3 ms·

If it's outdated is it still the best? Did you mean: even though it's old ?

linguae 3y ago
“The C Programming Language, Second Edition” is an excellent book for learning the basics of ANSI C. However, there have been a few revisions of the C standard since then. While none of the changes are extreme (it’s not like learning Java 1.2 or Python 2 in 2023, and there are many ANSI C code bases still being maintained today), it’s still good to know of the newer features of the language. Additionally, the book does not cover certain pitfalls that affect the security and reliability of programs written in C, such as security problems caused by faulty uses of gets() and strcpy(). It’s unfortunate Dennis Ritchie is no longer with us; it would be nice to have a third edition of K&R that covers modern C standards and has information about best practices for avoiding situations that can lead to insecure code.
- _448 3y ago
  There is one free book for modern C https://gustedt.gitlabpages.inria.fr/modern-c https://gustedt.gitlabpages.inria.fr/modern-c Did not check whether it covers security issues.
  - 1letterunixname 3y ago
    The "Downloads" link is dead but the other 2 work.
  - 1letterunixname 3y ago
    In general, following a combined approach of OpenBSD and MISRA is generally a good way to code. Code defensively, check all external untrusted input (Windows (NT-kernel) has checked and unchecked syscalls).
- shric 3y ago
  I would highly recommend C Programming: A Modern Approach by K.N. King as an alternative and replacement for K&R. http://knking.com/books/c2/index.html http://knking.com/books/c2/index.html
_448 3y ago
Outdated because the versions have changed a lot since the last publication of the book. It is still good because it gives information about general things which are applicable across any version. BTW,just checked the meaning of outdated on Cambridge dictionary portal; outdated means "no longer useful or modern" When I used the word outdated I meant "no longer modern" :)

“The C Programming Language, Second Edition” is an excellent book for learning the basics of ANSI C. However, there have been a few revisions of the C standard since then. While none of the changes are extreme (it’s not like learning Java 1.2 or Python 2 in 2023, and there are many ANSI C code bases still being maintained today), it’s still good to know of the newer features of the language. Additionally, the book does not cover certain pitfalls that affect the security and reliability of programs written in C, such as security problems caused by faulty uses of gets() and strcpy(). It’s unfortunate Dennis Ritchie is no longer with us; it would be nice to have a third edition of K&R that covers modern C standards and has information about best practices for avoiding situations that can lead to insecure code.

_448 3y ago
There is one free book for modern C https://gustedt.gitlabpages.inria.fr/modern-c https://gustedt.gitlabpages.inria.fr/modern-c Did not check whether it covers security issues.
- 1letterunixname 3y ago
  The "Downloads" link is dead but the other 2 work.
- 1letterunixname 3y ago
  In general, following a combined approach of OpenBSD and MISRA is generally a good way to code. Code defensively, check all external untrusted input (Windows (NT-kernel) has checked and unchecked syscalls).
shric 3y ago
I would highly recommend C Programming: A Modern Approach by K.N. King as an alternative and replacement for K&R. http://knking.com/books/c2/index.html http://knking.com/books/c2/index.html

_448 3y ago

Outdated because the versions have changed a lot since the last publication of the book. It is still good because it gives information about general things which are applicable across any version. BTW,just checked the meaning of outdated on Cambridge dictionary portal; outdated means "no longer useful or modern" When I used the word outdated I meant "no longer modern" :)