Introductory C, Second Edition: Pointers, Functions, and Files [Paperback]

Richard L. Petersen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 7, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0125521421 | ISBN-13: 978-0125521420 | Edition: 2

C differs from most programming languages in its use of pointers, functions, and files. For those learning C, pointers are the greatest source of confusion. The primary aim of this book is to provide working models of how pointers are used in C. Pointers are used differently with every programming feature and Introductory C, Second Edition, emphasizes how each new programming feature relates to the use of pointers to provide a thorough understanding of the applications throughout C.
Introductory C, Second Edition, offers a detailed explanation of Arrays in C over several chapters, describing strings, arrays of structures, multi-dimensional arrays, and arrays of pointers. The underlying implementation of arrays using pointersis described in detail with such features as pointers to elements, pointers to arrays, and pointers to pointers. File access methods using text and binary files are also given thorough coverage: character, line, formatted text files, and record binary files are described, and the implementation of file access functions is described in detail. This book will be of great use to programmers at all levels.

Key Features
* Includes three new chapters introducing C++, including coverage of classes, objects, constructors, overloading, inheritance, and derivation
* Contains a floppy disk with source code from examples in the book

Editorial Reviews

Review

Petersen's book is both a good C manual for beginners and pleasant reading for those who are fond of C programmming. The language notions are introduced gradually, and a large number of valuable examples, figures, and tables help readers learn. Every chapter begins with short definintions, contains a richly illustrated text and ends with a summary and a set of exercies. The exercises are useful for gaining a better undestanding of the material. The sample programs throughout the book are presented in boxes and are fully explained. The book could be used as a classroom text. -- Computing Reviews April, 1993

This book offers a comprehensible introduction to ANSI-C, which is suitable for readers with little or no knowledge of programming and programming languages. Nevertheless it does contain a lot of advanced features of C. The table of contents includes: binary representation of data types, type conversions, memory organization, precompiler commands, string functions, functions with variable number of parameters, recursion, data structures (linked lists, trees), data protection, system calls and bit operations. Every new feature is explained with simple and increasingly complex examples, and each chapter ends with a summary. Special care is taken to explain in length every detail which has to do with pointers and arrays, a theme, which is expecially difficult to comprehend, not only for a beginner. The presentation is UNIX-oriented, including MAKE and makefile's, but MS-DOS files are treated also. Differences between ANSI and PRE-ANSI-C are made explicit and clarified in corresponding examples. The text contains some dozens of exercises, all with solutions. The book can be recommended for self study and, because of the appendices, for quick refernce also. -- Zentralblat fur Mathematik

About the Author

Richard Petersen teaches C Programming and UNIX courses at the University of California, Berkeley. His doctoral work was in artificial intelligence applications to information retrieval. He has pursued studies in cognitive science, philosophy, and aesthetics with particular emphasis on skill acquisition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 876 pages
• Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann; 2 edition (November 7, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0125521421
• ISBN-13: 978-0125521420
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #857,538 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #100 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > C > Tutorials

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book on C, July 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Introductory C, Second Edition: Pointers, Functions, and Files (Paperback)

This is the best book on C language that I have ever come across. Pointers, Data structures and file management are very well explained. I would advise any one looking for in depth information on C , to go for this book. I really hope that the author comes out with books on C++ and Java.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for every C programmer, April 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Introductory C, Second Edition: Pointers, Functions, and Files (Paperback)

This books give you the inside out of the C programming language. The book explains all the features associated with C in a very easy to read style. The beauty of the book really comes into play when it explains the pointers concept in C, that is the heart of C programming language. A must read if you are scared of pointers.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why did someone write a book about C in the 90's?, September 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Introductory C, Second Edition: Pointers, Functions, and Files (Paperback)

The language has been around since the early 70's. Hundreds of books have been written about it. It took more than 20 years for someone to get it right. If you want to use C productively, you can't memorize syntax and start tossing code around. It will bite you every time, and you will spend endless hours trying to debug your programs by superstition. "Hmm. Maybe if I put a semi-colon there. . . ." When you understand it, you see why it's so powerful, and why it's been so popular. You might actually get to the point where you like C!! This is the best book about C that I have ever read, and I've read a number of them, if you want to get to the point where you understand the language. It's a shame that so many people had to learn the language without the benefit of this book.