libes@cme-durer.ARPA (Don Libes) (09/08/88)
Please don't spend too much time debating the code in this book. The authors were Fortran programmers who learned C simply to write this book. It isn't surprising that they are confusing readers. I am told that the original Fortran/Pascal version is a good book, but they clearly could have used some help with this version. I appreciate that they tried to explain and point out the problems of numerical programming in C, but they often criticize or make uncalled for assumptions about C due to their ignorance. For example, the following is a quote from a recent issue of Micro/Systems Journal which reviewed the book: They suggest not using switch-case-default construction, ... because they consider the structure confusing, and also "burdened by uncertainty, from compiler to compiler about what data types are allowed in its control expression." It is recommended that this be replaced by "a more recognizable and translatable if-else construction." They [NRC] go on to make many other unfounded remarks, such as "avoid continue;". Isn't there a better book for numerical programming in C? Don Libes cme-durer.arpa ...!uunet!cme-durer!libes