On 14/04/2015, Reco <recovery...@gmail.com> wrote: > On Tue, Apr 14, 2015 at 12:36:28AM +0800, Bret Busby wrote: >> On 13/04/2015, Reco <recovery...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> <snip> >> >> >Learning C is simple and >> > fun. Just read classic K&R treatise, do all the examples. Did so back >> > in >> > high school, and no brain was damaged in the process :) >> > The only problem today is to get a C compiler that understands K&R C. >> > >> >> I have not programmed in "C" for about 20-25 years, now, but, from >> memory, with compilers, like "C" compilers, don't they have a switch >> that can be set, so that they accept only ANSI code, such as ANSI >> "C"? > > *ANSI* C - yes. For instance, gcc has this wonderful '-ansi' switch. > It's even possible to choose the exact version of ANSI C standard (i.e. > -std=c99). > *K&R* C - no. At least, gcc-4.7 has no switch for this that I'm > aware of. >
Okay - this is where the detail of the Kernighan & Ritchie book, is required. You see, when I searched for "C" books, at amazon, I found at http://www.amazon.com/The-Programming-Language-Brian-Kernighan/dp/8120305965/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=02E2S6076Y4MYDCXP9RE " The C Programming LanguageApr 1, 1988 by Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis M. Ritchie " " The authors present the complete guide to ANSI standard C language programming. Written by the 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. " So, the second edition, published in 1988, included ANSI "C", and, the picture of the from cover of the book, has a big stamp on it; "ANSI C". So, it really depends on, if the original poster obtains, or, obtains access to, a copy of the text "The C Programming Language" by Kernighan and Ritchie, whether he gets a copy that is the second edition (1988) or later. If he gets a copy that is the second edition (1988), or later, then it should be ANSI "C". When I was learning "C", I found the (then available) Sam's Waite Group "C" Bible to be a brilliant reference manual, as it was a brilliant language reference manual. But, a reference manual, and, a teaching course, are two different things. And, one thing that I learnt, when I was learning 3GL programming laguages, was that it was best, to stick to ANSI standard language, for portability. Thus, when I wrote code to run on VAX11-VMS, or PDP11-RSTS/e or UNIX SVR4 or CM/CMS (I think it was) running on an IBM-3081, or my PC-XT running DOS, the code would mostly run unaltered, on each. As an example, I compared the processing speed of my PC-XT, with the IBM-3081, during a vacation, with not many other students around, running a Pascal program to approcimate pi using a Chebyshev (I think that is the correct spelling) series approximation, and the average speed, per minute, was, for the IBM3081, about 10 million iterations, and, on my PC-XT, about 10,000 iterations. Using ANSI standard code, meant that the same code could be used on each system. I believe that, if a person learns programming in a 3GL, it is best to adhere to the ANSI standard for the language, if an ANSI standard exists for the language, for portability. -- Bret Busby Armadale West Australia .............. "So once you do know what the question actually is, you'll know what the answer means." - Deep Thought, Chapter 28 of Book 1 of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: A Trilogy In Four Parts", written by Douglas Adams, published by Pan Books, 1992 .................................................... -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: https://lists.debian.org/CACX6j8PCRu0HsDnm_X8+gpx6f6eS=xPgu1hxmkgcGoz=ez8...@mail.gmail.com
