Hi,

This may be slightly OT, but is is to do with C++. I've been asked to
take a brainbench C++ test with a prospective contract opportunity.
Having been travelling for several months since my last job, I was a
little wary how my current knowledge would be. I also dislike these sort
of tests a lot because I have a poor medium term memory, and find I
forget stuff that I'm not using weekly. This unfortunately reflects
poorly when I do have to take this sort of test. It hasn't stopped me
being an excellent developer (not to sound too immodest), and I've
always been highly regarded at previous positions.

Anyway, I took a practice test today so I wouldn't go in to the test
completely in the dark, and also to get an idea if it was worth me just
forgoing it altogether. It was 40 questions, 3 minutes each, and I
scored decently, 78% (better than 78% of people it means) which is
probably better than I expected, but worse than where I should be if it
was fresh in my mind. I'm just wanting to know how similar the practice
test will be to the "real" one the company has asked me to do. Will the
questions be similar? I even read someone say some are reused. Has
anyone ever taken one of these tests?

Also, since it's a good idea for me to freshen up anyway, could anyone
recommend any good resources for this? Online is great, but a book that
I could read is also good. Obviously there is a lot of stuff out there.

Thanks

I am finding that there is NOT a lot of stuff out there, as far as
online C++ proficiency tests. (I did find a couple of bad ones!)

(I posted a query earlier today for tips on where to find one, but no
responses (yet).)

I can recommend a few texts, available at your local bookstore:

"C++ in a Nutshell" by Ray Lischner, O'Reilly
"Effective C++" by Scott Meyers (Third Edition), this should be
mandatory reading for all C++ professionals
"More Effective C++" by Scott Meyers

I have technical interviews next week and am having trouble finding
good material with which to test my C++ knowledge.

-ted

* Tuno peremptorily fired off this memo:

> I can recommend a few texts, available at your local bookstore:
>
> "C++ in a Nutshell" by Ray Lischner, O'Reilly
> "Effective C++" by Scott Meyers (Third Edition), this should be
> mandatory reading for all C++ professionals
> "More Effective C++" by Scott Meyers

Also Bjarne Stroustrop's book!

--
Future looks spotty. You will spill soup in late evening.

<snip> Also Bjarne Stroustrop's book! </snip>

Stroustrop's book is useful as a reference and for raising my monitor
a couple of inches, but is a bit too verbose and esoteric for daily
use by regular mortals.

It is however in my mandatory list, along with the Nicolai Josuttis
book, "The C++ Standard Library", one of the few fifty-buckers that's
actually worth it.

-ted

"Tuno" <tedcwagner@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3d8047a3-079d-4864-9ad0-26c543e9333b@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com...

> along with the Nicolai Josuttis
> book, "The C++ Standard Library", one of the few fifty-buckers that's
> actually worth it.

I'll second that.

- Dennis

Tuno wrote:
> I am finding that there is NOT a lot of stuff out there, as far as
> online C++ proficiency tests. (I did find a couple of bad ones!)
>
> (I posted a query earlier today for tips on where to find one, but no
> responses (yet).)
>
> I can recommend a few texts, available at your local bookstore:
>
> "C++ in a Nutshell" by Ray Lischner, O'Reilly
> "Effective C++" by Scott Meyers (Third Edition), this should be
> mandatory reading for all C++ professionals
> "More Effective C++" by Scott Meyers
>
> I have technical interviews next week and am having trouble finding
> good material with which to test my C++ knowledge.

Thanks for the tips. I believe I used to own a copy of C++ in a Nutshell
a couple of years back but I must have lent it to someone.

I've browsed Effective C++ a number of times because a colleague had it
constantly sitting on his desk. Very good book and something I've often
thought of picking up for myself.

I still dislike these tests though, I feel some people are just more
natually adept at them than others. It also feels like burning my
bridges with a company if I do badly, whereas face to face interviews
I'm fine with. Still, they're part of the industry now for better or worse.

Linonut wrote:
> * Tuno peremptorily fired off this memo:
>
>> I can recommend a few texts, available at your local bookstore:
>>
>> "C++ in a Nutshell" by Ray Lischner, O'Reilly
>> "Effective C++" by Scott Meyers (Third Edition), this should be
>> mandatory reading for all C++ professionals
>> "More Effective C++" by Scott Meyers
>
> Also Bjarne Stroustrop's book!

The name is Bjarne Stroustrup and he is the creator of C++. His website:
http://www.research.att.com/~bs


He has written "The C++ Programming Language" book, the latest being 3rd
edition and special edition. The difference of the two currently is the
page cover only. It details C++ features thoroughly, and I think you
must have read this "cover to cover" before considering yourself a very
good programmer.

On Jan 17, 3:55 pm, Tuno <tedcwag...@gmail.com> wrote:
> <snip> Also Bjarne Stroustrop's book! </snip>
>
> Stroustrop's book is useful as a reference and for raising my monitor
> a couple of inches, but is a bit too verbose and esoteric for daily
> use by regular mortals.

I agree: it's a reference book.

> It is however in my mandatory list, along with the Nicolai Josuttis
> book, "The C++ Standard Library",

That's an excellent day-to-day book.

> one of the few fifty-buckers that's
> actually worth it.

One of the most valuable C++ books for me has been Exceptional C++ by
Herb Sutter. I consider that one a must to read. Sutter's other books
are very good too, but Exceptional C++ has been a huge eye opener.

Ali