Absolute Beginner's Guide to C (2nd Edition) (Other Sams) (Paperback)

by Greg Perry (Author) "Although some people consider C to be difficult to learn and use, you'll soon see that they are wrong..." (more)
Key Phrases: int cards, char month, int ctr, Code Example, Fun Fact, Absolute Beginner's Guide (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Perfect for the person who wants to be a programmer but needs a good starting point! This excellent beginner's book talks to readers at their level, explaining every aspect of how to start programming in the C language. "Features special YIKES! sections that tell readers what to do with various error messages. Includes HMMMMMMM! sections that explain important topics in programming . Presents ""Aid for the Technically Timid"" sections that explain technical topics in simp". Covers C. -- Sams Pub. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
For beginning programmers, this updated edition answers all C programming questions. This bestseller talks to readers at their level, explaining every aspect of how to get started and learn the C language quickly. Readers also find out where to learn more about C. This book includes tear-out reference card of C functions and statements, a hierarchy chart, and other valuable information. It uses special icons, notes, clues, warnings, and rewards to make understanding easier. And the clear and friendly style presumes no programming knowledge.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Sams; 2 edition (April 18, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0672305100
• ISBN-13: 978-0672305108
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (107 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #44,210 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

106 of 116 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book you can Buy for begginers., November 26, 1999

By	Buena Bugayong (San Diego, California) - See all my reviews

All right my name is Troy and im 14 years old. I start off with saying that this is the best book to buy if have never even programmed before. This book gives you the best start you can get..Dont buy books like "C for dumbies" by googin or whatever his name is. I seriously reccomend this book. It starts of with standard I/o like printf() and scanf() et cetera...THen goes on to teach you data structers, loops, heap memory, intermediate i/o, and making your own functions. It teaches you how to organize your code and make it more easier to read. The writer puts everything in a CLEAR easy to read way, unlike other books that explain things in a very difficult manner and don't put much depth into it or make jokes to get the point through like your stupid. After this book I reccomend "The C Programming Language" by Kernighan and Ritchie. Buy this book and you won't regret it...Thats a fact. Just don't think that your a master at C after you read it. Practice will make you a better programmer.!

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book if you don't know where to start, August 10, 2000

By	Carl A. Schreiber - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Just wanted to add my name to the list of highly satisfied purchasers of this book. This is an excellent programming book for beginners, even if you have never programmed before. I originally started out with K&R C, but it was just too dry. Perry's book gives you the basics and the confidence to move on to more advanced books (like K&R C, Pointer on C, etc).

The only downside to the book is that there are no "problems" to work out. (Sure you can put his code in and watch it run--but where is the problem-solving in that?) However, there are numerous Computer Science Departments out there that do post their course work problems on the Net which can be easily downloaded and printed. Although, few also post the answers, so...good luck :)

Watch out for the chapters on getchar() and getch(). getch() only gets a page or two of explanation and leaves a hapless beginner to founder. K&R C did help here at this point, takes some hacking away at it, but it comes eventually. (Or maybe it will come really quickly and you'll think, that tripped him up? What a geek!)

Lastly, don't waste your hard-earned cash on a fancy-smancy C compiler. There are lots of good (and free) C compilers out there (GNU's gcc, borland DOS-based from www.borland.com, etc). Pick one, spend some time learning the switches and optimizations on it and then get to coding.

From there on out it is just code, code and code. And then debug...and debug...and debug...cry...and debug...

After this book I recommend cutting your teeth on K&R C (there's a reason they call it the C Bible). You can easily see the basics you picked up with Perry in K&R. It was a big help for me when I could see something familiar in the concepts and was able trudge on through.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I ordered three..., August 22, 2002

By	Gene Ballard "wolfix" (Destin, FL) - See all my reviews

I finally bought this book after reading the reviews for the last year. I gave it to my Linux Administrator and told him to read it as an assignment. He called after a couple of hours into it and said he couldn't put it down and that it was the best computer book he had ever read. He also mentioned that he had tried to learn C from other books and did not get anywhere. Similar story to many of the other stories...

I went a head and ordered another one for me and have read several chapters. I must agree that after trying to learn programming from Beginner Python books and PHP books that this whole programming thing started to fall into place. The author really does do a good job at explaining things. The reviews are accurate...and not staged like I thought they may be.

I also ordered a 3rd book for a 13-year-old boy who wants to learn how to be a web programmer with PHP and MySQL. I am starting him off with this book first because it will give him the foundation he needs to move into PHP and other languages.

I wish other books were written this well. The author is an excellent teacher. Go ahead and get it. You'll be glad you did.