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Beej himself lists this as an 'alpha-quality document' on the download page [0] and if I remember correctly, it has been so for years. Wonder why this is posted

Beej himself lists this as an 'alpha-quality document' on the download page [0] and if I remember correctly, it has been so for years. Wonder why this is posted here on HN. [0]: http://www.beej.us/guide/bgc/ http://www.beej.us/guide/bgc/

petee 5y ago
I think posts like this are handy just for the extra exposure an alpha document might need; there's a lot of good feedback and discussion here that hopefully beej comes across someday and can finish the book
- determinateproc 5y ago
  On further observation the git repository of the book [0] seems to be quite active. Maybe this book might be finished after all. [0]: https://github.com/beejjorgensen/bgc https://github.com/beejjorgensen/bgc
  - beej71 5y ago
    Backstory: I started writing this book for novice programmers about 15 years ago. It was going to be a lot shorter. But I became disinterested because: 1. Most beginning programmers don't start with C 2. I wouldn't get a chance to go deep and explore the language. So I shelved it, unfinished. Flash forward to about a year ago... I had flash of inspiration: change the audience to intermediate programmers. Now I could skim the general conceptual stuff and get into more details. One thing, though. C actually added a lot of stuff in the intervening years. I didn't realize the magnitude of the project. Oh well! Too late to turn back now!
    - unfocused 5y ago
      Just wanted to say THANK YOU as I read your guide to network programming way back in 2000, over 20 years ago! I was just starting out in C network programming on VxWorks :) Glad to see you're still updating your guides.
      - beej71 5y ago
        Thanks! Makes my day to hear people find the work useful. :)
        cripblip 5y ago
        +1000 - I used your network programming guide extensively for my Computer Networking final project in 96, invaluable, Thankyou!
        jallbrit 5y ago
        I read the beginning of this C guide and also found it very helpful and made things very easy to understand (coming from C++). Thanks!
    - fctorial 5y ago
      > Most beginning programmers don't start with C Except literally every indian engineer. They teach C to mechanical and chemical engineers for some reason. (It's not an elective)
    - petee 5y ago
      Glad to hear this, thank you!
beej71 5y ago
I recently overhauled it in a big way.. er, "am overhauling it". And I'm sure it's full of mistakes. It's over 500 pages, most of which has yet to be edited, so if there are fewer than 1000 defects, I'd be shocked. But I fix them all as I find them, or as they're pointed out. And after an eventual editing pass, things will be better. And if it's not useful to someone, I take no offense I'd they don't like it. :-)

petee 5y ago

I think posts like this are handy just for the extra exposure an alpha document might need; there's a lot of good feedback and discussion here that hopefully beej comes across someday and can finish the book

determinateproc 5y ago
On further observation the git repository of the book [0] seems to be quite active. Maybe this book might be finished after all. [0]: https://github.com/beejjorgensen/bgc https://github.com/beejjorgensen/bgc
- beej71 5y ago
  Backstory: I started writing this book for novice programmers about 15 years ago. It was going to be a lot shorter. But I became disinterested because: 1. Most beginning programmers don't start with C 2. I wouldn't get a chance to go deep and explore the language. So I shelved it, unfinished. Flash forward to about a year ago... I had flash of inspiration: change the audience to intermediate programmers. Now I could skim the general conceptual stuff and get into more details. One thing, though. C actually added a lot of stuff in the intervening years. I didn't realize the magnitude of the project. Oh well! Too late to turn back now!
  - unfocused 5y ago
    Just wanted to say THANK YOU as I read your guide to network programming way back in 2000, over 20 years ago! I was just starting out in C network programming on VxWorks :) Glad to see you're still updating your guides.
    - beej71 5y ago
      Thanks! Makes my day to hear people find the work useful. :)
      - cripblip 5y ago
        +1000 - I used your network programming guide extensively for my Computer Networking final project in 96, invaluable, Thankyou!
      - jallbrit 5y ago
        I read the beginning of this C guide and also found it very helpful and made things very easy to understand (coming from C++). Thanks!
  - fctorial 5y ago
    > Most beginning programmers don't start with C Except literally every indian engineer. They teach C to mechanical and chemical engineers for some reason. (It's not an elective)
  - petee 5y ago
    Glad to hear this, thank you!

beej71 5y ago

I recently overhauled it in a big way.. er, "am overhauling it". And I'm sure it's full of mistakes. It's over 500 pages, most of which has yet to be edited, so if there are fewer than 1000 defects, I'd be shocked. But I fix them all as I find them, or as they're pointed out. And after an eventual editing pass, things will be better. And if it's not useful to someone, I take no offense I'd they don't like it. :-)