This chapter was a gentle, but thorough, introduction to C++. You learned about the reasons to use the language and how to install the compiler from one vendor. You learned how C++ projects are structured, about source files and header files, and how code is shared through libraries. You also learned how to maintain projects using makefiles, and, through a simple example, you have had hands-on experience of editing and compiling code.
You have a compiler, an editor, and a tool to manage projects, so now you are ready to learn more details about C++, starting in the following chapter with C++ statements and controlling execution flow in an application.