C For Dummies, 2nd Edition [Paperback]

Dan Gookin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764570684 | ISBN-13: 978-0764570681 | Publication Date: May 7, 2004 | Edition: 2

while (dead_horse)

beat ():

If you’re like most people, the above seems like nonsense. Actually, it’s computer sense—C programming. After digesting C For Dummies, 2^nd Edition, you’ll understand it. C programs are fast, concise and versatile. They let you boss your computer around for a change. So turn on your computer, get a free compiler and editor (the book tells you where), pull up a chair, and get going. You won’t have to go far (page 13) to find your first program example. You’ll do short, totally manageable, hands-on exercises to help you make sense of:

• All 32 keywords in the C language (that’s right—just 32 words)
• The functions—several dozen of them
• Terms like printf(), scanf(), gets (), and puts ()
• String variables, numeric variables, and constants
• Looping and implementation
• Floating-point values

In case those terms are almost as intimidating as the idea of programming, be reassured that C For Dummies was written by Dan Gookin, bestselling author of DOS For Dummies, the book that started the whole library. So instead of using expletives and getting headaches, you’ll be using newly acquired skills and getting occasional chuckles as you discover how to:

• Design and develop programs
• Add comments (like post-it-notes to yourself) as you go
• Link code to create executable programs
• Debug and deploy your programs
• Use lint, a common tool to examine and optimize your code

A helpful, tear-out cheat sheet is a quick reference for comparison symbols, conversion characters, mathematical doodads, C numeric data types, and more. C For Dummies takes the mystery out of programming and gets you into it quickly and painlessly.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Find out how to tell your computer what to do

Design and develop programs, compile and link code, fix problems, and more

Come "C" what all the excitement’s about! C programs are fast, concise, and versatile, and you’ll be writing them in no time. This friendly book unlocks the mysteries of coding, compiling, adding comments, and using keywords, I/O, variables, integers, and all the rest. You’ll write your first C program before you finish Chapter 1!

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear-out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

Discover how to:

• Understand the entire program development cycle
• Link code to create executable programs
• Debug and deploy your programs
• Use floats, integer variables, and if statements
• Write functions and use loops

About the Author

Dan Gookin (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) wrote the first-ever For Dummies book, DOS For Dummies, as well as the bestselling PCs For Dummies and Word For Dummies. He wrote C For Dummies Volumes One and Two. Dan's books have been translated into 32 languages and have more than 11 million copies in print.

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 2 edition (May 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764570684
• ISBN-13: 978-0764570681
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dan Gookin has been writing about technology for over 20 years. He combines his love of writing with his gizmo fascination to create books that are informative, entertaining, and not boring. Having written more over 120 titles with 12 million copies in print translated into over 30 languages, Dan can attest that his method of crafting computer tomes seems to work.

Perhaps his most famous title is the original DOS For Dummies, published in 1991. It became the world's fastest-selling computer book, at one time moving more copies per week than the New York Times #1 bestseller (though as a reference, it could not be listed on the NYT Bestseller list). From that book spawned the entire line of For Dummies books, which remains a publishing phenomena to this day.

Dan's most popular titles include PCs For Dummies Word For Dummies, Laptops For Dummies, and Droid X For Dummies. He also maintains the vast and helpful Web site, www.wambooli.com.

Dan holds a degree in Communications/Visual Arts from the University of California, San Diego. Presently, he lives in the Pacific Northwest, where he enjoys spending time with his sons playing video games inside while they watch the gentle woods of Idaho.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The C Book for the newbie, March 31, 2005

By 

Ranjan Mitra "Rm" (India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: C For Dummies, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

You want to learn C? or even thinking of it? Buy this book. Maybe you have heard or suggested of other books and authors but Dan Gookins gentle hand holding way of teaching is unbeatable and his humorous approach is unputdownable.Even a person with no previous knowledge of programming can learn the language surprisingly fast and quick. Buy this book.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this should be your first beginners programming book, September 22, 2005

By 

Brad - See all my reviews

This review is from: C For Dummies, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

A common mistake for people teaching themselves C++ programming is to start out with "C++ for Dummies" or "Teach Yourself C++ in 21 days". Those books will leave you confused and fustrated. This is the book you should start out with, dont get into OOP till you have a handle on structured programming syntax. This book will guide you through all of the confusing concepts painlessly and only teach you what you need to know to get past the initial confusion of writing code. I should warn you though that this book does not cover many of the advanced concepts of C like pointers and linked lists and that you are better off buying "C All-In-One Desk Reference for Dummies" by the same author which will give you more complete coverage of the C language than this book.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good starting point, but then..., January 7, 2009

By 

D. Sauer "f2x" (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: C For Dummies, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

I'm not a programmer or "coder", but I do know the basic ideas behind programming. That aside, my attention tends to wander when learning new things, and sometimes a little light entertainment can go a long way. When I wanted to learn to use the C programming language and thought I'd give the "Dummies" offering a try.

Here's the things that it covers well:
Where to get a decent (and free) C compiler.
The program's basic structure and syntax.
Putting text on a standard text screen. (Think DOS or CLI)
Getting input from the keyboard.
Introducing you to the basic variable types.
Doing some basic math with numeric variables.
Doing program branching with numeric variables.
Doing program branching with single character variables.
Looping.

Now for the bad news...
Do not expect to be able to learn any of the following:
Read or write to the file system.
Concatenate or otherwise manipulate string variables.
Perform program branching using string variables.
Gain a proficient understanding to write anything that is actually useful.
Access any other system hardware or software such as the mouse, the internet, graphics, other running programs, etc...

There was one aspect I felt was very annoying. About halfway through the book, the author starts to plug his other book, "C All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies" for information that he isn't going to cover in this book, and it gets more and more intrusive as the humor winds down, and the book drones on. Of course if you're willing to be seen reading a book marketed towards "dummies" you can probably expect to be played as one too.

All in all, I do feel this book has merit and makes for a good starting point. It has immensely helped me to understand the C programming language, and I can comprehend the basic ideas. It was worth the time and money even though I was expecting to achieve more practical results before I started.