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K&R. It was the best programming book I read. I have not read many other programming books to be honest. I couldn't finish most rather. It's been years since I

K&R. It was the best programming book I read. I have not read many other programming books to be honest. I couldn't finish most rather. It's been years since I even touched C and at this point I am not going back, I know; but as an Android dev I wish I could find a non-lengthy book like K&R that would expose me to Kotlin like I was exposed to C, while helping unlearn a lot of Java.

znpy 5y ago
I read that book, more than once. I didn't enjoy that much as a teaching device, but I had the chance to greatly appreciate its timeless writing style. It's as good today as a book about the C language as it was when it was first published.
yumraj 5y ago
I agree. About 20 years ago C# was the second language that I'd learnt after C/C++ and remember just picking the C# language spec and learning from it rather than any of the books at that time since all the books were so wordy/verbose that it just didn't make sense. Especially having learnt C from K&R. I haven't looked lately at other language specs, and don't remember others, but at that time the C# language spec was very well written.
dcchambers 5y ago
It's kind of a shame that C has fallen out of favor as a language for new programmers these days. I still haven't found another programming book as good as K&R and its hard to convince people to read a book for a laungage they probably won't use.
- Someone1234 5y ago
  > It's kind of a shame that C has fallen out of favor as a language for new programmers these days. I really like C, but I also disagree with that sentiment. C/C++ should be used as minimally as possible. New projects should use something secure by default in 2021 unless they have a specific articulable need (i.e. not "I like C more" or "I don't know [alternative]"). C/C++ usage should fall into three categories: - New OS and System Utilities (in particular for hardware with no other language support). - Existing projects written in C/C++. - Areas where all the resources and support are only currently in C/C++ (e.g. game development). I'm glad fewer new developers are getting into C/C++. That will increase the costs and make companies less likely to pick it unless they absolutely must.
bluepoint 5y ago
I was also my first book and I read it carefully and multiple times when I was young. The thing is that this is quite possible with this book and it gives you a feeling of achievement. Most programming books nowadays are 2000 page monstrosities which are never meant to be read as whole.

znpy 5y ago

I read that book, more than once. I didn't enjoy that much as a teaching device, but I had the chance to greatly appreciate its timeless writing style. It's as good today as a book about the C language as it was when it was first published.

yumraj 5y ago

I agree. About 20 years ago C# was the second language that I'd learnt after C/C++ and remember just picking the C# language spec and learning from it rather than any of the books at that time since all the books were so wordy/verbose that it just didn't make sense. Especially having learnt C from K&R. I haven't looked lately at other language specs, and don't remember others, but at that time the C# language spec was very well written.

dcchambers 5y ago

It's kind of a shame that C has fallen out of favor as a language for new programmers these days. I still haven't found another programming book as good as K&R and its hard to convince people to read a book for a laungage they probably won't use.

Someone1234 5y ago
> It's kind of a shame that C has fallen out of favor as a language for new programmers these days. I really like C, but I also disagree with that sentiment. C/C++ should be used as minimally as possible. New projects should use something secure by default in 2021 unless they have a specific articulable need (i.e. not "I like C more" or "I don't know [alternative]"). C/C++ usage should fall into three categories: - New OS and System Utilities (in particular for hardware with no other language support). - Existing projects written in C/C++. - Areas where all the resources and support are only currently in C/C++ (e.g. game development). I'm glad fewer new developers are getting into C/C++. That will increase the costs and make companies less likely to pick it unless they absolutely must.

bluepoint 5y ago

I was also my first book and I read it carefully and multiple times when I was young. The thing is that this is quite possible with this book and it gives you a feeling of achievement. Most programming books nowadays are 2000 page monstrosities which are never meant to be read as whole.