C++ questions...early C++ (console stuff)

[sjn78]

I'm taking a C++ subject for uni and have a couple of questions if anyone canhelp me out.

 

Don't worry, its not an assignment question!! I don't have any troubles with the syntax.

 

What's the purpose of makefile's. Does it clean up your source code that you have lying around and produce a better exe or am I talking dribble?

 

I would ask the lecturer, but I am studying by correspondence and it makes it hard to ask questions.

 

 

I must say, I have never actually 'learnt' about classes before and just 2 weeks into the subject, I have learnt so much about them and how they are used. Can't wait until I get back into .NET to try using this stuff properly.

[PlausiblyDamp]

makefiles just automate a build process, they usually dictate the order files and projects get built.

[sjn78]

Well I was way off. lol

 

I have also noticed the exe's built are huge. I have a small main procedure and then a separate .h file that I use which is only a screen full of code, but when compiled it is nealry .5mb

 

Whats the deal with that?

[PlausiblyDamp]

Debug builds are often much larger than release builds (no debug stuff plus code optimisation takes place). Also most C++ code will involve linking to various runtime libraries - will makea big difference if you link to the dll version or the static version.

[sjn78]

OK thanks.

 

I have a pratice exercise that is not working. Its just to make a class and well, you will probably understand when you see it. The problem is I cant get the getCount() to work. I think it is returning the address of the variable not the value. It is suppose to be an int that keeps count of how many objects have been created. I have tried several diffferent things but nothing is working.

 

#include <iostream>
#include <string>

using namespace std;

class Tool {
   public:
       Tool(const string& t);
       const string& name() const;  // Gets ToolName
       const int getCount() const;  // Gets ToolCount
   private:
       string toolName;
       int toolCount;
};

// Tool constructor
Tool::Tool(const string& t) {
   toolName = t;
   toolCount ++;
}

// Retrieve Tool Name
const string& Tool :: name() const {
   return toolName;//.c_str();
}

// Retrieve Tool Count
const int Tool :: getCount() const{
   return toolCount;
}


int main() {

   //Testing the class

   Tool t1("hammer");
   cout << "Tool Name - " << t1.name() << endl;
   cout << "Tool Count - " << t1.getCount() << endl;
   Tool t2("spade");
   cout << "Tool Name - " << t2.name() << endl;
   cout << "Tool Count - " << t2.getCount() << endl;
   Tool t3("rake");
   cout << "Tool Name - " << t3.name() << endl;
   cout << "Tool Count - " << t3.getCount() << endl;

}

If anyone can have a look and see what is going on, I would be very grateful for your help.

[Nerseus]

I wouldn't imagine you'd want either of the "const" keywords on your definition of getCount. Just make it:

int Tool::getCount()

{

return toolCount;

}

 

-nerseus

[sjn78]

I tried that firstly and this is my output:

 

Tool Name - hammer

Tool Count - 1

Tool Name - spade

Tool Count - 863866

Tool Name - rake

Tool Count - 794197

 

 

 

Thanks again