Title: Detecting the World Capturing Physical

Measurements with C++

Review Date: June 2000
Author: David McCombs
Pub: R&D Books
ISBN:0-87930-559-2
COST: 39.99 UKP
DISK/CD:disk
Cover: soft
Pages:344
Keywords: C++
Recommendation: Not Recommendation
Source:- accu book list

 

 

This book is aimed at the PC programmer looking to turn the PC into a multipurpose instrument. The main project is a volt, amp, ohmmeter. At first I thought the hardware parts were a little too simplistic however for its intended audience, PC programmers, it is probably about right as an introduction. This is because most PC SW engineers tend not to do electronics. The problem is that after the simple introduction to electronic sensors and brief diagrams of some of the interfaces there is no substance or detail. One would have to be quite familiar with electronics in order to fill in the gaps and make up the interfaces required. There is also a very simplistic section on making mains power supplies! (The book assumes 120vac mains and parts are coming from Radio Shack). I would not recommend this book to software engineers because of this.

 

On the software side there are far too many source code listings in the book. (They are on the disk as well where they should be!) The disk contains some very useful classes and utilities for dos, win3.1 and win95/8. The book assumes a working knowledge of C++. Whilst the basic theory of the intention of modules are explained there is no algorithm or structure.

 

I suppose this book might be of use to hardware engineers who can program in C++ but the value of the book would be limited to the value of the SW on disk. Whilst some of the modules could be used stand alone most will require the specific hardware or adjustment to use. My overall opinion of the book is that in order to use it you must already know enough to almost make the book superfluous.