Where do I get started with C programming?

Question

I'm an Electrical Engineering student and well in 3 months I being C programming. Well where do I start? Can someone help me get started? What application do I need to run this script and where do I get it? What are the essentials I will need for my major? Please and thank you!

Answer 1

Two people suggested that "Let Us C" is the best book to learn C from.



http://www.amazon.com/dp/1934015253/ (3.5 stars based on a mere 7 reviews)



However, if you look at the reviews on Amazon.com, you'll find that "C Primer Plus" (my personal favorite)



http://www.amazon.com/dp/0672326965/ (4.5 stars based on 28 reviews)



has a MUCH better rating.

Answer 2

If you are using windows here are a few options as far as C compilers:



Free:

1. Download cygwin and in the installer choose to install gcc as well. This will install the cygwin prompt on your desktop and you use gcc to compile your progams within this environment.

2. If you want an IDE download Eclipse with the CDT plugin. It requires cygwin or the reduced software package MinGW.

Non-free / Trial:

1. Get Microsoft Visual Studio in any version. I think Visual Studio express is free to download.



You should try several compilers, debuggers, and IDEs. As a professional you wont always be using the same development environment.



My favorite C book is "A Book on C" by Al Kelley and Ira Pohl. Its not as cryptic as many other good C books and its not stone age either.



C is a very unforgiving, basic language. C code can also be somewhat ambiguous and hard to understand. No, its not the best language to start with if you've never programmed before. That being said, It is one of my favorite programming languages even though it takes a long time to develop good applications with it. Its very satisfying. Its actually the first language I learned, but am still mastering. I got much more from C once I learned other languages and came back to it. Particularly, I had more interest in C once I learned x86 assembly language.



In terms of difficulty though, out of all the computer science classes I've taken C was rather easy because we weren't expected to do much with it. A higher level software engineering class in any language where you have to deal with mountains of code is much more frustrating.



Theres a reason why they want EE students to learn C is because its a very common language for programming micro-controllers and embedded systems. Relax though, they wont expect you to master it to any extent as long as you complete the coursework. If you want to learn C at your own leisure you should just focus on basic system level applications. Good exercises: make a program that copies files 100% in tact without using system commands, figure out how to print variables in binary, and understand how to use logical operators in general.



I hope that helps.

Answer 3

C is the basis of most languages and every engineering student must know how to code in C.



First you need a book, prefrebly "Let's us C" by R.Katenkar is the best. Other books are available but some are tough while some lack the rigid structure.



You need to have a C compiler. There are many versions of C(and C++) compilers that are available. But I prefer you use Borland Turbo C++ 3 compiler( http://www.sandroid.org/TurboC/). It is simple and easy to work with.



Other compilers like Miracle, Small C Compiler, Borland C++ Compiler, Microsoft C++ comipler etc. can be also used.

Answer 4

Assuming you'll be working in Windows (I don't know), I'd suggest going to MSDN (Microsoft Developer's Network) and downloading Visual Studio.



Go to www.codeguru.com for more help. There are other websites, of course, but MSDN and this one will help you a lot.



And if you mean you will program in C# (not regular C) then go to Amazon and order C# 4.0 in a Nutshell by the Albahari brothers. I have purchased probably 10 or 15 programming books, and I would take this book over all the others combined.

Answer 5

You will eventually need a compiler if you are going to do this on your computer.

There are some free compilers out there. You will have to search because I do not know you operating system and what not but I know there were some out there.

google 1st http://www.thefreecountry.com/compilers/cpp.shtml

^ that site also had some getting started info.

Look to find the text book(s) and do some preliminary reading

See if you can find the teacher and get some info from them or other former students.

Answer 6

If you want to start c programming i suggest that you must start turbo c version 2.01 you can do a program basics there before you go to c++. This c program i used when i was a beginner.

Answer 7

U can start from "Let us C" by Yashwant Kanethkar

U need a compiler like Migwiz and IDE u can use is notepad or u can use Cygwin which is Linux based compiler for Windows or directly u can work on Linux.....



Cygwin would be better....



Ask if any further detail is needed

Answer 8

If there is a Barnes&noble nearby, then get a book on C and you you can start there....or just read articles/tutorials on C on the web.







My iphone dev site:

http://sites.google.com/site/myiphoneappsproject/

Answer 9

Google search is such a nice tool...you wouldn't need this primitive way of getting your answers.

Answer 10

You should read the "Let us c" of Yashwant kanitkar which is a best book to learn c......