# C++ Advanced Learning - Master Plan

## 🎯 Goal: C++ Expert Mastery

This comprehensive plan will guide you from fundamentals to expert-level C++ development, covering everything from basic syntax to modern C++23 features, systems programming, and high-performance applications.

## 📊 Learning Journey Overview

**Total Duration:** 14-20 months (depending on pace)
**Target Level:** Expert C++ Developer
**Daily Commitment:** 2-4 hours recommended
**Prerequisites:** Basic programming knowledge helpful but not required

## 🗺️ Learning Path Structure

```
Phase 1: C++ Foundations (2-3 months)
    └─> Syntax, Data Types, Control Flow, Functions
    
Phase 2: Object-Oriented C++ (3-4 months)
    └─> Classes, Inheritance, Polymorphism, Templates
    
Phase 3: Modern C++ (4-5 months)
    └─> C++11/14/17/20/23, Smart Pointers, Move Semantics, Lambda
    
Phase 4: Advanced C++ (4-5 months)
    └─> Memory Management, Concurrency, STL Mastery, Performance
    
Phase 5: Expert C++ (3-4 months)
    └─> Design Patterns, Best Practices, Systems Programming
    
Phase 6: Specialization (Ongoing)
    └─> Choose your domain (Game Dev, Systems, HPC, Embedded, etc.)
```

## 📚 Learning Modules Breakdown

### Phase 1: C++ Foundations (Beginner)
**Duration:** 2-3 months | **Difficulty:** ⭐⭐☆☆☆

1. **Module 1.1: Getting Started** (1 week)
   - Development Environment (VS Code, Visual Studio, CLion)
   - Compiler Setup (GCC, Clang, MSVC)
   - Build Tools (Make, CMake)
   - First Program (Hello World)
   - Compilation Process
   - Debugging Basics (gdb, lldb)

2. **Module 1.2: Basic Syntax & Types** (2 weeks)
   - Variables & Constants
   - Fundamental Data Types (int, float, double, char, bool)
   - Type Modifiers (signed, unsigned, short, long)
   - Operators (Arithmetic, Relational, Logical, Bitwise)
   - Type Conversion & Casting
   - Auto Type Deduction
   - sizeof Operator

3. **Module 1.3: Control Flow** (2 weeks)
   - if/else Statements
   - switch Statements
   - Ternary Operator
   - while & do-while Loops
   - for Loops
   - Range-based for (C++11)
   - break, continue, goto
   - Nested Control Structures

4. **Module 1.4: Functions** (2 weeks)
   - Function Declaration & Definition
   - Parameters & Arguments
   - Return Types & Return by Value
   - Function Overloading
   - Default Arguments
   - Inline Functions
   - Recursion
   - Function Prototypes

5. **Module 1.5: Arrays & Strings** (2 weeks)
   - C-style Arrays
   - Multi-dimensional Arrays
   - C-style Strings (char arrays)
   - std::string Class
   - String Operations
   - String Manipulation
   - C++17 string_view

6. **Module 1.6: Pointers & References** (3 weeks)
   - Pointer Basics
   - Pointer Arithmetic
   - Pointers and Arrays
   - Pointer to Pointer
   - void Pointers
   - Function Pointers
   - References vs Pointers
   - const with Pointers/References
   - nullptr (C++11)

---

### Phase 2: Object-Oriented C++ (Intermediate)
**Duration:** 3-4 months | **Difficulty:** ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

7. **Module 2.1: Classes & Objects** (3 weeks)
   - Class Definition
   - Access Specifiers (public, private, protected)
   - Member Functions
   - Constructors & Destructors
   - this Pointer
   - Static Members
   - Friend Functions & Classes
   - Nested Classes

8. **Module 2.2: Advanced Constructors** (2 weeks)
   - Default Constructor
   - Parameterized Constructor
   - Copy Constructor
   - Move Constructor (C++11)
   - Constructor Delegation (C++11)
   - Converting Constructors
   - explicit Keyword
   - Initializer Lists

9. **Module 2.3: Operator Overloading** (2 weeks)
   - Overloadable Operators
   - Member vs Non-member Overloading
   - Arithmetic Operators
   - Comparison Operators
   - Stream Operators (<<, >>)
   - Subscript Operator []
   - Assignment Operator
   - Increment/Decrement Operators

10. **Module 2.4: Inheritance** (3 weeks)
    - Single Inheritance
    - Access Control in Inheritance
    - Multiple Inheritance
    - Virtual Inheritance
    - Constructor/Destructor in Inheritance
    - Protected Members
    - Order of Construction/Destruction
    - Inheritance Hierarchies

11. **Module 2.5: Polymorphism** (3 weeks)
    - Compile-time vs Runtime Polymorphism
    - Virtual Functions
    - Pure Virtual Functions
    - Abstract Classes
    - Virtual Destructors
    - override & final (C++11)
    - Virtual Function Tables (vtable)
    - Dynamic Binding

12. **Module 2.6: Templates Basics** (3 weeks)
    - Function Templates
    - Class Templates
    - Template Specialization
    - Non-type Template Parameters
    - Default Template Arguments
    - Template Template Parameters
    - typename vs class
    - Template Instantiation

13. **Module 2.7: Exception Handling** (2 weeks)
    - try-catch Blocks
    - throw Statement
    - Standard Exception Classes
    - Custom Exceptions
    - Exception Specifications (deprecated)
    - noexcept (C++11)
    - RAII Pattern
    - Exception Safety Guarantees

---

### Phase 3: Modern C++ (Advanced)
**Duration:** 4-5 months | **Difficulty:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

14. **Module 3.1: Memory Management** (3 weeks)
    - Stack vs Heap
    - new & delete Operators
    - Memory Leaks
    - new[] & delete[]
    - Placement new
    - Memory Alignment
    - Custom Allocators
    - Memory Pool Pattern

15. **Module 3.2: Smart Pointers** (3 weeks)
    - unique_ptr
    - shared_ptr
    - weak_ptr
    - make_unique & make_shared
    - Custom Deleters
    - Circular Reference Problem
    - Smart Pointer Casts
    - When to Use Which

16. **Module 3.3: Move Semantics** (3 weeks)
    - lvalue vs rvalue
    - rvalue References (&&)
    - std::move
    - Perfect Forwarding
    - std::forward
    - Move Constructor
    - Move Assignment
    - Return Value Optimization (RVO)

17. **Module 3.4: Lambda Expressions** (2 weeks)
    - Lambda Syntax
    - Capture Clauses ([=], [&], [this])
    - Generic Lambdas (C++14)
    - Init Capture (C++14)
    - Lambda as Function Arguments
    - Closure Types
    - mutable Lambdas
    - Recursive Lambdas

18. **Module 3.5: STL - Containers** (4 weeks)
    - Sequence Containers (vector, deque, list, forward_list, array)
    - Associative Containers (set, map, multiset, multimap)
    - Unordered Containers (unordered_set, unordered_map)
    - Container Adaptors (stack, queue, priority_queue)
    - span (C++20)
    - Container Comparison & Selection

19. **Module 3.6: STL - Algorithms** (3 weeks)
    - Non-modifying Algorithms (find, count, search)
    - Modifying Algorithms (copy, transform, replace)
    - Sorting Algorithms (sort, stable_sort, partial_sort)
    - Binary Search Algorithms
    - Heap Algorithms
    - Min/Max Algorithms
    - Numeric Algorithms
    - Ranges (C++20)

20. **Module 3.7: STL - Iterators** (2 weeks)
    - Iterator Categories
    - Input/Output Iterators
    - Forward/Bidirectional Iterators
    - Random Access Iterators
    - Iterator Adaptors (reverse, insert, stream)
    - Iterator Traits
    - Custom Iterators
    - std::ranges (C++20)

21. **Module 3.8: Template Metaprogramming** (3 weeks)
    - Template Specialization
    - Variadic Templates (C++11)
    - SFINAE
    - Type Traits
    - std::enable_if
    - if constexpr (C++17)
    - Concepts (C++20)
    - Compile-time Computation

22. **Module 3.9: C++11/14/17/20/23 Features** (4 weeks)
    - C++11: auto, decltype, constexpr, nullptr
    - C++14: Generic lambdas, digit separators
    - C++17: Structured bindings, fold expressions, std::optional
    - C++20: Concepts, ranges, coroutines, modules
    - C++23: std::expected, deducing this, multidimensional subscript
    - Feature Adoption & Migration

---

### Phase 4: Advanced C++ (Expert)
**Duration:** 4-5 months | **Difficulty:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

23. **Module 4.1: Concurrency** (4 weeks)
    - std::thread
    - Mutexes & Locks
    - Condition Variables
    - std::atomic
    - Memory Ordering
    - std::future & std::promise
    - std::async
    - Thread-safe Data Structures
    - Lock-free Programming

24. **Module 4.2: Advanced Templates** (3 weeks)
    - Template Argument Deduction
    - Template Aliases
    - CRTP (Curiously Recurring Template Pattern)
    - Policy-based Design
    - Tag Dispatching
    - Expression Templates
    - Template Concepts (C++20)
    - Constraints & Requires

25. **Module 4.3: Performance Optimization** (4 weeks)
    - Profiling Tools (gprof, Valgrind, perf)
    - Cache Optimization
    - Branch Prediction
    - SIMD Programming
    - Compiler Optimizations
    - Link-time Optimization (LTO)
    - Profile-guided Optimization (PGO)
    - Inline Assembly

26. **Module 4.4: File I/O & Streams** (2 weeks)
    - iostream Library
    - File Streams (ifstream, ofstream, fstream)
    - String Streams
    - Stream Manipulators
    - Stream States
    - Binary I/O
    - Memory-mapped Files
    - std::filesystem (C++17)

27. **Module 4.5: Build Systems** (2 weeks)
    - CMake Advanced
    - Make & Makefiles
    - Package Managers (Conan, vcpkg)
    - Cross-platform Building
    - Static vs Dynamic Libraries
    - Precompiled Headers
    - Unity Builds
    - Build Optimization

28. **Module 4.6: Testing & Debugging** (3 weeks)
    - Unit Testing (Google Test, Catch2)
    - Test-driven Development
    - Mocking (Google Mock)
    - Debugging Tools (gdb, lldb, Visual Studio debugger)
    - Address Sanitizer
    - Memory Sanitizer
    - Thread Sanitizer
    - Undefined Behavior Sanitizer

29. **Module 4.7: Design Patterns** (4 weeks)
    - Creational Patterns (Singleton, Factory, Builder, Prototype)
    - Structural Patterns (Adapter, Bridge, Composite, Decorator)
    - Behavioral Patterns (Observer, Strategy, Template Method, Visitor)
    - Modern C++ Idioms
    - RAII Pattern
    - Pimpl Idiom
    - CRTP Applications

30. **Module 4.8: Const Correctness & Best Practices** (2 weeks)
    - const Keyword Usage
    - const Member Functions
    - mutable Keyword
    - constexpr Functions (C++11)
    - consteval (C++20)
    - constinit (C++20)
    - Code Style Guidelines
    - Core Guidelines

---

### Phase 5: Expert C++ (Master Level)
**Duration:** 3-4 months | **Difficulty:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

31. **Module 5.1: Advanced Memory** (3 weeks)
    - Custom Memory Allocators
    - Memory Pools
    - Object Pools
    - Small Object Allocation
    - Garbage Collection Techniques
    - Memory Debugging
    - Memory Profiling
    - Cache-friendly Data Structures

32. **Module 5.2: Preprocessor & Macros** (2 weeks)
    - Preprocessor Directives
    - Macro Functions
    - Conditional Compilation
    - Include Guards vs #pragma once
    - Variadic Macros
    - X-Macros Pattern
    - When to Avoid Macros
    - Modern Alternatives

33. **Module 5.3: Type System Deep Dive** (3 weeks)
    - Type Categories
    - Type Deduction Rules
    - decltype & declval
    - std::decay
    - Reference Collapsing
    - Universal References
    - Type Erasure
    - Type Punning

34. **Module 5.4: Undefined Behavior** (2 weeks)
    - Common UB Patterns
    - Integer Overflow
    - Out-of-bounds Access
    - Dereferencing Invalid Pointers
    - Data Races
    - Use-after-free
    - UB Sanitizers
    - Defensive Programming

35. **Module 5.5: ABI & Binary Compatibility** (2 weeks)
    - Application Binary Interface
    - Name Mangling
    - extern "C"
    - ODR (One Definition Rule)
    - Symbol Visibility
    - Dynamic Loading
    - Plugin Architecture
    - Versioning Strategies

36. **Module 5.6: Embedded & Low-level** (3 weeks)
    - Bit Manipulation
    - Hardware Interfacing
    - Memory-mapped I/O
    - Volatile Keyword
    - Inline Assembly
    - Bare-metal Programming
    - Real-time Constraints
    - Embedded Best Practices

---

### Phase 6: Specializations (Choose Your Path)
**Duration:** Ongoing | **Difficulty:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

37. **Specialization A: Game Development**
    - Game Engine Architecture
    - Entity Component Systems
    - Graphics Programming (OpenGL, Vulkan, DirectX)
    - Physics Engines
    - Audio Programming
    - Networking for Games
    - Game Optimization
    - Popular Engines (Unreal, Unity C++ scripting)

38. **Specialization B: Systems Programming**
    - Operating System Concepts
    - System Calls
    - Process Management
    - Inter-process Communication
    - Memory Management
    - File Systems
    - Device Drivers
    - Kernel Programming

39. **Specialization C: High-Performance Computing**
    - Parallel Algorithms
    - CUDA Programming
    - OpenMP
    - MPI (Message Passing Interface)
    - Vectorization
    - GPU Programming
    - Distributed Computing
    - Performance Analysis

40. **Specialization D: Financial Systems**
    - Low-latency Trading Systems
    - Fixed-point Arithmetic
    - Concurrent Data Structures
    - Lock-free Programming
    - Cache Optimization
    - Network Programming
    - Real-time Requirements
    - Market Data Processing

41. **Specialization E: Embedded Systems**
    - Microcontroller Programming
    - RTOS (Real-Time OS)
    - Hardware Abstraction Layers
    - Device Drivers
    - Protocol Implementations
    - Power Optimization
    - Safety-critical Systems
    - IoT Applications

42. **Specialization F: Graphics & Rendering**
    - OpenGL/Vulkan/DirectX
    - Shader Programming (GLSL, HLSL)
    - Ray Tracing
    - 3D Math
    - Texture Mapping
    - Scene Graphs
    - Animation Systems
    - GUI Frameworks (Qt, wxWidgets)

---

## 📈 Progress Tracking

### Mastery Levels
- **Level 0:** Unfamiliar - Never encountered
- **Level 1:** Aware - Basic understanding, need heavy documentation
- **Level 2:** Competent - Can use with documentation
- **Level 3:** Proficient - Use confidently without documentation
- **Level 4:** Expert - Can teach, optimize, solve complex problems

### Weekly Goals
- Complete 1-2 modules per month
- Code daily (1-2 hours minimum)
- Build 1 small project per week
- Read C++ source code (STL, Boost)
- Contribute to open source monthly

### Monthly Assessments
- Take comprehensive exam covering month's topics
- Build one medium project
- Code review own and others' code
- Write blog post or documentation

---

## 🎓 Learning Resources

### Books (Essential Reading)
1. **"C++ Primer"** by Stanley Lippman - Comprehensive introduction
2. **"Effective C++"** by Scott Meyers - Best practices (series of 3 books)
3. **"The C++ Programming Language"** by Bjarne Stroustrup - By creator
4. **"C++ Concurrency in Action"** by Anthony Williams - Threading
5. **"Modern C++ Design"** by Andrei Alexandrescu - Advanced templates
6. **"Exceptional C++"** by Herb Sutter - Problem solving
7. **"C++17 STL Cookbook"** by Jacek Galowicz - Modern STL

### Online Resources
- cppreference.com - Best C++ reference
- isocpp.org - ISO C++ website
- CppCon talks (YouTube)
- Meeting C++ conference videos
- Compiler Explorer (godbolt.org)
- Quick Bench (quick-bench.com)

### Practice Platforms
- LeetCode - Algorithms
- HackerRank - C++ challenges
- Codewars - C++ kata
- Project Euler - Mathematical problems
- Exercism - Mentored practice

---

## 🏆 Milestones & Achievements

### Milestone 1: C++ Basics Complete (Month 2-3)
- ✅ Understand syntax, pointers, references
- ✅ Write basic programs with functions
- ✅ Manage memory manually
- ✅ Use arrays and strings
- 🎯 **Project:** CLI utility (file processor, calculator)

### Milestone 2: OOP Mastery (Month 5-7)
- ✅ Master classes, inheritance, polymorphism
- ✅ Use templates effectively
- ✅ Handle exceptions properly
- ✅ Overload operators
- 🎯 **Project:** Container class library

### Milestone 3: Modern C++ (Month 9-12)
- ✅ Use smart pointers exclusively
- ✅ Apply move semantics
- ✅ Master STL containers/algorithms
- ✅ Write template metaprograms
- 🎯 **Project:** Custom data structure library

### Milestone 4: Advanced C++ (Month 13-17)
- ✅ Write thread-safe concurrent code
- ✅ Optimize performance
- ✅ Master build systems
- ✅ Write comprehensive tests
- 🎯 **Project:** Multi-threaded application

### Milestone 5: Expert Level (Month 18-20)
- ✅ Understand C++ internals
- ✅ Write production-quality code
- ✅ Master chosen specialization
- ✅ Contribute to major projects
- 🎯 **Project:** Complete application in specialization

---

## 📝 Assessment Strategy

### Weekly Quizzes
- 10-15 questions on week's topics
- Mix of theory and code analysis
- "I don't know" option for honesty

### Monthly Comprehensive Exams
- 30-50 questions
- Code writing exercises
- Debugging challenges
- Performance analysis

### Project Assessments
- Code quality review
- Memory leak detection
- Performance profiling
- Best practices adherence

### Continuous
- Track study time
- Monitor quiz/exam scores
- Identify weak areas
- Adjust pace as needed

---

## 🚀 Getting Started

### Week 1 Action Plan
1. Install compiler (GCC/Clang/MSVC)
2. Set up IDE (VS Code/Visual Studio/CLion)
3. Write and compile first program
4. Learn basic debugging
5. Take first quiz on basics

### Daily Study Routine
- **Morning (30 min):** Read theory/documentation
- **Afternoon (90 min):** Hands-on coding practice
- **Evening (30 min):** Review, quiz, or project work

### Weekend Activities
- Build projects
- Read C++ source code (STL, Boost)
- Watch CppCon talks
- Contribute to open source

---

## 💡 Learning Tips

1. **Master Pointers Early:** They're fundamental to C++
2. **Use Compiler Warnings:** Enable -Wall -Wextra
3. **Read STL Source:** Best way to learn advanced techniques
4. **Profile, Don't Guess:** Use profiling tools
5. **Understand Memory:** Crucial for C++ mastery
6. **Modern > Legacy:** Focus on C++11 and later
7. **Practice Daily:** Consistency is key
8. **Join Community:** r/cpp, C++ Slack, Discord

---

## 🔗 Next Steps

1. Review detailed modules in `01_KNOWLEDGE_GRAPH.md`
2. Assess your level in `02_INITIAL_ASSESSMENT.md`
3. Follow weekly schedule in `03_WEEKLY_SCHEDULE.md` (coming soon)
4. Track progress in `04_PROGRESS_TRACKER.md` (coming soon)
5. Start with Module 1.1

---

**Remember:** C++ is complex and powerful. Take your time to deeply understand each concept. The learning curve is steep, but the rewards are immense! 💪🚀