https://padlet.com/ols23413/bmhq7wcg3ut501vn en-us 2022-09-22 13:59:06 UTC 2025-10-30 05:25:01 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f4bb.png ols23413 https://padlet.com/ols23413/bmhq7wcg3ut501vn/wish/2310558127 I've been programming in C (among other programming languages) for over 30 years now and it still amazes me that whenever I have some question about how C will handle some construction this book invariably will provide an answer. The 2nd edition is a very worthy successor to the 1st and anyone who seriously programs in C should have this book on their shelf for reference. The book does have a bit of a tutorial to help those who already program in some other procedural language and to provide a vehicle for examples, but the book is definitely not a good choice for a true beginner or someone who needs a lot of hand holding to get through a programming exercise. I always like to contrast this book with the typical Java reference, which typically rivals War and Peace in size. In a little over 200 pages, K&R manage to exhaustively cover C and its most commonly used libraries. For those interested in writing a compiler, they also include the grammar. The book is truly a tour de force in how much the authors have managed to cram into so few pages. There is very little redundancy, which is why it is a frustrating book for first-timers. Over the years I've acquired a number of C references and none come remotely close to this one for staying power; my other C references in truth are collecting dust, whereas I'm on my second copy of this one having worn out the first.

As many of you know, C is the language created to develop Unix, which is why it retains its stature as a major programming language and why so much system software continues to be written in C or its derivative C++. If you are a professional, or at least reasonably good in some procedural programming language, with an interest in getting up to speed in C, this book is probably your best bet. It's no accident that C compiler writers talk about their compilers being "white book C" compliant (which is why the white cover has been retained). K&R has long been the semantic standard for C, so if you want to be an expert, you should have a copy of this book to be able to get your knowledge of C from the horse's mouth.]]> 2022-09-23 14:02:03 UTC https://padlet.com/ols23413/bmhq7wcg3ut501vn/wish/2310558127 ols23413 https://padlet.com/ols23413/bmhq7wcg3ut501vn/wish/2310677483 I like how the review is written by someone who understands C already, but wants a good reference. That goes to show how useful the book is, even after the reader learns and comprehends the language. I definitely agree that this book is a powerful manual for C, a manual that I will keep around for many years.]]> 2022-09-23 15:17:33 UTC https://padlet.com/ols23413/bmhq7wcg3ut501vn/wish/2310677483 ols23413 https://padlet.com/ols23413/bmhq7wcg3ut501vn/wish/2310683757 "In our experience, C has proven to be a pleasant, expressive, and versatile language for a wide variety of programs. It is easy to learn, and it wears well as one's experience with it grows." -XI (Preface to the First Edition)]]> 2022-09-23 15:21:36 UTC https://padlet.com/ols23413/bmhq7wcg3ut501vn/wish/2310683757 ols23413 https://padlet.com/ols23413/bmhq7wcg3ut501vn/wish/2310686536 I like how this quote briefly summarised why so many people appreciate C. The language is simply a joy to work with, hence why it is still being used to this day for many things.]]> 2022-09-23 15:23:24 UTC https://padlet.com/ols23413/bmhq7wcg3ut501vn/wish/2310686536 ols23413 https://padlet.com/ols23413/bmhq7wcg3ut501vn/wish/2310782379 For the narrator of this book, I would say Keanu Reeves, based entirely off his role in The Matrix. By reading this book, my perception of programming has changed a lot, just like Neo's perception of the world in that popular film. ]]> 2022-09-23 16:30:15 UTC https://padlet.com/ols23413/bmhq7wcg3ut501vn/wish/2310782379 ols23413 https://padlet.com/ols23413/bmhq7wcg3ut501vn/wish/2310791979 As is probably apparent throughout my thoughts on this book so far, I definitely recommend it for anyone with even a passing interest in programming. This glorious read is often described as "The Grandfather" of all programming books/manuals, so it has some worthwhile information stored in its 200+ pages.]]> 2022-09-23 16:36:59 UTC https://padlet.com/ols23413/bmhq7wcg3ut501vn/wish/2310791979 ols23413 https://padlet.com/ols23413/bmhq7wcg3ut501vn/wish/2317456646 Kernighan, Brian Wilson, and Dennis MacAlistair Ritchie. The C Programming Language. 2nd ed., e-book ed., Hoboken, New Jersey, Prentice Hall, 1988. PDF.

https://www.amazon.com/Programming-Language-2nd-Brian-Kernighan/dp/0131103628]]> 2022-09-28 13:09:34 UTC https://padlet.com/ols23413/bmhq7wcg3ut501vn/wish/2317456646