C programming
by K. N. King · first published 1996
87% recommend13% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Readable, gentle introduction to C that many prefer to K&R for learning, with a large set of exercises and projects at the end of each chapter and coverage of C99; suits beginners and returning programmers.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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C Programming: A Modern Approach by King Edit: I just saw your post history - if you don't mind me asking what approach/resources did you take with self-teaching yourself?
on “Ask HN: Best book to learn C in 2022?” ↗C Programming: A Modern Approach, 2nd Edition by King is a good beginner book. 21st Century C by Ben Kelemens is also a good book.
on “Modern C, Second Edition” ↗…Sipser's Introduction to the Theory of Computation is the only computer science textbook I've had so far that I'd say I really found useful for anything beyond the homework problems, besides K.N. King's C Programming: A Modern Approach. (To keep this on topic, my assembly instructor -- the legendary [to NC State students] Dana Lasher -- posts his course pack online. [1] It's a comprehensive introduction to computer…
on “A list of free programming books” ↗I would also add Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective, 3rd Edition by Bryant and O'Hallaron and C Programming: A Modern Approach, 2nd Edition by K.N. King, to the list. I'm learning systems programming and theory at the moment as well. Both are venerable seminal works on their subjects for the self guided learner.…
on “Ask HN: How to learn proper systems programming?” ↗When I studied C in college everyone recommended the K&R C book. I found it the be of no value to me for learning the language. Instead I found King's C Programming: A Modern Approach much more enlightening. I know K&R is widely well-regarded, so I found it interesting how difficult it was for me to learn from it.
on “Ask HN: Do you recall any book or course that made a topic finally click?” ↗The K&R book is a great example of clear technical writing, but it's also quite terse. I'd recommend C Programming: A Modern Approach by K. N. King instead, as it uses a more gentle pedagogical approach.
on “Ask HN: Learn C in 2023?” ↗K&R is definitely not 'modern C'. I recommend "C Programming: A Modern Approach" by K. N. King combined with "21st Century C" recommended already.
on “Ask HN: Where to go to learn Modern C?” ↗Try this, it is highly recommended: "C Programming: A Modern Approach," 2nd Edition by K. N. King is selling for 111 USD, covering C89/C99 but the First Edition, covering C89 is only 60 USD But if you want his "Modula-2: A Complete Guide", its only…
on “Ask HN: Why is this C Programming Book Worth $674.99” ↗C Programming: A Modern Approach was my first introduction to programming outside of writing a few python scripts (didn't know I could define my own functions, for example). With just it and MVSC I was able to pick…
on “Teaching C (2016)” ↗I recommend C Programming: A Modern Approach by K.N. King http://knking.com/books/c2/index.html. My favorite part of this book is the exercises at the end of each chapter.
on “Ask HN: Learn C in 2023?” ↗C Programming: A Modern Approach by K. N. King. I’ve never seen another book that contains as many exercises and projects as Kings book does.
on “Ask HN: Books that teach programming by building a series of small projects?” ↗C Programming: A Modern Approach (K N King) that I recently finished, has been great. Prior to that, JavaScript the Definitive Guide. Also cracked into Crafting Interpreters (was great) but got sidetracked.
on “Ask HN: What's the best book you've read regarding software development?” ↗…the way down. In reality, there is almost always a "sweet spot" that applies to any student irregardless of prior experience or knowledge and of the given subject (not just mathematics). For example, C Programming: A Modern Approach, 2e (King) was by and far not the obvious canonical text on C (to this fact, the author concedes it's K&R) but having read K&R I found beauty, but its genius wasn't intended entirely…
on “This Year I Tried to Teach Myself Math” ↗K&R is a great book however I feel there are better books these days. My two personal recommendations are C Programming A Modern Approach by K N King (2nd edition) and Programming in C by Kochan. However the exercises in K&R are excellent so make sure you do them all. Actually the cost of K&R is justified just for the…
on “Ask HN: Should I use K&R to learn C?” ↗How does it compare to C Programming: A Modern Approach, by K.N. King? That was great for learning C. Very readable.
on “32 years on, K&R's "The C Programming Language" still stands alone” ↗