Re: Book questions
On 14/04/2015, Reco <recoverym4n@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tue, Apr 14, 2015 at 12:36:28AM +0800, Bret Busby wrote:
>> On 13/04/2015, Reco <recoverym4n@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>> >Learning C is simple and
>> > fun. Just read classic K&R treatise, do all the examples. Did so back
>> > in
>> > high school, and no brain was damaged in the process :)
>> > The only problem today is to get a C compiler that understands K&R C.
>> >
>>
>> I have not programmed in "C" for about 20-25 years, now, but, from
>> memory, with compilers, like "C" compilers, don't they have a switch
>> that can be set, so that they accept only ANSI code, such as ANSI
>> "C"?
>
> *ANSI* C - yes. For instance, gcc has this wonderful '-ansi' switch.
> It's even possible to choose the exact version of ANSI C standard (i.e.
> -std=c99).
> *K&R* C - no. At least, gcc-4.7 has no switch for this that I'm
> aware of.
>
Okay - this is where the detail of the Kernighan & Ritchie book, is required.
You see, when I searched for "C" books, at amazon, I found at
http://www.amazon.com/The-Programming-Language-Brian-Kernighan/dp/8120305965/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=02E2S6076Y4MYDCXP9RE
"
The C Programming LanguageApr 1, 1988
by Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis M. Ritchie
"
"
The authors present the complete guide to ANSI standard C language
programming. Written by the developers of C, this new version helps
readers keep up with the finalized ANSI standard for C while showing
how to take advantage of C's rich set of operators, economy of
expression, improved control flow, and data structures. The 2/E has
been completely rewritten with additional examples and problem sets to
clarify the implementation of difficult language constructs. For
years, C programmers have let K&R guide them to building
well-structured and efficient programs. Now this same help is
available to those working with ANSI compilers. Includes detailed
coverage of the C language plus the official C language reference
manual for at-a-glance help with syntax notation, declarations, ANSI
changes, scope rules, and the list goes on and on.
"
So, the second edition, published in 1988, included ANSI "C", and, the
picture of the from cover of the book, has a big stamp on it; "ANSI
C".
So, it really depends on, if the original poster obtains, or, obtains
access to, a copy of the text "The C Programming Language" by
Kernighan and Ritchie, whether he gets a copy that is the second
edition (1988) or later.
If he gets a copy that is the second edition (1988), or later, then it
should be ANSI "C".
When I was learning "C", I found the (then available) Sam's Waite
Group "C" Bible to be a brilliant reference manual, as it was a
brilliant language reference manual.
But, a reference manual, and, a teaching course, are two different things.
And, one thing that I learnt, when I was learning 3GL programming
laguages, was that it was best, to stick to ANSI standard language,
for portability. Thus, when I wrote code to run on VAX11-VMS, or
PDP11-RSTS/e or UNIX SVR4 or CM/CMS (I think it was) running on an
IBM-3081, or my PC-XT running DOS, the code would mostly run
unaltered, on each. As an example, I compared the processing speed of
my PC-XT, with the IBM-3081, during a vacation, with not many other
students around, running a Pascal program to approcimate pi using a
Chebyshev (I think that is the correct spelling) series approximation,
and the average speed, per minute, was, for the IBM3081, about 10
million iterations, and, on my PC-XT, about 10,000 iterations. Using
ANSI standard code, meant that the same code could be used on each
system. I believe that, if a person learns programming in a 3GL, it is
best to adhere to the ANSI standard for the language, if an ANSI
standard exists for the language, for portability.
--
Bret Busby
Armadale
West Australia
..............
"So once you do know what the question actually is,
you'll know what the answer means."
- Deep Thought,
Chapter 28 of Book 1 of
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
A Trilogy In Four Parts",
written by Douglas Adams,
published by Pan Books, 1992
....................................................
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