Recommend a book please?

waraf · 02-12-2009 02:24PM #1

Hi,

I am due to start a masters in software engineering next September. I have been advised that there is a lot of linux scripting and C on the course. I am a complete noob when it comes to linux and I have never studied C (although I have studied java).

Can anyone recommend any good books for linux scripting or C please?

Thanks

edit: I just found a great Linux tutorial online but book recommendations are still more than welcome.

NeverSayDie · 02-12-2009 02:54PM

Note sure about the Linux end, re C, Deitel & Deitel's C++ texts were always good, their C one seems to be well reviewed too.

This is the latest edition, which appears to be far from cheap - a 2nd hand copy of an older edition might be an idea.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Program-Deitel/dp/0136123562

That said, there's large amounts of online material for C.

waraf · 02-12-2009 03:11PM

NeverSayDie wrote: »

Note sure about the Linux end, re C, Deitel & Deitel's C++ texts were always good, their C one seems to be well reviewed too.

This is the latest edition, which appears to be far from cheap - a 2nd hand copy of an older edition might be an idea.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Program-Deitel/dp/0136123562

That said, there's large amounts of online material for C.

Whoa! You're not kidding! I'll keep an eye out for a cheaper previous edition. Thanks for the tip.

Sparks · 02-12-2009 06:56PM

For C, there can be only one:

For scripting, any unix scripting book or tutorial will do (there's not really any such thing as linux-specific scripting in this context, it's all either csh or bash scripting really).

Herbal Deity · 02-12-2009 07:09PM

Sparks wrote: »

For C, there can be only one:

I agree. That should give you some pointers.

Sparks · 02-12-2009 08:19PM

*groan*

fergalr · 02-12-2009 08:37PM

Herbal Deity wrote: »

I agree. That should give you some pointers.

Absolutely, +1 on this, best reference manual there is.

waraf · 02-12-2009 08:46PM

Sparks wrote: »

For C, there can be only one:

For scripting, any unix scripting book or tutorial will do (there's not really any such thing as linux-specific scripting in this context, it's all either csh or bash scripting really).

Cheers Sparks, I had a look on amazon and all of the reviews are excellent so I've just ordered a copy. I can't believe it's only 250 pages long. Happy days!

fergalr · 02-12-2009 08:55PM

waraf wrote: »

Cheers Sparks, I had a look on amazon and all of the reviews are excellent so I've just ordered a copy. I can't believe it's only 250 pages long. Happy days!

Waraf,

While thats a great C book, you might need other resources too to learn the language. As you've programed before in Java, a combination of K&R and online tutorials/resources should probably sort you out.

You also mentioned you have to learn about linux - one of the best ways to get your head around linux is to install a linux distro on a spare machine (or even if a VM if you have to), and start playing with it. Maybe start automating simple tasks from the command line, or use it to do your C development, using the command line and Vim for a while, and you'll pick it up.

One of the biggest challenges coming to C from java is having to do your own memory management - make sure to spend a good bit of time on pointers and memory management and not move on until you've got the concepts down, and you should be grand.

Edit:
Also, if you are interested in software engineering in general, books like 'The Pragmatic Programmer' and 'Rapid Development' are well worth a read.

waraf · 02-12-2009 09:15PM

fergalr wrote: »

Waraf,

While thats a great C book, you might need other resources too to learn the language. As you've programed before in Java, a combination of K&R and online tutorials/resources should probably sort you out.

You also mentioned you have to learn about linux - one of the best ways to get your head around linux is to install a linux distro on a spare machine (or even if a VM if you have to), and start playing with it. Maybe start automating simple tasks from the command line, or use it to do your C development, using the command line and Vim for a while, and you'll pick it up.

One of the biggest challenges coming to C from java is having to do your own memory management - make sure to spend a good bit of time on pointers and memory management and not move on until you've got the concepts down, and you should be grand.

Edit:
Also, if you are interested in software engineering in general, books like 'The Pragmatic Programmer' and 'Rapid Development' are well worth a read.

Thanks Fergal. I was actually installed Virtualbox with the latest version of Mint Linux as you were typing that!

Thanks for the heads up on the memory management. I wasn't aware that I would have to do that in C so I'll make sure to go over it carefully.

Malice · 07-12-2009 07:14PM

NeverSayDie wrote: »

Note sure about the Linux end, re C, Deitel & Deitel's C++ texts were always good, their C one seems to be well reviewed too.

When I learnt C back in College it was the Deitel C How To Program book that I read. I loved the way that there were a bunch of questions at the end of each chapter which covered what you were supposed to have read and then a few exercises where you had to create programs, again to back up what you were supposed to know.

Recommend a book please?

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