C Programming

Cond0r

I'd like to start learning C, and I was wondering if anyone could recommend some good sites/books/cds etc to get me started. Preferably with examples, tutorials and the like, if this is the best way to start? I'd appreciate any info you peeps have
Thanks!

C.

Hobbes

Have you tried the FAQ (listed in the Stickey thread above)?

Cond0r

Yup, and the links are 404's.

simon_partridge

Personally I think the book by the people who wrote C, Kernaghan and Ritchie, is the best. It's quite a purists book though, with no fancy pictures and a limited amount of verbiage. Good for the specifics of C, but if you're new to programming as a whole it might not be so good...?

Hobbes

Originally posted by Cond0r
Yup, and the links are 404's.

Should mention it on the FAQ, although I guess whoever maintains the FAQ will read this thread. Might want to add whatever you find to it as well.

Lemming

My first C book was a really good, concise one called "A guide to C programming". (it's in its 3rd Ed. now)

Can't remmeber who by, but it's excellent for beginners, and its very cheap. When bought it a few years ago it was about IR£14.00 and came with a dos based compiler on disk.

Cond0r

Originally posted by simon_partridge
Personally I think the book by the people who wrote C, Kernaghan and Ritchie, is the best. It's quite a purists book though, with no fancy pictures and a limited amount of verbiage. Good for the specifics of C, but if you're new to programming as a whole it might not be so good...?

First of all, thanks for the reply!:)
But as i'm only new to programming I think I might be looking for something more like this:

Originally posted by Lemming
My first C book was a really good, concise one called "A guide to C programming". (it's in its 3rd Ed. now)

Can't remmeber who by, but it's excellent for beginners, and its very cheap. When bought it a few years ago it was about IR£14.00 and came with a dos based compiler on disk.

Was it per chance this book by O'Reilly? I think what you've described sounds perfect

Thanks for the prompt replies!

Lemming

Originally posted by Cond0r

Was it per chance this book by O'Reilly? I think what you've described sounds perfect

Nope .. that wasn't it. I'll have a look and see if I can't find out the author and publishing house.

It wasn't a book from a "series" if you catch my drift??

Zaltais

Perhaps it was this one....

http://www.gillmacmillan.ie/ECom/Library3.nsf/CatalogByTitle/13F49E5B2BEB35FC80256AE000373628!OpenDocument

Cond0r

Originally posted by Lemming

Nope .. that wasn't it. I'll have a look and see if I can't find out the author and publishing house.

It wasn't a book from a "series" if you catch my drift??

Yep

Originally posted by Zaltais
Perhaps it was this one....

http://www.gillmacmillan.ie/ECom/Library3.nsf/CatalogByTitle/13F49E5B2BEB35FC80256AE000373628!OpenDocument

If I'm not mistaken thats a C++ book:p
Thanks tho!

Lemming

Here it is ...

"Guide to C Programming"

Paul Kelly
Click Here

As an aside .... some C++ books go through the rudiments of C programming, such as the Deitel & Deitel books.

If you move beyond the scope of the Paul Kelly book, I recommend two books on C.

1. The Kernaghan and Ritchie C book (aka, the C Bible)

2. C, How to Program - Deitel & Deitel

Whislt I never used the secnod book mentioned there, I have used several other Deitel & Deitel books (C++, Java, etc) and they are of a very good and thorough standard

Trojan

Originally posted by Cond0r
Yup, and the links are 404's.

Sorry, you're incorrect. All of the links on the FAQ are working fine, and are not 404s.

Regards,
Al.

Cond0r

Originally posted by Lemming
Here it is ...

"Guide to C Programming"

Paul Kelly
Click Here

As an aside .... some C++ books go through the rudiments of C programming, such as the Deitel & Deitel books.

If you move beyond the scope of the Paul Kelly book, I recommend two books on C.

1. The Kernaghan and Ritchie C book (aka, the C Bible)

2. C, How to Program - Deitel & Deitel

Whislt I never used the secnod book mentioned there, I have used several other Deitel & Deitel books (C++, Java, etc) and they are of a very good and thorough standard

Excellent thanks a mill i'll probably get that.:)

Originally posted by Trojan
Sorry, you're incorrect. All of the links on the FAQ are working fine, and are not 404s.

Regards,
Al.

They were 404's when I checked this morning.

C.

satchmo

I think faqs.org was down this morning, I was looking for something there too.

phobos

C was my first programming language too, and I started with "Teach yourself C in 21 Days" on Sams Premier. AFAIK the version that is around today is pretty much the same thing. It's very good, and it alone gave me a good foundation to structured methodologies & the C programming language.

It's a very easy book to get your hands on, and is typically found in the likes of Easons or Waterstones, etc.

;-phobos-)

Cond0r

Originally posted by phobos
C was my first programming language too, and I started with "Teach yourself C in 21 Days" on Sams Premier. AFAIK the version that is around today is pretty much the same thing. It's very good, and it alone gave me a good foundation to structured methodologies & the C programming language.

This sounds good too, but I read somewhere that those teach yourself quick books aren't very good or something?
I dunno, just something I came across.
Thanks though!

C.

Patrick

I have QUE "C by Example". I found it here at home. I thought it'd be best to use this thread since it's the same sort of questions...

I was wondering if this book which was published in '96 would be worth reading. Now it seems to be very informitive but what I'm afraid of is that I'll be learning C that isn't relative to today? or up to date? Should I worry about that and buy one of the books mention up above?
Or C in 96 not much different to C now in 02?

williamb

Haven't read the Que book, but "C" hasn't changed since 1996. In truth it hasn't changed much since 1978, when the Kernighan and Ritchie book was first published.

ecksor

C hasn't changed since 1996 as long as you ignore the new C standard that was introduced in 1999. A lot of the changes are still not in common usage as far as I can see though. To say it hasn't changed since 1978 is a bit dubious imo though. ANSI C has some important improvements over K&R.

When you get used to C, consider buying "Expert C: Deep C secrets" by Peter Van Der Linden (I can't recommend this book enough) and "Writing Solid Code" by Steve Maguire. If you get very interested in C standards and potential bugs, then look at "Safer C: Developing Software for High-Integrity and Safety-Critical Systems" by Les Hatton. Excellent author, and the book is relevant to any software development done in any language, despite the title, and it's specific focus on C 'failure modes'

williamb

I feel quite safe ignoring the 1999 C standard, since the vast majority of the compiler vendors are. I didn't say it hadn't changed since 1978, I said it hadn't changed much.I meant you can hrow practically anything from K+R at a current compiler, and it will compile and do what you expected.

ecksor

In relation to Patrick's question, it is fair enough to say that his book written in 1996 will be very relevant to today. I did note that the features are not widely used. I am just pointing out that there has been some movement on the standard.

I do not believe it is fair enough to say the same about any book written which covers pre-ANSI C however, which is what you appeared (to me at least) to be saying.