Best way to learn C in 2019?
What would be a good reference to learn C language (I presume ANSI C) today? It used to be K & R book, not sure if that is still relevant. I'm not looking for a resource that's for programming newbies but for someone who can already program in higher level languages.
7 comments
* K&R Book
* Some course/book that includes gdb/compilers/modern style ect https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpIxOj-HnDsPZIJYO4U9f... which covers http://csapp.cs.cmu.edu/
* The SEI CERT C Coding Standard https://wiki.sei.cmu.edu/confluence/display/c/SEI+CERT+C+Cod... combined with C Traps and Pitfalls http://literateprogramming.com/ctraps.pdf
Really any C book you can find combined w/SEI CERT standard, there's even a functional C book from 1999 https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/31ac/b7abaf3a1962b27be9faa2...
* Some course/book that includes gdb/compilers/modern style ect https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpIxOj-HnDsPZIJYO4U9f... which covers http://csapp.cs.cmu.edu/
* The SEI CERT C Coding Standard https://wiki.sei.cmu.edu/confluence/display/c/SEI+CERT+C+Cod... combined with C Traps and Pitfalls http://literateprogramming.com/ctraps.pdf
Really any C book you can find combined w/SEI CERT standard, there's even a functional C book from 1999 https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/31ac/b7abaf3a1962b27be9faa2...
The 2nd edition of K&R (ANSI C) is the only enduring tome on my bookshelf.
Assuming you have some solid knowledge, that should be all you need. I find reading [John Regehr's blog](https://blog.regehr.org/) is good to get the gist of under-specified behaviours by the various compilers and what to watch out for.
Having written that, C programs that I wrote 10-20 years ago, still work without any problems. So unless you are doing some tricky stuff, like kernels or advanced device drivers, I would think that K&R will suffice. Of course, it is always a very good idea to check the compiler's warnings and edit your programs to eliminate them.
Assuming you have some solid knowledge, that should be all you need. I find reading [John Regehr's blog](https://blog.regehr.org/) is good to get the gist of under-specified behaviours by the various compilers and what to watch out for.
Having written that, C programs that I wrote 10-20 years ago, still work without any problems. So unless you are doing some tricky stuff, like kernels or advanced device drivers, I would think that K&R will suffice. Of course, it is always a very good idea to check the compiler's warnings and edit your programs to eliminate them.
I have found 21st Century C to be a fairly current treatment: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/21st-century-c/97814919...
I bought this on your recommendation and have to say how great it is so far, readable, just opinionated enough, reasonably concise and very pragmatic, the exact opposite of every other C book out there. It's not great for completely new programmers but it's fantastic for everyone else.
That first chapter alone and the C shebang (https://github.com/RhysU/c99sh) walkthrough put together so many ideas I've never thought or heeard of. It makes C usable in ways that you'd typical use something like python for.
That first chapter alone and the C shebang (https://github.com/RhysU/c99sh) walkthrough put together so many ideas I've never thought or heeard of. It makes C usable in ways that you'd typical use something like python for.
21st Century C gives you a fair bit of support in terms of tools that a book that just teaches the language may lack. Knowing how to use makefiles and valgrind and other tools is extremely beneficial, IMHO.
1) Get a book on C++ and stop reading once you get to classes and other C++ features.
2) Read these in any order: "The C Puzzle Book", "Deep C Secrets", "Class Construction in C and C++" (shows what C is capable of without touching C++ features).
I would still start with K & R. If you're solid with everything there, you'll be fine.
http://c-faq.com might help too!
Go to 42
https://www.42.us.org/
https://www.42.us.org/