It will always be referenced for me, and occupy a prime location on the bookshelf.

Thanks

vehomzzz
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    I personally have never rated that book. But unfortunately, I don't know a better one. –  Aug 21 '09 at 14:56
  • Unfortunately, TTBOMK, there is no newer book covering this subject. `:(` – sbi Aug 21 '09 at 17:56
  • If that newer book existed, what should be in it that isn't in Lakos' book? – ChrisW Aug 21 '09 at 18:06
  • Lakes's book predominately relies on the 20th century assumptions about technology and software methodologies. The new Book should rely on 21st century paradigms. Though a lot of fundamental principles remained largely unchanged. – vehomzzz Aug 21 '09 at 18:19
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    It was a decent book at the time, however it hardly "revolutionised" c++ systems development... – jon hanson Aug 21 '09 at 20:20

4 Answers4

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The book's scope is narrow:

  1. Move implementation details out of the header and into the CPP file
  2. Avoid cyclic dependencies.

Although it goes into a lot of detail on these topics, the topics themselves are very narrow.

A lot, and IMO most, of the challenge of a "big C++ project" is elsewhere ...

  • Version control for big teams / many branches
  • Scheduling
  • Integration testing
  • Defining requirements
  • Reliability
  • Maintenance

... but these topics aren't C++-specific.

ChrisW
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    +1 And I would add "how to do modular decomposition using LIBRARIES", something most developers are woefully ignorant of. –  Aug 21 '09 at 15:09
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Generally the following guys are regarded as leading authorities on C++:

  1. Bjarne Stroustrup
  2. Scott Meyers
  3. Herb Sutter
  4. Andrei Alexandrescu

The books/articles by all of them teach the best C++ practices.

Vijay Mathew
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Interestingly, his next book, Scalable C++: Component-Based Development, is anticipated in 2006.

I don't think it has ever came to fruition... one day it may!

Also, Agile Principles and patterns are widespread and effective software developing paradigm. I am shifting my gears in that directions.

Check out this book: Agile Software Development, Principles, Patterns, and Practices

vehomzzz
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Last I heard from someone (I am 2nd connected to Lakos, if that matters) he was still working on his latest book in 2008.

kvs
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