[comp.lang.c] C tutorial

Brian.Koontz@f9.n391.z1.UUCP (Brian Koontz) (06/01/90)

Can anybody recommend a good C tutorial for someone who knows a few
programming languages, but not the first thing about C?  I've grown tired
of the intricacies of assembly, and have heard C is a fairly versatile
language...

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alf@xenon.stgt.sub.org (Ingo Feulner) (06/04/90)

In article <18.2668B598@palace.UUCP> Brian.Koontz@f9.n391.z1.UUCP (Brian Koontz) writes:
>Can anybody recommend a good C tutorial for someone who knows a few
>programming languages, but not the first thing about C?  I've grown tired
>of the intricacies of assembly, and have heard C is a fairly versatile
>language...

Yes, in my opinion C is the ideal programming language.
Try "The C Programming Language, Second Edition, ANSI C" by B.W.  Kernighan
and D.M.  Ritchie.
This is for me the best C book.

-Ingo.

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jamiller@hpcupt1.HP.COM (Jim Miller) (06/07/90)

>Can anybody recommend a good C tutorial for someone who knows a few
>programming languages, but not the first thing about C?  I've grown tired
>of the intricacies of assembly, and have heard C is a fairly versatile
>language...
>
>--  
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>N.W. Arkansas' UUCP to FidoNet Connection. If you are interested in connecting
>up Contact Kenneth Whelan.   Addresses  postmaster@palace or at 1:391/9(Fido)
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'll probably get shot, but if you know a few programming languages
I suggest K&R (now K&R II).  Even if you don't know a few programming
languages I'd suggest K&R.  I think it is one of the best books ever.

The C programming Language
Second Edition
   by Kernighan and Ritchie.


A.K.A. the white book, the [C] bible, K&RII, ...


    jim - love C, trying to move on to C++ - miller

hovdesta@herald.usask.ca (Alfred Hovdestad) (06/08/90)

From article <2472@xenon.stgt.sub.org>, by alf@xenon.stgt.sub.org (Ingo Feulner):
> In article <18.2668B598@palace.UUCP> Brian.Koontz@f9.n391.z1.UUCP (Brian Koontz) writes:
>>Can anybody recommend a good C tutorial for someone who knows a few
>>programming languages, but not the first thing about C?  I've grown tired
>>of the intricacies of assembly, and have heard C is a fairly versatile
>>language...

Try the Coronado Enterprises C Tutor.  It is a freeware tutorial that
takes you from identifiers to pointers and character arrays to
structures, etc.  The version I have is from 1986, I don't know if there
is a later version or not.  Their address is:
Coronado Enterprises
12501 Cornado Ave NE
Albuqurque, New Mexico 87122


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rex@sis.uucp (06/12/90)

In article <18.2668B598@palace.UUCP> Brian.Koontz@f9.n391.z1.UUCP (Brian Koontz) writes:
>Can anybody recommend a good C tutorial for someone who knows a few
>programming languages, but not the first thing about C?  I've grown tired
>of the intricacies of assembly, and have heard C is a fairly versatile
>language...

The Waite Group is publishing a self-paced computer-aided learning package.
It is called Master C.  It will probably appear in the bookstores in August
but it can be ordered directly from The Waite Group for $44.95.  They are
at:

   The Waite Group
   100 Shoreline Highway
   Mill Valley, CA 94941
   (415) 331-0575

I think it's a pretty good product for beginners, but I'm biased.
I wrote it.

shwake@raysnec.UUCP (Ray Shwake) (06/13/90)

In article <5940033@hpcupt1.HP.COM> jamiller@hpcupt1.HP.COM (Jim Miller) writes:
>
>I'll probably get shot, but if you know a few programming languages
>I suggest K&R (now K&R II).  Even if you don't know a few programming
>languages I'd suggest K&R.  I think it is one of the best books ever.

Jim, the writer asked about good C *tutorial* books. While I haven't
reviewed K&R II, I found the original K&R too terse to use as a learning
tool. My favorite series are by Kochan and Wood (in various combinations):
Programming in C, the wonderful intermediate level Topics in C Programming,
and the latest on Ansi C. Topics, in particular, covers a breadth of
material rarely encountered, like curses, makefiles, library calls, etc.

cookson@helios.mitre.org (Cookson) (06/15/90)

In article <70@raysnec.UUCP> shwake@raysnec.UUCP (Ray Shwake) writes:
>In article <5940033@hpcupt1.HP.COM> jamiller@hpcupt1.HP.COM (Jim Miller) writes:
>>
>>I'll probably get shot, but if you know a few programming languages
>>I suggest K&R (now K&R II).  Even if you don't know a few programming
>>languages I'd suggest K&R.  I think it is one of the best books ever.
>
>Jim, the writer asked about good C *tutorial* books. While I haven't
>reviewed K&R II, I found the original K&R too terse to use as a learning
>tool. My favorite series are by Kochan and Wood (in various combinations):
>Programming in C, the wonderful intermediate level Topics in C Programming,
>and the latest on Ansi C. Topics, in particular, covers a breadth of
>material rarely encountered, like curses, makefiles, library calls, etc.

I'm afraid I have to agree with Jim here.  I used the K&R (I & II) and
a compiler.  I haven't really needed anything else.  The K&R book was
short, sweet and to the point.  Plus the ANSI version has a synopsis
of the standard libraries in the back which is kinda helpful.  The
curses and make stuff seems to me like it belongs in a Unix book,
not a C book.

Just my $.02,
Dean


% Dean Cookson				  $ Anyone can be taught to sculpt    %
% dcookson@mitre.org			    $ Michaelangleo would have had to %
% {devax,et al..}!linus!mbunix!helios!cookson $ have been taught how not to.  %
% Disclaimer: My opinions are my own, and       $ The same is true of great   %
%       are of questionable sanity                $ programmers               %

tomr@ashtate (Tom Rombouts) (07/25/90)

In article <1171@sixhub.UUCP> davidsen@sixhub.UUCP (bill davidsen) writes:
>In article <340022@hplvli.HP.COM> boyne@hplvli.HP.COM (Art Boyne) writes:
>
>| < text deleted > K&R probably is insufficient for the novice/student
>| programmer.
>
>  When I designed my first C course, < text deleted > . . . .
>  I would up putting a good bit of addressing and conceptual memory
>  . . . . then some other topics . . . .

An excellent book that attempts to fill this very gap is 
"The C Companion."  (Sorry - can not remember author.  Was it Holub?)
In the introduction it says its purpose is to supply information
on topics that are assumed to be too advanced for beginners, or
else already known by professionals.  There are chapters on topics
such as assembly language priciples, memory addressing, pointer
concepts, numeric representation, etc.

I think it complements any C tutorial or class very well.


Tom Rombouts  Torrance Techie  tomr@ashtate.A-T.com  V: (213) 538-7108