I've got some programming experience under my belt and I've been learning C by starting with the Freecodecamp beginner's manual. Now, I'm diving into the book 'The C Programming Language' by Kernighan and Ritchie, but I'm finding it pretty challenging to grasp. Could anyone share some tips or clearer explanations? Thanks a bunch!
3 Answers
K&R is solid, just remember it's almost 40 years old, so some aspects are outdated. If you've got questions on specific issues, don't hesitate to ask. One common hurdle with C is managing memory yourself, especially dealing with pointers. It takes some getting used to, but stick with it!
It's tough to expect someone to explain an entire book, but if you're stuck, you should pinpoint specific concepts you're struggling with. What exactly do you need help with?
The K&R book is awesome if you already know programming basics—it's not a beginner's guide to coding from scratch. It’s a collection of internal guides from Bell Labs, making it a bit dense. I learned C through various online courses and then referenced 'Effective C' to clear up any confusion. Depending on how you learn best, I suggest trying another book first and then coming back to K&R later.
So, you'd recommend 'Effective C' as a better starting point?
But there are definitely simpler books out there to ease into C.