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From: nfs1675@dsacg3.dsac.dla.mil ( Michael S Figg)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Programming books
Summary: K&R IS the bible
Message-ID: <1849@dsacg3.dsac.dla.mil>
Date: 9 Feb 90 14:33:50 GMT
References: <498@unicorn.WWU.EDU> <2502@leah.Albany.Edu> <898@orange9.qtp.ufl.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Defense Logistics Agency Systems Automation Center, Columbus
Lines: 33

In article <898@orange9.qtp.ufl.edu>, sutherla@qtp.ufl.edu (scott sutherland) writes:
> 
> 	When I first decided to learn C, I was told that this book was the
> "C bible", so I got a copy (not 2nd ed.).  Well, it may be complete, but
> speaking as a person who went from BASIC to C, it STINKS as a tutorial
> book from which to learn the language.  Stick with the C Primer Plus,
> or its revised edition (New name, new cover, more examples).  I cannot
> recall the new name.
> 


Kernighan and Ritchie IS the "C" bible.  This point isn't really debatable
(although that hasn't stopped anyone here before). Although the book 
mentions that it contains a tutorial, it also mentions that it is not for 
beginners. It is mainly the primary reference book on the language by two
gentleman who know "C" very well :-). Dennis Ritchie wrote the 'C' Language
at Bell Labs and Brian Kernighan, I believe also at Bell, has been involved
with 'C' and UNIX development from the beginning.  Still, I agree that it
stinks as a tutorial, particularly if you don't know the principles of lower
level programming.  I also agree that C Primer Plus is probably the best 
entry level 'C' tutorial around. 

For reference books on 'C', Harbison and Steeles' "C: A Reference Manual",
also seems very good, but quite similar to K&R.

This isn't really a comp.sys.amiga topic is it? Sorry.



-- 
"Could we be the bellwether  | Michael Figg  DSAC-FSD
 of major societal shifts?"  | DLA Systems Automation Center - Columbus,Oh
mfigg@dsacg2.dsac.dla.mil      CIS:  73777,360