Understanding and Using C Pointers
Core Techniques for Memory Management
by Richard M Reese · first published 2013
71% recommend29% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Focused, practical treatment of C pointers and memory management, praised as the best single resource on the topic; suited to programmers who want to master pointers after learning basic C syntax.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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…Brian Kernighan & Dennis Ritchie (K&R) book is still a good introduction to C. It doesn't go into best practices, or other forms of more advanced C programming, but it teaches C well. I'd pair it with "Understanding and Using C Pointers: Core Techniques for Memory Management" by Richard M Reese to get a good understanding of the pointer underpinnings of C. They are both small, well written and easily digestible.
on “Ask HN: Best book to learn C in 2022?” ↗…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 exercises IMHO. Also get Understanding and Using C Pointers by Richard Reese, it is a must have. Two other books I very much enjoyed are Head First C and 21st Century C (2nd edition). Head First has some nice "extra" bits like threads and networking in C. 21st…
on “Ask HN: Should I use K&R to learn C?” ↗Seconding Understanding and Using C Pointers by Richard Reese and 21st Century C, but more for after you've gone through a more basic resource. I haven't looked at Kim King's book, but if it's anywhere near as good as his intro to Modula-2, it…
on “Ask HN: Should I use K&R to learn C?” ↗I've found "Understanding and Using C Pointers" by Richard Reese, a really wonderful book.
on “To become a good C programmer (2011)” ↗Thanks for the link. I will pass this onto other developers I know who have trouble understanding this topic. I recently read this book and it's the best book I've ever read about pointers in C: Understanding and Using C Pointers Core techniques for memory management By Richard Reese Publisher: O'Reilly Media Released: May 2013 Pages: 226 http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920028000.do
on “Basics Of Function Pointers In C” ↗I cannot recommend Understanding and Using C Pointers by Richard Reese highly enough (http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Using-Pointers-Richard-R...) Learning C syntax is pretty easy. Learning to use the standard library is mostly a matter of reading man…
on “To become a good C programmer (2011)” ↗…[1]. Find the latest edition that you can buy. I think the primary topic to master in C is pointers. This is where most falter. It takes a few years to "master" (if we ever do). Here I would recommend "Understanding and Using C Pointers", Richard Reese. [2] If you are interested in networking, any of the classic "TCP/IP Illustrated Vols I/II/III", W. Richard Stevens, [3] contain a ton of C code to implement components of TCP/IP. If…
on “Ask HN: How do I learn C properly?” ↗I've recommended this on here before, but I’ve found "Understanding and Using C Pointers" by Richard Reese, a really wonderful modern book on C.
on “Effective C: An Introduction to Professional C Programming” ↗…Griffiths Expert C Programming: Deep C Secrets - Peter van der Linden Modern C - Jens Gustedt C Programming: A Modern Approach - K. N. King 21st Century C: C Tips from the New School - Ben Klemens Understanding and Using C Pointers - Richard Reese C Interfaces and Implementations: Techniques for Creating Reusable Software - David R. Hanson The Standard C Library - P. J. Plauger
on “Tell HN: C Experts Panel – Ask us anything about C” ↗The book "Understanding and Using C Pointers: Core Techniques for Memory Management" by Richard M Reese, is a great way to learn pointers
on “Show HN: I built a web framework in C” ↗…opinionated, and it spends a great deal of time talking about tooling, but overall, it's a pretty good orientation to the C ecosystem and more modern idioms and libraries. I might also put in a plug for Reese's Understanding and Using C Pointers. That sounds a bit narrow, but it's really a book about how you handle -- and think about -- memory in C, and it can be very eye-opening (even for people with a lot of experience with the language).…
on “Ask HN: How do I learn C properly?” ↗…Programming: A Modern Approach" (though you could start with a popular introduction like O'Reilly's "Head First C"), Plauger's "Standard C Library," Hanson's "C Interfaces and Implementations," and O'Reilly's "Understanding and Using C Pointers," as a start. Van der Linden's "Expert C Programming" is an excellent intermediate text that is also surprisingly readable. Architecture and design miscellanea: Kernighan's "Practice of Programming,"…
on “Book recommendation to learn basics of Comp Sci?” ↗Start with Programming in C or C A Modern Approach (although the latter is expensive even second hand) and learn some basic Linux. Then K&R just because everyone should read it. Grab C in a Nutshell, Understanding and Using C Pointers and C A Reference Manual for reference. Then get the Linux Programming Interface book. Okay maybe a bit overkill for a 12 year old...
on “Ask HN: 12 year old tech savvy girl – books, programs, events, advice?” ↗I’m not a professional coder atm, but I learned quite a lot from “Understanding and Using C Pointers.” It’s weird knowing that I like to and can code, but being employed as a sys admin. Pretty common I imagine, as well.
on “One year of C” ↗While I haven't read either of them, Pointers on C and Understanding and Using C Pointers both have good reviews.
on “Massacring C Pointers” ↗