Thread: "Sam's teach yourself advanced C in 21 days"

  1. #1
    Registered User Nutshell's Avatar
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    "Sam's teach yourself advanced C in 21 days"

    Hi,

    I am thinking of buying "Sam's teach yourself advanced C in 21 days". I am passed the beginner level and want to learn to write more programs in C before moving to another language. Would that book be a good choice for me? Is it worth it? Is it too old for anyone to buy? If it is, is there another good suggestion?

    Thanks ^-^

    -dAniEL:-

  2. #2
    CS Author and Instructor
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    What topics are involved in that book?

    Is it a data structures book.

    I recommend

    Mastering algorithms with C- published by oreilly.

    Mr. C.

  3. #3
    Registered User Nutshell's Avatar
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    Oh, also, i can't find whats IN that book. It's too old that it doesn't even have the table of contents at amazon...

  4. #4
    End Of Line Hammer's Avatar
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    People have posted about that book before I believe, do a search, and you might someone elses opinion on it.

    Also, read some reviews here:
    http://www.accu.org/bookreviews/public/
    When all else fails, read the instructions.
    If you're posting code, use code tags: [code] /* insert code here */ [/code]

  5. #5
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    I've taught myself C from that book. Its good for beginners but I wouldn't recommend it if you were looking for something a bit more advanced.

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    The algorithms book that MisterC mentioned from O'Reilly is incredible. Highly recommended if you are fairly comfortable with C basics and are looking to take your C experience a little farther into the realm of real, even useful programs.

    Cheers,
    Arker

  7. #7
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    i have that book ... it is a great book and i have learnd lots from it.. i do recomend it =)

  8. #8
    Visionary Philosopher Sayeh's Avatar
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    and want to learn to write more programs in C before moving to another language
    Why would you want to move to another language? There isn't any code project C can't produce-- more effeciently than almost anything else...
    It is not the spoon that bends, it is you who bends around the spoon.

  9. #9
    Code Goddess Prelude's Avatar
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    >Why would you want to move to another language?
    This is a rather narrow view, don't you think? Yes, C is efficient when it comes to execution speed, but it isn't always the best tool for the job. Sometimes execution speed isn't as important as getting the program running correctly as soon as possible, C is difficult enough so that it isn't productive for such a goal and another language would be used.

    Sometimes operations need to be performed which are just awkward when performed in C. String handling comes most readily to mind, many string operations that take 50+ lines of code in C can be replaced by one line in Perl, I'm sure you agree that one line is easier to get right than 50+? Then there is the case of maintaining code in another language, the only way to do so if all you know is C would be to rewrite everything and potentially add bugs. Knowing as many languages as possible is an advantage when you care about more than just execution speed.

    -Prelude
    My best code is written with the delete key.

  10. #10
    Registered User Nutshell's Avatar
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    Yep. But i don't want to learn a little about one language and then quickly jump to another. I wanna learn one language properly first.

    Do you think i could still order the book? It's out of print and it's quite old. IS there an ebook version of it available and hidden somewhere?

  11. #11
    Blank
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    I can't find anything about this book but
    "Sam's teach yourself C in 21 days" is not a very
    accurate book and it doesn't cover alot.

    It's probably best to study
    something like algorithms or software engineering. Then
    maybe pick a specific topic and read into it.
    It doesn't really matter if you use java or c++.

  12. #12
    Registered User Nutshell's Avatar
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    I don't need Sam's teach yourself C in 21 days, i need the advanced one. Also, i want to do some interesting things (if you know what i mean) with C, instead of studying very hard at specific algorithms which i have not much use of. How about the book "Let Me C"? Or some books concerning game programming or graphics programming that deals with C?

  13. #13
    CS Author and Instructor
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    Wink

    If you want some good challenging problems in C try:

    The C Puzzle Book by A Feuer-

    This book is still in print. One downfall it uses old-style K & R C.
    Mr. C: Author and Instructor

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