Reddit mentions of Programming in C (3rd Edition)

Programming in C by Stephen Kochan is amazing.

Learn C. Some good beginner books are Programming in C
and C Programming A Modern Approach

If you're really dedicated to learning with C++ first I would recommend Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ its a great book for determined beginners, its not a C++ language manual instead it's a book on programming.

C is worth learning in my opinion. I'm a CS student so certainly not an authority on languages, but everything that's really cool I want to work on, and the problems that really interest me, tend to be in C. If you ever wanted to study operating systems then C is vital. You can go download the entire linux kernel and read it's internals, study how it works and try to wrap your head around why certain things were done in certain ways.

If you want to study algorithms and data structures, c is wonderful. Have you ever wondered how queues are actually structured in memory while you were using Java? Or lists, or strings, or objects in general?

Memory management, how the stack works when a function gets called, how the memory alignment of certain structures can decrease cache misses... There's so many cool topics that you can really dig into with C that you don't have the freedom to really mess with in higher level languages. The downside being you have plenty of rope to hang yourself with, but man the problems you run into can be so much fun.

Embedded systems are cool. Being able to take an Atmel or TI microcontroller and cobble together beautiful useful systems. This is what really invigorated me with regards to C when I was starting out. Snag yourself a cheap ATtiny AVR, a couple data sheets, a programmer and some tutorials and dive in.

As far as an IDE, I really wouldn't recommend one. Just use a text editor of some sort. For instance I do a lot of my coding right now in Sublime Text. All I really use it for is the highlighting. Everything else is done in the terminal. gcc is free and works fairly well, and in regards to referencing I generally just use the man pages or google when I want to get a quick idea on how to use something.

From what I've seen, and what I've heard from friends who are already working, if you can write good clean C it will help you in any other language you pick up. The language doesn't hold your hand.

K&R is one of those books you certainly want to have, but it isn't really what I'd start out with at first. I'm a little embarrased to admit it but I started with "Absolute Beginners Guide to C" by Perry. I didn't have any type of programming background though so you might be more inclined to something like "Programming in C" by Kochan.

Perhaps this is it? Programming in C

If you really want to learn C - check out http://www.cs50.tv and http://www.amazon.com/Programming-3rd-Stephen-G-Kochan/dp/0672326663

To be honest, I would suggest some other book first (kochan and king are good enough), then reference/read that book if you have problems or just want to say you read it.

K&R is old, and while still mostly accurate, and can teach you C, there are books that are better suited for teaching people learning C in this century. One thing that the newer books lack usually is explaining old stuff. For example, many books don't sufficiently explain how the input and output buffer works.

I do think it's a good idea for people actually doing stuff with C to eventually read K&R, but starting from the basics, you might want a gentler approach.

K&R is good, but I also felt Programming in C was a very well written book and at a reasonable price.

>Start at the bottom. Some books I liked...
>
>Learn what a computer does: Computer Organization & design - Patterson & Hennessy
>
>Learn C: Programming in C - Stephen Kochan
>
>VERY IMPORTANT learn your data structures: Introduction to Algorithms
>
>You will have learn Java in university, I found this book good: Absolute Java 4th ed.
>
>This is just scratching the surface, a lot more to learn afterword.

Don't worry, FTFH

C books I've found useful:

Beginner

• K&R (classic, witty, a great introduction to the language)
  
• Programming in C (as you mentioned, very much for beginners)
  
  Intermediate
  
  
• Mastering Algorithms with C
  
• Understanding and Using C Pointers
  
  Expert
  
  
• 21st Century C
  
• Expert C Programming

If you're taking a Computer Science class anywhere, this is an amazing resource for you.

OpenLearning also has a free course, similar, but very different at the same time. A link here if you wish to check it out. The lecturer is hilarious, intelligent, and excited 99% of the time. He is super easy to watch.

Lastly, get a hold of C Programming by Kochan. It's a recommended reading by the CS50 course. Here is it if you are so inclined.

I took CS50x when they first offered it on edx in 2012 and it was by far my favorite online course. It's been a while and it may have changed a bit, but from memory a few things that helped me:

• Watching the videos at 1.5 speed and repeating/slowing down at more complex parts (David Malan is a great lecturer but the lectures have a lot of filler)
  
  
• Watching all the videos, including the workshops (or whatever they're called)
  
  
• Helping out others who are stuck (see CS50 subreddit): teaching is a great way to solidify learning concepts
  
  
• Read Programming in C

For learning C I would recommend Programming in C if you're new to programming, and C Primer Plus if you have some programming experience. Both great books, but Programming in C feels like it's geared more towards total beginners.

Oops, I meant "writing", but I meant that you should write programs to solve tutorial exercises. You can't learn to program just by reading, you have to practice it.

From what I've seen of CarlHProgramming tutorials, they're great! I would highly recommend starting there over K&R. (Do read K&R, but read it in a month or so, after you've tried programming a while.)

Or, any book that teaches programming and not just the C language would be good, for example:

http://www.amazon.com/Absolute-Beginners-Guide-C-2nd/dp/0672305100/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288834345&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Programming-3rd-Stephen-G-Kochan/dp/0672326663/ref=pd_cp_b_3

Hmm. I just bought this one and should be getting it this weekend. Seems like a solid choice. I have basic knowledge in HTML, CSS, PHP, & Javascript.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0672326663/ref=pe_385040_30332190_pe_175190_21431760_M3T1_ST1_dp_1

Another good introduction for beginners:

Programming in C by Stephen Kochan

http://www.amazon.com/Programming-C-3rd-Developers-Library/dp/0672326663

http://www.kochan-wood.com/

The PDF you linked to is the one by Kochan that is currently available for purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Programming-3rd-Edition-Stephen-Kochan/dp/0672326663/ It is not the one found at the e-booksdirectory.com link you have just posted.

You may not have pirated the PDF that you are linking to via Google Docs, but someone did.

I know the internet can get you pretty much anything these days, but books are still very valuable. Tutorials on the web are almost never as good as a well written book. This is a pretty good book to look at.

There are many other good books. The book to choose also depends on how much programming experience you have to begin with. Invest in a good book.

Yeah I've got that book - the other book is programming in c. Which I also got - though it's quite a lot denser than the other one.

Haven't checked codeacademy - main goal is to go through cs50 and its related stuff before veering off too much, I'm liable to going off on tangents and not getting anything done as a result!