Learning the C programming language

[redhot1]

I'm starting to learn about programming in C programming language. I'm using a book to learn from. Are there other programmers who know the language here? I'm sort of new to programming, though I only made it so far in the Python programming tutorials. I don't think me and Python click at first, but I'll try it again later. I'll be finished or almost finished with my book near mid-July.

[KathyLauren]

I had been an experienced programmer for years when I first tried to learn C just because, in the biz, you have to know it at least a bit.  It has to be the world's most hideous programming language.  There's an apocryphal story that the inventors of C deliberately set out to write the most inelegant language they could come up with and were surprised when it was taken seriously.

If you just want to learn programming, there are easier languages.  But if you need to learn C because you need it for a job or a project or something, you have my sympathies.

[HereComesTheRain]

I'm a computer science major, though admittedly only in my first year. C is a fine language but from what I understand C#, or even more so C++, are simpler and more widely used. Python is a good beginning language for the C languages because they're both object-oriented script-based languages. If you find Python a little unwieldy, Lua is an even simpler beginner language, its the first one I ever learned, but its not near as powerful as the others and is a purely scripting based language.

[stephaniec]

you'd probably be better off leaning C+ , it's easier

[femfem]

I'm starting to learn about programming in C programming language. I'm using a book to learn from. Are there other programmers who know the language here? I'm sort of new to programming, though I only made it so far in the Python programming tutorials. I don't think me and Python click at first, but I'll try it again later. I'll be finished or almost finished with my book near mid-July.

You're starting with C?!?! I know PHP (probably almost advanced PHP, actually), Python, SQL, JavaScript, model-view-controller frameworks, and object-oriented programming.  And even I don't know if I'd want to program in C.  Java is probably equivalent, in respect to difficulty, and I won't even begin learning it until August lol.

I strongly recommend trying Python again, and I have tons and tons of notes you can use for it.  You have to make it hands-on, btw....practical, as opposed to just theoretical.

K.C.

[AnneK]

While I have never been a professional programmer, I have done small amounts, both at work and home.  I've learned over the years, FORTRAN, BASIC, Pascal, C, Python, REXX, Bash along with 8080, 6502, 6809, 8088 & Data General Nova/Eclipse assembler.  Even worked in octal and hex on some systems, not to mention AMD AM2901 bit slice processor.  Other than that, no experience at all.   

[femfem]

While I have never been a professional programmer, I have done small amounts, both at work and home.  I've learned over the years, FORTRAN, BASIC, Pascal, C, Python, REXX, Bash along with 8080, 6502, 6809, 8088 & Data General Nova/Eclipse assembler.  Even worked in octal and hex on some systems, not to mention AMD AM2901 bit slice processor.  Other than that, no experience at all.   

Okay, but you're saying that you can't click with Python lol. That's like the most basic of programming languages, except for maybe VBA lol.  So, do you actually know the aforementioned applications, or are you just saying that you've used them, similar to how Americans always say they know Spanish? lol

[Alanna1990]

C is a horrible abomination of mankind, I tried before, but no, I just gave up, and now instead of thinking people that know C are gurus, they must be fanboys or something, just choose another language, a lot of them are more accessible and usable for today's devices, try .net for example

[DawnOday]

Here are some free sources for programming. Not for C or C++ but if you don't know programming basics or haven't used them in a while, they can help.  https://www.khanacademy.org/#/computing
Another online source is http://lynda.com This is approx $40 a month for over 2000 courses including C++, C, Java, Ruby, Ruby on rails,
Finally there is MIT ONLINE a free source for University level education including computer science which includes c++
https://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm
I've tried them all. 

[AnneK]

Okay, but you're saying that you can't click with Python lol. That's like the most basic of programming languages, except for maybe VBA lol.  So, do you actually know the aforementioned applications, or are you just saying that you've used them, similar to how Americans always say they know Spanish? lol

I don't understand your point on Python.  That's one of the ones I mentioned.  I came about those for a variety of reasons.  Some for personal interest or working with my own computer, some for work where I was a technician maintaining those old "mini computers", where I had to work with the intstruction sets and some were part of college programs I took.
BTW, I mentioned AM2901.  That was a bit slice processor, which was often used in mini computer CPUs.  The Data General Eclipse used 4 of them and the microcode for running them was over 100 bits wide!  That was the level I worked at on those systems.

[Gertrude]

I took it when I got my masters. Wrote it and compiled on my Mac first then compiled for windows for submission to the teacher. Sometimes it would work on one and not the other, but I got the incompatibilities worked out. I never really programmed before that or after.


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[Michelle_P]

Oh, Hi there!

I've been programming primarily in C, along with Objective C and a family of related languages since 1983.  I've written a fair bit of code, and have been an instructor.  Resumé here...

I'm not interested in debating the merits of languages.  They're all just tools designed for various tasks.  I'll be happy to assist the OP and others with any questions they may have.

[ainsley]

I like C\C++ and like my professor used to say, if you learn C or C++ then you can teach yourself any other language.  I used C for operating system programming (debian linux) and had several semesters of C++, but never wrote professionally with either.  Like it or hate it, C is the kernel language of most OS's.  It is a good thing to know.  Just knowing them makes it so easy to read other languages, too.

[Gertrude]

I like C\C++ and like my professor used to say, if you learn C or C++ then you can teach yourself any other language.  I used C for operating system programming (debian linux) and had several semesters of C++, but never wrote professionally with either.  Like it or hate it, C is the kernel language of most OS's.  It is a good thing to know.  Just knowing them makes it so easy to read other languages, too.

Yeah, Mac OS uses objective c and windows calls it c#, but I've heard there's little relation to the other c languages. I found it a time suck. I'd work on a puddly problem and two hours would pass before I realized it. I'm not a programmer, so it worked out.


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[ainsley]

I thought Windows was C for the kernel and C++ for the rest.  Beats me, though. lol 
I can certainly go down rabbit holes for a couple hours waxing systems programming, too. haha!

[Gertrude]

I thought Windows was C for the kernel and C++ for the rest.  Beats me, though. lol 
I can certainly go down rabbit holes for a couple hours waxing systems programming, too. haha!

I'm not a programmer nor do I play one on tv. I have been computer support and administration for 23 years, a lot with macs and I started with Novell.


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[ainsley]

I'm not a programmer nor do I play one on tv. I have been computer support and administration for 23 years, a lot with macs and I started with Novell.


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I am not a programmer.  I have done a lot of other IT stuff over ten years ago, but I have been doing security, pentesting, and forensics for the last decade, mainly.  However, I find myself reading a lot of different languages doing that work.  I work with all flavors of linux (*nix), mac, and windows.  Not a big fan of novell, tbh.

[Kylo]

I did have to learn some C for a course a few years back, but it was so interesting to my sieve-like brain it has since completely exited my memory. I recall it being quite a pain to learn.

[Alex81]

I tried kicking C around a bit here and there but never really got the hang of it. I'm primarily a "web developer" for my own stuff and stick with php, mysql, & minimal javascript.

[Gertrude]

I am not a programmer.  I have done a lot of other IT stuff over ten years ago, but I have been doing security, pentesting, and forensics for the last decade, mainly.  However, I find myself reading a lot of different languages doing that work.  I work with all flavors of linux (*nix), mac, and windows.  Not a big fan of novell, tbh.

Novell was great 20 years ago and then Microsoft copied the features into active directory. Soon after, Novell was all but history. Been using macs since 1987 and teching them since 1994. Love the OS, just wish I could easily run it on cheaper hardware.


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