Learn C on the Mac (Learn Series) (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: implementation files, const char argv, char rating, Standard Library, Debugger Console, The Debugger (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Considered a classic by an entire generation of Mac programmers, this popular guide has been completely updated for Mac OS X. Don’t know anything about programming? No problem! Acclaimed author Dave Mark starts out with the basics and takes you through a complete course in programming C using Apple’s free Xcode tools. This book is perfect for beginners learning to program. It includes all–new Mac OS X examples!

• Provides best practices for programming newbies
• Written by the expert on C–programming for the Mac
• Presents all the basics with a pragmatic, Mac OS X-flavored approach

What you’ll learn

• Master C programming, the gateway to programming your Mac or iPhone.
• Write applications for the Mac OS X interface, the cleanest user interface around.
• Understand variables and how to design your own data structures.
• Work with the file system.
• Connect to data sources and the Internet.

Who is this book for

For anyone wanting to learn to program in Mac OS X, including developers new to the Mac, developers new to C, or students entirely new to programming. For anyone who wants to learn how to program their iPhone, this is also the core language primer.

About the Author

Dave Mark is a long-time Mac developer and author and has written a number of books on Macintosh development, including Learn C on the Macintosh, The Macintosh Programming Primer series, and Ultimate Mac Programming. His blog can be found at www.davemark.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Apress; 1 edition (December 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1430218096
• ISBN-13: 978-1430218098
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 40.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,772 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Programming > C > Tutorials
  #14 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Programming > Introductory & Beginning
  #22 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Hardware > Macs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great beginning programming book for C and Mac programming, January 3, 2009

By	J. Tarrant (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a great book for learning C and for software development on the Mac. The pace is very manageable for a person new to programming, the examples are clear, the downloaded code samples compile and run without error.

This books is different than almost any other that I have read in that it provides additional reference material and sources to let the reader explore more about C, programming, XCode, Mac development and follow one's own curiosity.

All in all, this is the best beginning programming book that I have ever read. I felt empowered and capable after reading it instead of bewildered and wondering how all of the pieces fit together, which has been the case with some other C books.

My only ding on the book (and the reason that I've only given it 4 stars) is that there are not a lot of coding exercises. This may not be entirely necessary if you work through the examples in the book (and there are very many good ones) but it would be an improvement to have some more meaty exercises as I think that this is a method to have readers internalize what they have learned.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good to start, but it needs a bit more detail, April 6, 2009

By	Juan Ortuno (Hialeah, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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I purchased this book with the intentions of starting to develop on the Mac, and in the very near future move to the iPhone.
Having some Python & C++ background, I found the book to have very little use, for any other than learning the C syntax. The author starts out good, but after chapter 3 or 4 it goes downhill. Some chapters just don't feel complete. The chapter on functions (very, VERY important) wasn't covered too well; instead he gives us a few examples and goes off topic. Another chapter that I wish was better written was chapter 7 on Pointers and Parameters, again, barely covered. I wish there was more on how to access the different functions from the libraries, the math library, string library, file management, etc.
Perhaps I was not patient enough to follow everything through to the T. My suggestion is to look up and download/print C/Obj-C PDF's from Apple's website and use them along this book. There is plenty of online information available that will show what's in this book, and I'm sure it's not nearly as hard to follow and comprehend.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Place to Start Programming!, January 18, 2009

By	Colin Anderson (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Dave Mark has done an excellent job of presenting the material in this book! Most introductions to C programming are either dry and boring or ridiculously silly (in a failed attempt to be fun). Dave managed to find a balance, teaching the concepts in a tone that can best be described as conversational. The easier sections of the book really do feel like fun, while still maintaining the integrity demanded by the subject; the more difficult sections are rather comforting and instill the confidence that the reader will be able to master the hard concepts.

Another reason why the presentation is so successful is that Dave does not overwhelm the reader with too much information. He tells you only what you need to know in order to get your programs to work, but also provides sources to find the information you don't need but may want.

Of course, being written specifically for Mac computers is a major selling point, and rightfully so! In addition to learning the C programming language, the reader will become familiar with the Xcode development environment, the arena where Mac and iPhone/iPod development takes place.

The place where Learn C on the Mac stands out above the rest (in my opinion) is that it leaves the reader confident that he/she not only knows what the concepts are, but also understands how to use them. There are many books and websites out there that are great at teaching the theory, but lack and explanation of the practice. What good is it to know what a pointer is if you don't know how it would fit into a program?

I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to begin programming on the Mac!