Absolute Beginner's Guide to C

by Greg Perry

Explains every aspect of how to start programming in the C language. The book features line drawings, designed to be both fun and meaningful; Yikes sections indicate what to do with error messages; Hmmmmmm sections explain important topics; and Psst sections provide tips.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0672303418
• ISBN13: 9780672303418
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Sams
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.3" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

I ordered three...

I finally bought this book after reading the reviews for the last year. I gave it to my Linux Administrator and told him to read it as an assignment. He called after a couple of hours into it and said he couldn't put it down and that it was the best computer book he had ever read. He also mentioned that he had tried to learn C from other books and did not get anywhere. Similar story to many of the other stories...I went a head and ordered another one for me and have read several chapters. I must agree that after trying to learn programming from Beginner Python books and PHP books that this whole programming thing started to fall into place. The author really does do a good job at explaining things. The reviews are accurate...and not staged like I thought they may be.I also ordered a 3rd book for a 13-year-old boy who wants to learn how to be a web programmer with PHP and MySQL. I am starting him off with this book first because it will give him the foundation he needs to move into PHP and other languages.I wish other books were written this well. The author is an excellent teacher. Go ahead and get it. You'll be glad you did.

Buy this book if you don't know where to start

Just wanted to add my name to the list of highly satisfied purchasers of this book. This is an excellent programming book for beginners, even if you have never programmed before. I originally started out with K & R C, but it was just too dry. Perry's book gives you the basics and the confidence to move on to more advanced books (like K & R C, Pointer on C, etc).The only downside to the book is that there are no "problems" to work out. (Sure you can put his code in and watch it run--but where is the problem-solving in that?) However, there are numerous Computer Science Departments out there that do post their course work problems on the Net which can be easily downloaded and printed. Although, few also post the answers, so...good luck :) Watch out for the chapters on getchar() and getch(). getch() only gets a page or two of explanation and leaves a hapless beginner to founder. K & R C did help here at this point, takes some hacking away at it, but it comes eventually. (Or maybe it will come really quickly and you'll think, that tripped him up? What a geek!)Lastly, don't waste your hard-earned cash on a fancy-smancy C compiler. There are lots of good (and free) C compilers out there (GNU's gcc, borland DOS-based from www.borland.com, etc). Pick one, spend some time learning the switches and optimizations on it and then get to coding.From there on out it is just code, code and code. And then debug...and debug...and debug...cry...and debug...After this book I recommend cutting your teeth on K & R C (there's a reason they call it the C Bible). You can easily see the basics you picked up with Perry in K & R. It was a big help for me when I could see something familiar in the concepts and was able trudge on through.

Excellent Beginner Material!

I am a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and Certified Trainer who wanted to begin exploring the world of programming. I tried to teach myself C back in the old DOS days and eventually gave up - too frustrating. I've recently decided to give it another try and began looking for a "do it yourself-type" book.After reading all of the reviews for this book, I went out and purchased it. It is an awesome beginner tutorial on the C programming language. The best purchase I've made in a long time. Although the book was written 6 years ago, the material is very well written and provides you a fast way to get started programming in C. No outdated stuff in this book...If you're looking to get started learning C, you will definitely need to purchase this book. It is a very enjoyable book clearly written with the beginner in mind.

The BEST book for Beginners. A Definate 5 STAR!

I start off with saying that this is the best book to buy if you have never even programmed before. This book gives you the best start you can get..Dont buy books like "C for dumbies" by googin or whatever his name is. I seriously reccomend this book. It starts of with standard I/o like printf() and scanf() et cetera...Then goes on to teach you data structers, loops, heap memory, intermediate i/o, and making your own functions. It teaches you how to organize your code and make it more easier to read. The writer puts everything in a CLEAR easy to read way, unlike other books that explain things in a very difficult manner and don't put much depth into it or make jokes to get the point through like your stupid. After this book I reccomend "The C Programming Language" by Kernighan and Ritchie. Buy this book and you won't regret it...That's a fact. Just don't think that your a master at C after you read it. Practice will make you a better programmer.!

The Best Book you can Buy for begginers.

All right my name is Troy and im 14 years old. I start off with saying that this is the best book to buy if have never even programmed before. This book gives you the best start you can get..Dont buy books like "C for dumbies" by googin or whatever his name is. I seriously reccomend this book. It starts of with standard I/o like printf() and scanf() et cetera...THen goes on to teach you data structers, loops, heap memory, intermediate i/o, and making your own functions. It teaches you how to organize your code and make it more easier to read. The writer puts everything in a CLEAR easy to read way, unlike other books that explain things in a very difficult manner and don't put much depth into it or make jokes to get the point through like your stupid. After this book I reccomend "The C Programming Language" by Kernighan and Ritchie. Buy this book and you won't regret it...Thats a fact. Just don't think that your a master at C after you read it. Practice will make you a better programmer.!