mark said:
is there a representation of C++ api (on the web.. ) similar to the
java api (on the sun's web site) that is laid out graphically, one can
view all the classes and for each class one can access its
members/methods
I know of nothing equal to the Java API documentation for the C++ standard
library. Bear in mind that the actual Java Language is not documented in
the API documentation. Also bear in mind the C++ Standard specification is
not freely available on the net.
These are all variants on the same concept of online documentation of the
C++ Standard Library:
http://www.roguewave.com/support/docs/
http://www.sgi.com/tech/stl/
It pains me to reference anything from the heart of software darkness, but
this seems fairly good:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/vclang98/HTML/stdlbhm.asp
This is a pretty nice hyperlinked version of an older draft of the standard.
http://www.itga.com.au/~gnb/wp/cd2/
The actual standard document can be useful. I really wish it were
colorcoded. Particularly the template header pages. If you are serious
about C++, the standard document is worth having. You can get it here for
$18.00 US:
http://www.techstreet.com/cgi-bin/detail?product_id=1143945
Finding information about libraries quickly and effectively in the way Java
programmers do is something some established C++ programmers find
offensive. The idea that such a thing should be easy offends them.