C++ Fundamentals and Environment Setup

This unit establishes foundational C++20 skills by guiding students through installing and configuring development tools, creating and organizing projects, and using debugging tools. Students will learn core language constructs (variables, control flow, functions, files), basic object-oriented and memory concepts, and essential Standard Library and C++20 features to write readable, modular code that prepares them for intermediate topics in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate installation, configuration, and project creation in C++ development environments (Code::Blocks, CppDroid) and successfully compile and run simple C++20 programs
• Apply fundamental C++ language constructs—variables, expressions, control flow, functions, arrays, and multiple source files—and use a debugger and breakpoints to identify and fix defects
• Analyze C++ memory and program structure concepts including stack vs heap behavior, pointers (C++20 changes), constructors/destructors, and basic inheritance to design correct object lifetimes
• Evaluate and employ Standard Library and modern C++20 features (lambdas, templates, streams, user-defined literals, regex) to produce readable, modular, and reusable code and justify when to use library alternatives