Beginning Programming with C

Abstract

As a programmer, I’ve toiled through many, many programming books. I know what I really don’t like to see, and, lamentably, I see it often — that is, where the author writes pages-long code or simply boasts about what he knows, impressing his fellow nerds and not really teaching anything. Too much of that type of training exists, which is probably why you’ve picked up this book. My approach here is simple: Short programs. To-the-point demonstrations. Lots of examples. Plenty of exercises. The best way to learn something is by doing it. Each concept presented in this book is coupled with sample code. The listings are short enough that you can quickly type them in — and I recommend that you do so. You can then build and run the code to see how things work. This immediate feedback is not only gratifying, it’s also a marvelous learning tool. Sample programs are followed by exercises you can try on your own, testing your skills and expanding your knowledge. Suggested answers to the exer cises can be found on this book’s companion website: