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C For Dummies 2nd Edition

by Dan Gookin (Author)

4.1 112 ratings

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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.

ISBN-10

0764570684
ISBN-13

978-0764570681
Edition

2nd
Publisher

For Dummies
Publication date

May 7, 2004
Language

English
Dimensions

7.75 x 1 x 9 inches
Print length

408 pages
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Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

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

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 excitements about! C programs are fast, concise, and versatile, and youll 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. Youll 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

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ For Dummies; 2nd edition (May 7, 2004)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 408 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0764570684
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0764570681
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.75 x 1 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,234,597 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #243 in C Programming Language
- #481 in Computers & Internet Humor
- #4,223 in Computer Software (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.1 112 ratings

About the author

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Dan Gookin

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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 160 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 Word For Dummies, Android Phones and Tablets For Dummies, Laptops For Dummies, PCs 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

4.1 out of 5

112 global ratings

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this book is okay

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 20, 2009

Verified Purchase

I bought a million books before taking a class in C. This was one of them.

It seems okay, I guess, but not great. I ended up using the Dietel book for class, which was amazing - although I'm not positive I would have enjoyed it so much without the aid of an instructor.

I think the best book I used for learning on my own was by Apress - but I generally like all of their books.

One person found this helpful

C for Dummies assumes you know something

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 7, 2014

Verified Purchase

I bought this book because other reviewers said it was very good. And it is well organized and written. Some reviewers thought that the jokes were superfluous, and some are. It would be nice if the so called humor was marked so you could skip it, as it does not really add to the learning. The problem I had with the book is that I could not see how the programs to ran from my IDE because the DOS window would flicker and close instantly. Starting them from the CMD prompt was slow because I had to type in the whole directory name - which seemed to be made unnecessarily long for no reason (as least not explained in the book). I had to go on line and search for answers - like finding a needle in a haystack for someone who knows nothing about programming like me. It would have been so much easier if the author had explained how to do this in Chapter 1. If you have buy this book and use and IDE and you cant get your programs to run, try entering - getchar(); - before the last line - return(0);. You may have to add that line after the - scanf(); functions also.
Another problem is the very first program. The classic program that everyone in the world writes for their first program is called the "Hello World" program. The author chose to distort that to the "Goodbye Cruel World" program. This was an unfortunate choice, quite tactless. The is such a huge problem with teen and young adult suicide these days, many of these kids are depressed, at the very age when one is learing how to program, that this seems to be insensitive. He could have tried "Look out World, here I come!

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 17, 2020

Verified Purchase

This book is really good! I used my iPad to read this book, and the quality is good!

In Kindle version, code examples are difficult to read in portrait or with window not maximized

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 1, 2013

Verified Purchase

I am working through the book to teach my daughter programing. A GREAT book. I highly recommend it-- just not the Kindle version because the code examples are too small and almost illegible. The code examples cannot be resized on the Kindle or with the PC or IPOD/phone apps. I have talked with the Dummies.com customer support (They were very responsive.), but they say there is nothing they can do about it. It is a limitation of the Kindle format. (I bet there is a way, but someone just doesn't want to do it.)

After playing around with it, I found that if you change the Kindle to landscape view (screen rotation) you can see the code much better. This makes the Kindle format of this book more acceptable. Also in the PC app, maximizing the window does the same thing and makes the code readable.

4 people found this helpful

I use it for my class

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 20, 2013

Verified Purchase

I like it as it is one of the few books that are pure C (I use it in my microcontroller class) and it costs about 1/5 of what C textbooks cost. Lots of examples and still on line support. I recommend it as a good start to anyone who wants to learn C. Some topics, like file I/O are lacking, but otherwise it is a good first book,

James J. Orgento

looking foreward to a book on samsung galaxy note 10.1

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 22, 2013

Verified Purchase

it wasn't up to his usual standards. I HOPE HE WILL DO A BOOK '' SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 10.0 there so many catholic schools that have this galaxy note 10.0 A book for them as well as myself would be great.

Awesome book for getting started and getting your bearings.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 23, 2015

Verified Purchase

This book is excellent for getting a jump start if you have never or hardly ever coded C. I found this book full of straight to the point information and you begin putting your skills to the test immediately. Great buy.

Overall Great Book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 3, 2013

Verified Purchase

I wanted this book to help give me a background in C before learning Objective C. It works well, but can have loooong explanations.

Top reviews from other countries

moderate

Good starter book.

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on October 21, 2016

Verified Purchase

Arrived on time. Good starter book. A bit too thick for dummies, I would say.

Cameron

Good beginner book

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on March 23, 2018

Verified Purchase

Great intro book to the topic. I would recommend this and some basic online resources for all beginners.

Amazon Customer

Excellent product.

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 2, 2020

Verified Purchase

Excellent product.

Steve

Great service, thanks very

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 12, 2018

Verified Purchase

Book arrived exactly as promised. Great service, thanks very much

PJBMusik

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on February 18, 2016

Verified Purchase

No 1

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