Thread: Learning C

>Can you create kind of a list with topics that are necessary to know,
>both C specific and with regards to programming in general?
You're right, it is a difficult question to answer. If you're looking for a checklist where you can say "Oh, I'm a programmer now that all of these things have been learned", I'd say that's missing the big picture. The real skill you're learning as a programmer is how to solve problems. The implementation of those solutions is a trivial matter in comparison, and you can't put a check mark next to a "Learn how to solve problems" bullet point on a checklist because it's an ongoing process.

Any language you learn, any algorithm, data structure, or new concept should be approached with the attitude of "how will this help me solve problems better?". As such, you should constantly look for new things to learn, not follow a prefabricated list of "necessary" things.

>That's why I tried to ask the question related to C, and being able to say that one "knows a bit of C".
That's not at all what you asked, emphasis mine:

Originally Posted by cnewbie1

Can you create kind of a list with topics that are necessary to know, both C specific and with regards to programming in general?

So do you want to know about C and programming in general, or just the C language? If it's the latter then don't be a pussy. C is a small language, you can learn the basics of all of its features quickly and with little difficulty. I get the distinct impression that you want someone to tell you it's okay to learn the bare minimum and it'll somehow enrich your life or add value to your resume.

Let me change it to what I _meant_ to say, then: ...both C specific and perhaps with regards to programming in general?

Originally Posted by Prelude

>I get the distinct impression that you want someone to tell you it's okay to learn the bare minimum and it'll somehow enrich your life or add value to your resume.

Well, thank you. I don't know what I said that makes it OK for you to reply in that manner, but no matter. I'd be very grateful if you just ignore this post. Ok? I got an answer above, which was the kind I was looking for. I'm sorry that you feel that my question wasn't specific enough, and that you feel sufficiently offended by it to accuse me like that. That wasn't my intention at all. I'll try not to get on your bad side in the future.

>Let me change it to what I _meant_ to say, then: ...both C specific
>and perhaps with regards to programming in general?
Then combine my two answers, as I still feel they're both applicable:

C Specific: Don't be a pussy.
Programming in general: Focus on the goal, not the means.

>and that you feel sufficiently offended by it to accuse me like that
You'd have a very hard time offending me, so don't flatter yourself. As for the "accusation", if that's how you choose to interpret it, I call things like I see them. If you can't handle that, well, it's not my problem.

I'm glad you got an answer you wanted.

>Well, in fairness... he does have to start someplace.
Assuming you interpret his question as such. Rather than "where should I start learning C", I read it as "how much of this crap do I have to learn before I can claim to know a bit of C?".

Originally Posted by CommonTater

I would be fairly sure Prelude meant no offense. I've seen what he's posted of late and it's pretty good stuff, so in your place I wouldn't casually write off a resource you may need in the near future.

"She", actually. And yes, she's an extremely knowledgeable and skilled programmer.

Originally Posted by Prelude

>Let me change it to what I _meant_ to say, then: ...both C specific
>and perhaps with regards to programming in general?
Then combine my two answers, as I still feel they're both applicable:

C Specific: Don't be a pussy.
Programming in general: Focus on the goal, not the means.

>and that you feel sufficiently offended by it to accuse me like that
You'd have a very hard time offending me, so don't flatter yourself. As for the "accusation", if that's how you choose to interpret it, I call things like I see them. If you can't handle that, well, it's not my problem.

I'm glad you got an answer you wanted.

Geez, you really need to put your head under a cold shower and relax a bit. This PMS-ing isn't doing anyone any good, including yourself.

cnewbie1:

You may want to look over the tutorials on this site. They can be found here:
Cprogramming.com - Programming Tutorials: C++ Made Easy and C Made Easy

I think it provides you with a decent overview of the main concepts involved in C programming and it may help you get an idea of what you would have to learn to become a decent C programmer.

As for programming in general I don't think it would be easy to put all languages under the same umbrella of concepts. Different languages address different programming paradigms(functional, logic, object-oriented, imperative, etc) and have different sets of concepts that are important to them.

Hope this helps.