@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ This is dumb as hell but it's working for now. If you have a fancy way to tell V
## Criticisms of PPP3
## Criticisms of PPP3
1. **Bad support code and future proofing.** This book is attempting to teach C++23 (the 2023 version of the standard) in a world that doesn't correctly support 2023. To make this work he has these header files `PPP3.h` and `PPP3_support.h` and other random files you're supposed to include with no explanation on how to _actually_ use them. When I try use them (they're included in this repo) they don't compile. I could spend the time to make them work, but it's actually easier to just take his code and make it work without these headers.
1. **Bad support code and future proofing.** This book is attempting to teach C++23 (the 2023 version of the standard) in a world that doesn't correctly support 2023. To make this work he has these header files `PPP3.h` and `PPP3_support.h` and other random files you're supposed to include with no explanation on how to _actually_ use them. When I try use them (they're included in this repo) they don't compile. I could spend the time to make them work, but it's actually easier to just take his code and make it work without these headers.
2. **Nothing actually works as written.** Not a single example given in the book actually compiles. Header files are skipped even when they'r essential to the code's function. He just assumes you'll use `PPP.h` but that doesn't even include everything correctly, and as I said, his files don't even work without a mythical advanced compiler from the future. Also, relying on `PPP.h` means people don't learn the real includes needed to make the code work.
2. **Nothing actually works as written.** Not a single example given in the book actually compiles. Header files are skipped even when they'rr essential to the code's function. He just assumes you'll use `PPP.h` but that doesn't even include everything correctly, and as I said, his files don't even work without a mythical advanced compiler from the future. Also, relying on `PPP.h` means people don't learn the real includes needed to make the code work.
3. **No full sample code available.** Normally in this situation I'd go find the sample code download or see if there's a github repository of the code, but all of his links to sample code on the [his website for the book](https://www.stroustrup.com/PPP3.html) are dead and sometimes labeled "TBD".
3. **No full sample code available.** Normally in this situation I'd go find the sample code download or see if there's a github repository of the code, but all of his links to sample code on the [his website for the book](https://www.stroustrup.com/PPP3.html) are dead and sometimes labeled "TBD".
4. **Disjointed incomplete examples.** There's all kinds of examples that feature code from one part of the system that relies on another part that either doesn't exist or isn't explained well. A good example is the calculator, where you're making a parser. In Chapter 5.6 he has code for parsing the calculator language that all use a `Token_stream` class, but only implements the `Token_stream`_after_ all the parsing code. This means that none of the parsing code he's talking about actually works until you get to the `Token_stream` later, which is backwards. Many examples are also progressively improved versions of functions but that require later code to even work.
4. **Disjointed incomplete examples.** There's all kinds of examples that feature code from one part of the system that relies on another part that either doesn't exist or isn't explained well. A good example is the calculator, where you're making a parser. In Chapter 5.6 he has code for parsing the calculator language that all use a `Token_stream` class, but only implements the `Token_stream`_after_ all the parsing code. This means that none of the parsing code he's talking about actually works until you get to the `Token_stream` later, which is backwards. Many examples are also progressively improved versions of functions but that require later code to even work.
5. **No explanation on actually building the code or setting up an environment.** In the very beginning he claims the book is for people who have no programming experience but want to work hard. He then dives right into the classic "hello world" but no explanation on how to get that to compile. No instructions for installing software, no explanation of build tools, or compilers that work, nothing. You might think this is to be "high class" and not focus on such "trivial nonsense" but there's only like 4 compilers he has to worry about, 2 if you want only C++23 features. He could totally figure out instructions for 2 compilers. Without instructions on how to properly setup and compile that first version the book is completely useless for the total beginner he claims to target. Even as a seasoned professional I couldn't figure out how to get his `PPP.h` to work, so how is someone who knows nothing about C++ supposed to figure it out? Since the code samples are incomplete, how is a beginner supposed to know they need `#include <iostream>` to make `std::cout` to work?
5. **No explanation on actually building the code or setting up an environment.** In the very beginning he claims the book is for people who have no programming experience but want to work hard. He then dives right into the classic "hello world" but no explanation on how to get that to compile. No instructions for installing software, no explanation of build tools, or compilers that work, nothing. You might think this is to be "high class" and not focus on such "trivial nonsense" but there's only like 4 compilers he has to worry about, 2 if you want only C++23 features. He could totally figure out instructions for 2 compilers. Without instructions on how to properly setup and compile that first version the book is completely useless for the total beginner he claims to target. Even as a seasoned professional I couldn't figure out how to get his `PPP.h` to work, so how is someone who knows nothing about C++ supposed to figure it out? Since the code samples are incomplete, how is a beginner supposed to know they need `#include <iostream>` to make `std::cout` to work?
