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From: daw@houxs.UUCP (D.WOLVERTON)
Newsgroups: comp.sources.d
Subject: Re: Standard C Programming - wot a dumb idea.
Message-ID: <504@houxs.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 24-Aug-87 18:19:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: houxs.504
Posted: Mon Aug 24 18:19:25 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Aug-87 00:45:22 EDT
References: <1101@laidbak.UUCP> <656@hplabsz.HPL.HP.COM> <1113@laidbak.UUCP> <26297@sun.uucp>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel
Lines: 27
Keywords: standard c flame
Summary: sources newsgroup IS for teaching/learning

In article <26297@sun.uucp>, guy%gorodish@Sun.COM (Guy Harris) writes:
(> > is Harry Skelton (sp?))
> > The BBS group I talk to are mainly kids or people that are starting with
> > 'C' and the questions I get are mainly with externs, as in "Where is that
> > referenced".  They fail to understand that some information can be global.
> > Most look at passing of information via arguments to a function call as 
> > global.  Sorry to sit and burn but as a programmer I understand the use of
> > various abilities that 'C' offers but I mearly wanted to defend the
> > 'little user' as well.
> 
> So?  These programs aren't posted so that people can use them to learn C; they
> are posted so that they can be compiled and run.

Perhaps one of the best ways to learn "how to use a language" is to read
real, honest-to-God code.  Not everyone has access to UNIX source.  For these
people (and the number of them is growing every day), comp.sources may be their
primary source for C language coding examples.  Which is why I disagree with 
Harry's position [deleted] that the postings be at the lowest common denominator.
Programs which use the more complex features of the language (which is of course 
relative) provides a body of "literature" for the novice to study.

Consider where we would be today if all published books were on the level of
"Run, Spot, run."

Dave Wolverton
AT&T
ihuxn!houxs!daw