C++ Compilation and Build Process

• C++ files have different extensions based on their content and purpose.
  • .o files contain compiled object code.
  • .h files are header files containing declarations.
  • .cpp files are source code files containing implementations.
  • Executable files are the final compiled programs.
• make and g++ are essential tools in C++ development.
  • make automates the build process using a makefile.
  • g++ is a compiler that translates source code into executable code.
• Makefiles are used to manage the compilation process.
  • Targets specify the desired output files.
  • Dependencies indicate which files are required to build a target.
  • Rules define the commands to create the targets.
• Linking combines compiled object code into a single executable file.
• Compiling translates source code into object code.
• A Linux shell (terminal) is a command-line interface for interacting with the operating system.
• tar archives multiple files into a single file.
• gzip compresses files to reduce their size.
• C++ class definitions should be organized.
  • Member function signatures are declared in the header file.
  • Implementations are defined in the source file.
  • #includes are used to include header files in source files.
  • Compiling statements are used to compile source files into object files.
• Include guards prevent multiple inclusions of the same header file.
  • They use preprocessor directives like #ifndef, #define, and #endif.

Functions

• A function signature includes the function's name, return type, and parameters.
• A function implementation is the actual code that defines the function's behavior.
• Parameter passing styles affect how arguments are passed to functions.
  • By value: A copy of the argument is passed to the function.
  • By reference: The function can modify the original argument.
  • By constant reference: The function can access the original argument but cannot modify it.
• const is used to specify that a variable or function cannot be modified.
  • A const reference parameter prevents the function from modifying the argument.
  • A const member function cannot modify the object's state.

Streams

• Streams are used for input and output operations in C++.
  • cin is the standard input stream.
  • cout is the standard output stream.
• The extraction operator (>>) reads data from an input stream.
• The insertion operator (<<) writes data to an output stream.

Overview of C++ file types, including .o, .h, and .cpp files, and their roles in the compilation process. Explanation of using make and g++ for building C++ applications, including makefiles, targets, dependencies, and rules. Discussion of linking, compiling, and the Linux shell.