From: "Weiqi Gao" <weiqigao AT crl DOT com>
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject: Re: C reference books
Date: 30 Nov 1996 21:48:47 GMT
Organization: CRL Dialup Internet Access
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Message-ID: <01bbdf08$0c89a3e0$010200c0@weiqigao>
References: <01BBDEAB DOT 2ED97E00 AT sky38 DOT dataplusnet DOT com> <32A0AEB0 DOT 2C7E AT cs DOT com>
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To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
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John M. Aldrich <fighteer AT cs DOT com> wrote in article
<32A0AEB0 DOT 2C7E AT cs DOT com>...
> Michael Matczynski wrote:
> > 
> > Which C reference book do you think is the best for a beginner?  Are
there any out there that are written strictly about DJGPP?  Please respond
directly to me via E-mail, do not post to the mailing list because
otherwise it will get cluttered up.
> 
> Actually, this is a relatively useful thread, so I guess I'll reply to
> both.  ;)  Here are some things to keep in mind when looking for a good
> C book:
> 
> 1) It should be written in strict compliance with ANSI C.
> 2) It should not be written specifically in support of any given
> compiler, like Borland.
> 3) It should be thoughtful, yet easy to read.
> 
> With those guidelines in mind, a book I have found to be extremely
> useful is The Waite Group's "New C Primer Plus", 2nd edition (ISBN
> 0-672-30319-1).  It is extremely clear and concise, yet has a witty
> sense of humor that keeps it from ever becoming boring.
> 
The K&R book is certainly a very good reference.  Kelley & Pohl, "A Book on
C" is also a good read.  Avoid at all costs any book that mentions any of
the following:
a) a version number (especially the phrase 'covers version 5.0' in
parentheses)
b) a vendor name.
c) "in n days" where n < 365.
d) "Heavy", "Masters", "Wizard", "Object", "Secret".

Well respected academic publishers usually output good quality books, mass
market/popular press usually output garbage.  Unix programming books are
usually thoughtful, DOS programming books usually confuse beginners with
things like "far" pointers, "huge" memory models, and the like.

-- 
Weiqi Gao
weiqigao AT crl DOT com