AC21001: Tutorial 1 Templates and the Standard Template Library (STL)

Tutorials Experience in doing research on your own –web searches –library searches –code experimentation Experience in small-group meetings & discussions

Templates: main points What is a C++ template? Why were they invented? How is a template declared in code? How is a template used in code? Provide a sample program or two How is a template implemented by the compiler? Advantages/disadvantages of templates

Standard template library What is the standard template library? How ‘standard’ is it? (E.g. how many compilers support it?) How is the STL used in practice? Give a brief sample program or two

Sources of information AC21001 on share drive: Powerpoint file on templates AC21001 web site – Notes link: –chapter on templates –links to external sites Web searches –use Google, AltaVista, Lycos, etc –choose keywords carefully Library

Preparation for tutorial Put your sample code on: –share drive (NOT the U drive! – I can’t access this from my office) –floppy –burn your own CD –USB data device –or it to me as a WinZip file

Preparation for tutorial Make notes & bring them with you –Not expected to remember everything Record your sources of information –web site: record the URL; date site written (if possible), date accessed –book: record author, title, date of publ., ISBN Nothing to hand in for tutorial - purely a discussion in a small group

Tutorial discussions Make sure you say something during the meeting......but don’t dominate everyone else Show evidence of preparation –notes –team had a preparatory meeting beforehand