Welcome to the Piscine Object, a comprehensive and immersive journey through advanced C++ programming and software design principles. This project is a compilation of progressive modules, each designed to deepen your understanding of object-oriented programming, UML modeling, and design patterns. By the end of this piscine, you'll have honed your skills in writing clean, efficient, and scalable C++ code while mastering the art of software architecture.
This piscine is structured as a series of hands-on modules that progressively introduce complex concepts in C++ and software design. Each module builds upon the previous ones, ensuring a cohesive learning experience that bridges theory with practical application. You'll engage with real-world scenarios, tackle challenging exercises, and develop robust solutions that adhere to industry best practices.
Objective: Understand and implement the principle of encapsulation in C++.
Overview:
Encapsulation is a core tenet of object-oriented programming that involves bundling data and methods that operate on that data within a single unit, typically a class. In this module, you'll:
- Implement classes with private data members.
- Provide public getter and setter methods to control access.
- Ensure data integrity by preventing unauthorized modifications.
Key Takeaways:
- Mastery of access specifiers (
private,protected,public). - Ability to design classes that hide internal implementation details.
- Understanding the importance of interfaces in class design.
Objective: Explore the different types of relationships between classes in C++.
Overview:
Relationships between classes are crucial for modeling complex systems. This module delves into:
- Composition and Aggregation: Understanding whole-part relationships and object lifecycles.
- Inheritance: Implementing base and derived classes to promote code reusability.
- Associations: Managing references between objects without implying ownership.
Highlights:
- Design a system of tools (
Hammer,Shovel) and workers who use them. - Implement rules governing ownership, sharing, and transfer of tools.
- Utilize polymorphism to handle different tool types seamlessly.
Challenges:
- Enforce constraints such as a worker not owning the same tool twice.
- Manage ownership transfers with appropriate error handling and warnings.
- Design workshops that filter workers based on the tools they possess.
Objective: Use UML diagrams to model complex systems before coding.
Overview:
Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a standardized way to visualize system architecture. In this module, you'll:
- Create detailed UML class diagrams for a car system.
- Develop sequence diagrams illustrating interactions during key operations like accelerating, braking, steering, and gear changing.
Activities:
- Model components such as
Engine,Transmission,Wheel, andBrake. - Define relationships and interactions between these components.
- Use tools like Umbrello UML Modeller for diagram creation.
Visual Aids:
- Include class diagrams and sequence diagrams in your documentation.
- Utilize UML notation for clarity and standardization.
Objective: Learn and apply the SOLID principles to your C++ codebase.
Overview:
SOLID is an acronym representing five design principles that make software designs more understandable, flexible, and maintainable.
Principles Covered:
- Single Responsibility Principle (SRP): A class should have only one reason to change.
- Open/Closed Principle (OCP): Classes should be open for extension but closed for modification.
- Liskov Substitution Principle (LSP): Objects should be replaceable with instances of their subtypes without altering correctness.
- Interface Segregation Principle (ISP): Clients should not be forced to depend on interfaces they do not use.
- Dependency Inversion Principle (DIP): Depend upon abstractions, not concretions.
Exercises:
- Refactor existing code to adhere to these principles.
- Identify violations of SOLID principles and correct them.
- Discuss the impact of these principles on software design.
Objective: Implement common design patterns to solve recurring software design problems.
Overview:
Design patterns are proven solutions to common problems in software design. This module focuses on:
- Creational Patterns: Singleton, Factory, Builder.
- Structural Patterns: Adapter, Composite, Facade.
- Behavioral Patterns: Observer, Strategy, Command.
Project - In Praise of Design:
- Design a complex school system with classes like
Room,Course,Person,Student,Professor,Secretary, andHeadmaster. - Apply design patterns to manage interactions and relationships.
- Create UML diagrams to visualize the architecture.
Key Concepts:
- Understand when and how to use each design pattern.
- Recognize patterns in existing code and refactor accordingly.
- Balance code readability with complexity and scalability.
Objective: Develop a C++ application simulating train schedules and railway systems with robust error handling.
Overview:
CppOnRails is a comprehensive application that brings together the concepts learned in previous modules into a real-world project.
Features:
- Parse railway system elements (nodes, rails, events) from an elements file.
- Parse multiple train schedule files.
- Calculate optimal train travel times considering acceleration, deceleration, and maximum speed.
- Implement detailed error reporting with precise location information.
- Utilize multithreading for simulation and GUI updates.
Technical Details:
- Parsing: Read and validate complex input files with strict formats.
- Error Handling: Provide informative error messages with file, line, and column references.
- Simulation: Model train movements, events, and scheduling in a dynamic environment.
- Optimization: Calculate least travel times using physics formulas for acceleration and deceleration.
Example Components:
- Elements File: Defines nodes (stations), rails (connections), and events (like accidents or delays).
- Schedule Files: Contain train schedules, including departure times and routes.
- Calculations: Use kinematic equations to determine travel times and peak speeds.
Challenges Addressed:
- Managing bidirectional rails and complex network topologies.
- Handling events that affect train schedules and routes.
- Ensuring thread safety and performance in a multithreaded application.
Embarking on this piscine project will not only enhance your proficiency in C++ but also equip you with a robust understanding of software design principles and patterns. By integrating theory with hands-on practice, you'll be prepared to tackle complex programming challenges and contribute effectively to any software development team.
- Umbrello UML Modeller: Umbrello Documentation
- SOLID Principles Explained: SOLID Principles
- Design Patterns Catalog: Refactoring Guru
- C++17 Features: C++17 Overview
- Multithreading in C++: C++ Multithreading
- Physics for Game Developers: Kinematic equations and motion formulas.
- Train Stations Scrapper: EU Train Stations
Feel free to explore each module in detail, and don't hesitate to dive deep into the additional resources provided. Happy coding!