Introduction
Initially created by Dennis Ritchie between 1969 and 1973, C was mainly developed as a system programming language to write an operating system. Being a procedural language, C has the following main features:
- Low-level access to memory
- The C compiler has both the capabilities of an assembly language with features of a high-level language.
- Simplified set of keywords
- Clean style
- The resulting programs Written in C are efficient and fast.
- C has a rich set of built-in functions that are used to write any complex program.
- It is modular
- C is highly portable
As it can be deduced, the features enumerated above make C language suitable for system programming like an operating system or compiler development. If you would wish to get your hands dirty and your brain smart in C language, this guide provides you with resources from people who have been on this road before and are offering their wealth of knowledge and experience via books they have written. Scroll through as you read and grab whatever resource that will capture your heart. Remember, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
1. C Programming Language, 2nd Edition 2nd Edition
When Dennis M. Ritchie is mentioned, you automatically know you are in the centre stage of C. C was originally developed at Bell Labs by Dennis Ritchie between 1972 and 1973 to make utilities run on Unix.
Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis M. Ritchie present the complete guide to ANSI standard C language programming. Written by the very 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.
In a nutshell, we can say that this resource is the C programming Bible. Even though it assumes a bit of knowledge of programming in general, it will definitely give you a thorough picture of C.
Try it out by clicking on the link below:
2. C++ Primer 5th Edition
Fully updated and recast for the newly released C++11 standard, this authoritative and comprehensive introduction to C++ will help you to learn the language fast and to use it in modern, highly effective ways. Authored by Stanley B. Lippman, Josée Lajoie, and Barbara E. Moo, it highlights today’s best practices and shows how to use both the core language and its standard library to write efficient, readable, and powerful code.
The authors introduce the C++ standard library from the outset, drawing on its common functions and facilities to help you write useful programs without first having to master every language detail. The book’s many examples have been revised to use the new language features and demonstrate how to make the best use of them.
This book is a proven tutorial for those new to C++, an authoritative discussion of core C++ concepts and techniques, and a valuable resource for experienced programmers, especially those eager to see C++11 enhancements illuminated.
What you will harvest from the book
- Learn how to use the new C++11 language features and the standard library to build robust programs quickly, and get comfortable with high-level programming
- Learn through examples that illuminate today’s best coding styles and program design techniques
- Understand the “rationale behind the rules”: why C++11 works as it does
- Use the extensive crossreferences to help you connect related concepts and insights
- Benefit from up-to-date learning aids and exercises that emphasize key points, help you to avoid pitfalls, promote good practices, and reinforce what you’ve learned
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3. The C++ Programming Language, 4th Edition 4th Edition
This book by Bjarne Stroustrup goes deep into C++11. If you need to thoroughly master it, this definitive new guide from C++ creator Bjarne Stroustrup will get you there. The brand-new edition of the world’s most trusted and widely read guide to C++ has been comprehensively updated for the long-awaited C++11 standard.
Extensively rewritten to present the C++11 language, standard library, and key design techniques as an integrated whole, Stroustrup thoroughly addresses changes that make C++11 feel like a whole new language, offering definitive guidance for leveraging its improvements in performance, reliability, and clarity.
C++ programmers around the world recognize Bjarne Stoustrup as the go-to expert for the absolutely authoritative and exceptionally useful information they need to write outstanding C++ programs. Now, as C++11 compilers arrive and development organizations migrate to the new standard, they know exactly where to turn once more.
Grab yours today by following the link below:
4. Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ 4th Edition
Authored by the inventor of C++, this book is primarily designed for people who have never programmed before, and it has been tested with many thousands of first-year university students. It does not stop there because it has also been extensively used for self-study. Moreover, practitioners and advanced students will gain new insight and guidance by seeing how a master approaches the elements of his art.
This Stroustrup book is an introduction to programming in general, including object-oriented programming and generic programming. It is also a solid introduction to the C++ programming language, one of the most widely used languages for real-world software. The book presents modern C++ programming techniques from the start, introducing the C++ standard library and C++11 and C++14 features to simplify programming tasks.
As a general tour of the book, the first half of the book covers a wide range of essential concepts, design and programming techniques, language features, and libraries. Those will enable you to write programs involving input, output, computation, and simple graphics. The second half explores more specialized topics (such as text processing, testing, and the C programming language) and provides abundant reference material. Source code and support supplements are available from the author’s website.
Due to the nature of loaded knowledge in the resource, you cannot afford to not take this source of useful information with you. Find all the details you need by clicking on the link below:
5. Learn C++ Quickly: A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Learning C++, Even If You’re New to Programming
Statistics show that the best programs of the last 3 decades were developed in C++. These include programs like Facebook, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Word etc. The reason why C++ is considered one of the most powerful programming languages is that it gives you total control of the program’s logic, graphical user interface as well as hardware.
This guidebook will help you master C++ in the shortest time possible. The guide contains:
- Simple and basic introduction of code broken down into bite-sized steps
- The 3 main elements of C++
- Easy to follow the steps with programming exercises and solutions to boost your understanding.
- A detailed explanation of C++ concepts to demystify the language
- Clear index of source code files you can use immediately
- Beginner to intermediate and advanced skill sets
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6. Head First C: A Brain-Friendly Guide
Have you heard about the “Head First” series of books? Well, there is a C one too and if you’ve ever read their series before, you know their style is a bit different. Put together by David Griffiths and Dawn Griffiths, Head First C is a complete learning experience that will show you how to create programs in the C language.
As hinted above, this book helps you learn the C language with a unique method that goes beyond syntax and how-to manuals and helps you understand how to be a great programmer. So, you’ll learn key areas such as language basics, pointers, command pointer arithmetic and dynamic memory management and with advanced topics such as multithreading and network programming, Head First C can be used as an accessible textbook for a college-level course.
Also, like a college course, the book features labs: projects intended to stretch your abilities, test your new skills and build confidence. You’ll go beyond the basics of the language and learn how to use the compiler, the make tool, and the archiver to tackle real-world problems.
As the authors say, they think your time is too valuable to waste struggling with new concepts. Using the latest research in cognitive science and learning theory to craft a multi-sensory learning experience, Head First C uses a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works, not a text-heavy approach that puts you to sleep.
7. Practical C Programming
Practical C Programming is the first C book that has the no-nonsense, practical approach that has made Nutshell Handbooks® famous. Steve Oualline, in this book, teaches you not only the mechanics of programming but also describes how to create programs that are easy to read, debug, and update. Practical rules are stressed. For example, there are fifteen precedence rules in C (&& comes before || comes before ?:). The practical programmer reduces these to two:
Multiplication and division come before addition and subtraction.
Nonetheless, this book shows you how to avoid the all-too-common obfuscated uses of C (and also to recognize these uses when you encounter them in existing programs) and thereby leave code that the programmer responsible for maintenance does not have to struggle with. Electronic Archaeology, the art of going through someone else’s code, is described. This third edition introduces popular Integrated Development Environments on Windows systems, as well as UNIX programming utilities, and features a large statistics-generating program to pull together the concepts and features in the language.
Check it out on Amazon from the link below:
8. C in a Nutshell: The Definitive Reference 2nd Edition, Kindle Edition
The new edition of this classic O’Reilly reference by Peter Prinz and Tony Crawford provides clear, detailed explanations of every feature in the C language and runtime library, including multithreading, type-generic macros, and library functions that are new in the 2011 C standard (C11). If you want to understand the effects of an unfamiliar function, and how the standard library requires it to behave, you’ll find it here, along with a typical example.
Ideal for experienced C and C++ programmers, this book also includes popular tools in the GNU software collection. You’ll learn how to build C programs with GNU Make, compile executable programs from C source code, and test and debug your programs with the GNU debugger.
The following are authoritatively covered in it:
- C language concepts and language elements, with separate chapters on types, statements, pointers, memory management, I/O, and more
- The C standard library, including an overview of standard headers and a detailed function reference
- Basic C programming tools in the GNU software collection, with instructions on how to use them with the Eclipse IDE
Take your copy home by clicking on the link below:
9. C Programming Absolute Beginner’s Guide
There is nothing as good as finding a resource that will help you learn something new in a way that is simple and easy to understand. When it comes to C programming, the learning curve can be quite steep and it can be quite beneficial to find a good resource that will take care of your needs well.
Greg Perry and Dean Miller have come up with today’s best beginner’s guide to writing C programs and to learning skills you can use with practically any language. Its simple, practical instructions will help you start creating useful, reliable C code, from games to mobile apps. Plus, it’s fully updated for the new C11 standard and today’s free, open-source tools!
The following is the tip of the iceberg in the book
- Discover free C programming tools for Windows, OS X, or Linux
- Understand the parts of a C program and how they fit together
- Generate output and display it on the screen
- Interact with users and respond to their input
- Make the most of variables by using assignments and expressions
- Control programs by testing data and using logical operators
- Save time and effort by using loops and other techniques
- Build powerful data-entry routines with simple built-in functions
- Manipulate text with strings
- Store information, so it’s easy to access and use
- Manage your data with arrays, pointers, and data structures
- Use functions to make programs easier to write and maintain
- Let C handle all your program’s math for you
- Handle your computer’s memory as efficiently as possible
- Make programs more powerful with preprocessing directives
Much more lies inside the resource. You can view more of the details on the link below:
10. C++ for Beginners: An Introduction to C++ Programming and Object Oriented Programming with Tutorials and Hands-On Examples
Are you looking for a way to take your C++ Programming skills to the next level? Then this is the guidebook for you. The C++ for Beginners is a book authored by Nathan Metzler to help readers learn and improve their C++ skills. It covers everything required and used in C++ from the basic concepts until you are able to code easily in C++.
The book contains many detailed explanations with pictures to make it easier for the readers to visualize exactly what to do every step of the way. It also covers how to install the required software, use proper syntax and careful instructions on how to write and debug C++ code.
The guide will also provide a detailed understanding of all the most important parts of the language to help you complete simple coding tasks in no time. There are also exercises and tasks to help you practise as you learn your way. The book will also provide unique skills, syntax, keywords, constants and variables used.
You can get a copy of this guide using the link:
Conclusion
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced programmer and would wish to try out the C language, the books described above will guide you to that path to success. Check out the ones that serve your needs and we hope you will succeed in your endeavor. Listed below are other fantastic guides and articles that you might be interested in. Do not hold back. Click your way through.
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