★ LITTÉRATURE ★ ENGLISH ★ C FOR BEGINNERS|8000 Plus) ★ |
| C for Beginners | Littérature English |
Ian Sinclair must be one of the most bankable authors in the computer publishing world. So prolific is this man I'm beginning to think that he isn't and author at all but a publisher. There's a great deal of snobbery in the computer world. Take 'C for example - it's considered to be the computer language for the boffin. Real programmers don't use Basic, so you've got to learn C and become a techno-snob too. Many experts will tell you that if you want to learn C the only book to get is by Kernighan and Ritchie. Their book, the complete definition of the language, not only costs an arm and a leg, it's about as much fun to read as having them chewed off. Now perhaps you should consider a book by Ian Sinclair? In despair, up go the hands of the snobs. "Sinclair," they sneer; it isn't only Clive they say awful things about. Ian Sinclair certainly isn't fashionable with the know-alls, but I have read this book and found that it has helped my growing desire to join the C'ites. Sinclair manages to convey quite complex concepts without killing the reader off - well, he's had a lot of practice. This book attacks C with a confidence which I found rubbed off on me. As with most computer books a lot of space is spent explaining the language, the difference between interpreters and compilers and program structure. Once you get going you are encouraged to start with very simple programs before the real meat of the language is discussed. Frequently reference is made to Hisoft's C, the compiler most likely to be used on Amstrads. While this book is a good place for learners of C to begin it certainly isn't for the complete computer novice. To begin with. Sinclair makes many comparisons with Basic when explaining C so it helps to have a working knowledge of that. I even found the odd analogy with assembly language - a bit heavy for me. C isn't an easy language to learn, and I am not convinced that you could study this book and walk away a competent C programmer, but Sinclair's book will give you the best chance of finding out whether it's worth your time trying. Just one thing - if you make it up the techno-slope, I hope you will still talk to we humble Basic beings.
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