C for Dummies, Volume 1 [Paperback]

Dan Gookin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1878058789 | ISBN-13: 978-1878058782 | Publication Date: August 23, 1994

Dan Gookin loves a challenge. He must, otherwise he wouldn't have taken on so daunting a topic as the C programming language. And as you can see from C For Dummies, Volume One, Gookin was definitely up to the task: Right off the bat, this plain-English guide to programming in one of the most widely accepted computer languages can have you coding in C just like a pro. Using your C compiler of choice -- whether it's Borland C++, Turbo C, Microsoft Visual C++, or some other -- you'll get the hang of the basic building blocks of C programs, from printf to scanf. You'll master the C way of doing math and making decisions, as well as declaring and using all types of variables. Best of all, you can count on C For Dummies, Volume One (along with C For Dummies, Volume Two) to provide the best possible foundation as you advance to the latest stage of C evolution, C++

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Write — and Understand — C Programs in No Time!

• The Fun and Easy Way to Find Out About C Programming
• Your First Aid Kit for Writing and Using C Programs
• Use C to Tell Your Computer What to Do — Explained in Plain English

Free C "Cheat Sheet" Inside

C For Dummies, Volume One, is for you if you've tried to figure out C Programming but have met with keyboard-pounding frustration. This book assumes you don't have a Ph.D. or work at MIT or Bell Labs. You're a bright person, but you require a bit more handholding than you have found in any other C book. You have your complier. You have that will. Fear not! This hand guide will get you up and running with the C language in an informative and entertaining way not yet conceived by any other programming book.

Inside, find helpful advice on how to:

• Find coverage on all popular compilers, including the latest from Borland and Microsoft
• Discover "Cheat" boxes that offer useful tips on typing in programs
• Write your own C program and make it do something useful!
• Use a compiler to translate source code into language your computer can understand
• Avoid unimportant or laborious concepts
• Find no math! (Okay, very little math.)
• Uncover shortcuts, tips, and suggestions for avoiding pitfalls
• Hone your C knowledge with chapter quizzes and final exams

About the Author

Dan Gookin is the author of IDG Books Worldwide's #1 international bestseller DOS For Dummies, 2nd Edition, as well as Word For Windows 95 For Dummies, and PCs For Dummies, 4th Edition. He is the coauthor of Illustrated Computer Dictionary For Dummies, 2nd Edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 600 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (August 23, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1878058789
• ISBN-13: 978-1878058782
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #598,693 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If a 13 year old teen can learn C, anyone can!, November 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: C for Dummies, Volume 1 (Paperback)

If you want to learn how to program C, but don't know anything about programming, that's alright. This is the ONLY book that takes you from complete computer ignoramus to an intermediate programmer! Get it now!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A different kind of self teaching, August 1, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: C for Dummies, Volume 1 (Paperback)

I've read books before that try to teach you something difficult, like..oh..really understanding Windows 95. But this book doesn't throw you into the Sea of C without a life jacket. The author, starts out with a laugh and ends with a laugh. If the author wasn't such a good programmer, I'd suggest that he get a job as a comedian. But even though he does make a lot of jokes, he accomplishes teaching you a somewhat difficult thing, the C programming language. Wow, a self teaching book that actually accomplishes what it sets out to do. Oh my God, I would have just bought the book to see that. The author walks you through C with alot of examples, and ALOT of patience. The only reason I didn't give the book a perfect 10 is because it doesn't go through the majority of the language. There's a second volume which I am still waiting for. But since it is going to be written by the same author, I will of course be first in line to buy it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is just the best C programming books that exist., March 7, 2000

By 

Tony (Redwood City, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: C for Dummies, Volume 1 (Paperback)

If you want to learn C, this is the one book to buy. If you get stranded on a desert island and have nothing but a C compiler, this is the book for you. Seriously, if you have been looking to learn C but don't know which to buy, BUY THIS ONE! I went through 3 other beginners C books and I couldn't understand them, this one I went through in a week and I loved it. If you buy the book and do not like it, then you might not have a sense of humor, lots of jokes in the book. I just wish Dan would write books on Java and C++. The book is funny and very easy to understand, the perfect book for the person who knows nothing about programming. Dan, you rock.