Frequently Asked Questions on hepnet.lang.c++
Last revised September 17, 1994.
This FAQ provides information on the
HEPnet group
hepnet.lang.c++
for discussion and questions on applications of the
C++ programming language in High Energy Physics.
The FAQ is posted (roughly) every month to the group.
The latest version is stored in
FreeHEP's
repository at freehep.scri.fsu.edu in directory
freehep/C++/reviews
in files hepC++FAQ.*
[formats: plain text, PostScript, HTML].
Note that, by October 94, this FAQ will undergo significant
changes with the arrival of the
HEP C++ Telegram
and the
HEP C++ Catalog.
Contents:
- (1) What shall be discussed in this group?
- This is a discussion group for people programming for HEP applications
in C++. Announcements on software, conferences or other developments
shall be (cross-)posted here. More experienced programmers will help
C++ beginners to solve their initial problems with compilers, porting,
syntax...etc. - no question is too small, and some people like to discuss
with physicists rather than computer scientists on
comp.lang.c++
.
Also, discussions on the "inofficial" standard/rules
for C++ HEP applications [see (5)]
take place here.
Recently, opportunities to meet for a topical meeting during an
international conference or workshop (such as
CHEP '94)
were discussed, too.
- (2) What shall not be discussed in this group?
- Anything which is really limited to the local programming environment,
such as "What is the command to compile my C++ program on the SGI cluster
at DESY?", as well as local announcements, software updates etc. should
go to the existing
local discussion groups which exist
at all big HEP labs. If you strongly feel you're touching a C++ standard
discussion question, post to
comp.std.c++
instead.
Don't spill too much hacker jargon on this group - C++ is still in its infancy
in HEP.
- (3) Where can I get more information on C++?
- Attach to the World Wide Web (WWW) at
http://www.desy.de/user/projects/C++.html
or, if you have no clue about WWW, get
/pub/c++/Announce/C++.txt
via anonymous FTP from
ftp.desy.de
[131.169.10.115]
Many FAQs are answered on the WWW pages. Especially if you miss information
because you are reading the text version of this FAQ, you might want to
check out the WWW resource.
- (4) Where are previous postings to this group?
- All previous postings are stored at
FreeHEP
in
news/hepnet/lang/c++
, ordered by numbers. For your convenience, a
selection of archived postings
is available on WWW (outdated).
- (5) Is there any standard for C++ coding in HEP?
- The use of
"Rules and Recommendations
" (PostScript, also in
ftp.desy.de:/pub/c++/misc/c++.rules.ps
)
was once proposed, partially adopted, but also
heavily
criticized after. People using GNU Emacs might
like its C++ mode.
For
CLHEP, the GNU g++
compiler is standard.
- (6) What is GNU
g++
?
-
gcc/g++
is a free, true C++ compiler (no front-end
only translating into C) from
GNU,
running on many systems. In HEP, some projects, like
the
CLHEP library, guarantee that their
code compiles with g++
. All you need to know is contained
in the
g++ FAQ. Its latest version
can be obtained from
rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/news.answers
.
More on CLHEP is in
freehep.scri.fsu.edu:/freehep/C++/CLHEP/CLHEP.dbase
- (7) Which HEP projects use C++?
- Various. A
list of projects in this decade
was compiled by
D. Myers/CERN. It is stored in
freehep.scri.fsu.edu:/news/hepnet/lang/c++/109
.
An interesting proposal to
reorganize CLHEP was made recently
(see
freehep.scri.fsu.edu:/news/hepnet/lang/c++/171
- (8) Can you recommend a book on C++?
- See (3)
esp. the
'Getting Start(l)ed' page for more books and reviews.
A selection:
It may be a good idea to have at least one of these in your local library.
If you want it cheaper, I recommend the freely available
C++ FAQ
[from
rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/news.answers
], or the
C++ Tutorial
from Coronado Enterprises.
The sample programs for
C++ Primer
and the
C++ Tutorial are
available via WWW and ftp [from
ftp.desy.de
]
Errata for the books by Stroustrup and Lippman are available from the
Darmstadt C++ Archive
GNA [Globewide Network Academy] will offer an
Introductory Course on C++ in 1994.
Material from "High Tea C++ Lectures" held by Irwin Sheer (SSC)
are downloaded at freeHEP as
/freehep/C++/reviews/SSC-course.tar.Z
- (9) Is there a beautifying tool for C++ code?
- For GNU Emacs, Lemacs and Epoch, there is
C++ mode, a customizable Emacs-Lisp
program which allows you and your colleagues to code in an homogenous style.
The latest version can be obtained from
archive.cis.ohio-state.edu
in directory
/pub/gnu/emacs/elisp-archive/modes
- (10) Anything else I need to know before posting?
- You may want to check who's actively using C++ at your site. Check the
local C++ groups. A hell of a lot of information
is available through the
STING service
from CERN. C++ software relevant for High Energy Physics is collected at
FreeHEP
's
C++ repository
.
Maybe you are not altogether decided to use C++ ? Then have a look at
some info on the
Eiffel
language from the
Atlas collaboration.
Disclaimer:
"This FAQ is presented with no warranties or guarantees of
ANY KIND including correctness or fitness for any particular purpose.
The author of this document has attempted to verify correctness of the
data contained herein; however, slip-ups can and do happen. If you use
this data, you do so at your own risk."
Copyright (C) 1993, 1994 Marcus Speh,
<marcus@x4u.desy.de>
.
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to copy this document for free
distribution so long as it remains intact and unmodified.