Book · 2008
Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++
by Bjarne Stroustrup
The language's creator teaches you to program from scratch using C++, treating beginner and language together as a single curriculum.
What does Reddit think of Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++?
Fourteen mentions across seven years, 12 of them in r/learnprogramming, with zero scored sentiment — which in practice means it gets cited flatly, as a fact rather than a feeling. The pitch is always the same: Bjarne Stroustrup wrote the language, so his introductory book carries an authority no third-party tutorial can match. r/learnprogramming regulars stack it against learncpp.com as a more structured alternative, and against The C++ Primer when someone wants the language's full depth rather than a quick start. The ↑219 thread frames it specifically for absolute beginners with no prior coding background; the ↑95 commenter flags that C++ lacks a single centralized learning path and this book fills that gap alongside Primer. r/compsci adds two quiet endorsements in 2019 but nothing after. Conspicuously absent: r/cpp itself, experienced-developer communities, and any comparison to modern C++ resources. The book's Reddit reputation is narrow but durable — consistent across 2019–2023, never surging, never fading.
Community feedback & reader fit
Themes
- · C++ as a first language, taught by its designer
- · Beginner foundation over language-survey breadth
- · Book-based learning vs. video or tutorial alternatives
- · Pairing with The C++ Primer for deeper coverage
Common praise
- + r/learnprogramming cites Stroustrup's authorship as a hard differentiator no YouTube course can replicate.
- + The ↑63 commenter notes it teaches programming-in-general through C++, not C++ syntax as an end in itself.
- + Multiple threads recommend it without hedging for beginners who have never touched code.
- + The preface quoted in the ↑22 thread is specific about its target reader, which reduces mismatched expectations.
Common criticism
- − Fourteen mentions in seven years is a thin footprint for a beginner C++ text — The C++ Primer gets cited in the same threads and clearly commands more mindshare.
- − No experienced-developer community picks it up; once you're past beginner level, Reddit stops recommending it entirely.
- − The sentiment data returned no signal — commenters cite it but don't argue for it, which suggests endorsement by habit rather than conviction.
- − r/cpp's silence is conspicuous: the community closest to the language essentially ignores it.
Who it's for
You've never written a line of code and you've decided C++ is the starting point. The ↑219 thread in r/learnprogramming has your case exactly: total beginner, wants to eventually make games, needs a book rather than scattered videos. That's this book's sweet spot. If you already know another language, The C++ Primer is where r/learnprogramming sends you instead. If you want a free path alongside it, the ↑22 thread pairs it with learncpp.com. Stop here if what you actually need is modern C++17/20 patterns — no thread in the data makes that case for this title.
Mentions over time
Top subreddits
Which Reddit comments matter for Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++?
Top-upvoted quotes across the subreddits where this book is mentioned. Click through to read the full thread.
“> Best C++ book for an absolute beginner without any experience in coding Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ by Bjarne Stroustrup (original designer and implementor of C++) > a programming language for fun and possibly create games You can do that in pretty much any language, e.g. Pyt…
“If you want a thorough foundation in C++ I highly suggest you read a book on it rather than youtube videos. You can learn the basics through youtube but C++ is a bit more complicated than other languages and you would be better prepared if you took some time to read a book and follow along writing y…
“imo c++ lacks a centralized domain to learn in-depth like other languages. You probably need a book to really go all the way, this sub swears by ***The C++ Primer.*** I personally also like ***Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++*** by Bjarne Stroustrup
“Programming: Principles and Practice using C++ by Bjarne Stroustrup, the creator of C++. It is intended to be an introduction to programming in general, using the C++ language, so I think that is your best bet.
“1. learncpp.com 2. Bjarne Stroustrup: Programming Principles and Practice Using C++, Second Edition Quoted from the preface section of this great book: # Preface This book is for someone who has never programmed before but is willing to work hard to learn. It helps you understand the pr…
“I recommend picking up a copy of either [Programming Principles and Practice Using C++](
“"[Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ (Second Edition)](
“> Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ by Bjarne Stroustrup
Convinced? Pick up Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++
What else does r/learnprogramming read?
Other books mentioned in the same sub, ranked. Shared-sub overlap with this title breaks ties.
The Pragmatic Programmer
Andy Hunt
Two veterans hand you a checklist for the craft: don't write code you don't need, own your tools, and fix the broken window before someone else does.
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
Harold Abelson
MIT's 1985 Scheme textbook that 319 Reddit commenters have recommended and a noticeably smaller number have finished.
Think Like a Programmer
V. Anton Spraul
V. Anton Spraul's guide to breaking down any programming problem before writing a single line of code — written for learners who know syntax but freeze at blank pages.
Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software
Charles Petzold
A retired software engineer builds a computer from telegraph relays and flashlights, one chapter at a time, until you understand what a CPU actually does.
Clean Code
Robert C. Martin
The book 536 Reddit threads cite when arguing about naming variables — revered by beginners, argued over by seniors.
Introduction to Algorithms
Thomas H. Cormen
The textbook four MIT professors wrote to settle every algorithms argument, cited by 254 Reddit commenters across 12 subreddits and still going.
Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ — frequently asked
Is Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ good for someone who has never programmed before?+
Yes, that's exactly its lane. The ↑219 thread in r/learnprogramming recommends it specifically for absolute beginners with no prior coding experience. The ↑63 commenter adds that it teaches general programming concepts through C++ rather than treating syntax as the goal.
How does Programming: Principles and Practice compare to The C++ Primer on Reddit?+
Primer has more mindshare. The ↑95 thread mentions both in the same breath, with Primer as the sub's canonical recommendation and this book as a personal second choice. Both get cited in the same threads without a clear winner, but Primer appears in more r/learnprogramming recommendations overall. If you want a thorough foundation the ↑126 commenter says either beats YouTube.
Does Reddit think Programming: Principles and Practice is still relevant in 2026?+
The data runs through 2023 and shows steady low-level mentions every year from 2019 onward — 2, 2, 4, 5, 1. It never surged but it never dropped out either. The last mention is April 2023 in r/learnprogramming. No thread debates its modernity; it gets cited as a stable reference rather than as a cutting-edge C++ resource.
Should I read Programming: Principles and Practice or just use learncpp.com?+
Depends on how you learn. The ↑22 thread pairs them rather than choosing — book for structure, learncpp.com as a free complement. The ↑126 commenter argues that C++ is complicated enough that a book gives better preparation than video or tutorial formats alone. If cost is a constraint, learncpp.com is free; the book is not.