Web Sites
Of the thousands and thousands of C-related Web sites, we've identified a few you might want to familiarize yourself with up front. But first, a couple of things you should know about C Web sites:
Because of the connectedness of the two languages, you'll often see sites that discuss both C and C++. From these you'll have to filter out the information that doesn't pertain to you (namely, the C++ stuff). Second, many of the available resources stem from university settings (which can be great, but specific in scope) or provide technical documentation, rather than detailed explanation (which can be less useful when you're just learning).
With that in mind, here are a few good C Web sites, with a brief description of each:
Cprogramming.com
Has tutorials on many levels, information on different tools you can use, and resources for getting help (Figure B.1).
Figure B.1. Cprogramming.com is a good place for programmers of all levels to check out.
How C Programming Works
Part of the How Stuff Works Web site (which talks about everything from automatic transmissions to nuclear bombs), these pages feature a good beginner's guide to C, one topic at a time.
comp.lang.c Frequently Asked Questions
(www.eskimo.com/~scs/C-faq.top.html)
comp.lanc.c is the C newsgroup (see the sidebar). From years of use, the most frequently asked questions—and their answers—have been put together and posted here. Since you're a beginner, most of your questions will probably have been answered a hundred times already, so reading these pages can often get you the best, fastest solution to a problem.
(http://dinkumware.com/libc99.html)
The Dinkum C99 Library is simply a listing of the complete standard C library. In these pages you can find the contents and description of all of the C header files, like stdio.h, string.h, and time.h.
World History.com
(www.worldhistory.com/wiki/C/C-programming-language.htm)
A general introduction to the C language, including its history and how it relates to C++. The page includes lots of good references and links.
C and C++ Style Guides
(www.chris-lott.org/resources/cstyle/)
Good programming style is more important than most people realize, greatly assisting the programmer in finding and preventing errors, understanding code, and more. On this page you'll find links to a couple of dozen guides to programming style.
NewsgroupsIf you're already a newsgroup fan, you're in luck. There's one really good available C newsgroup: comp.lang.c. If you're not familiar with newsgroups, maybe it's time that you should be. Newsgroups are discussion groups on the Internet (Usenet primarily). They are a lot like mailing lists, except that every message is sent to, and stored on, a server (unlike mailing lists, which send the messages via email). Using a newsreader application, you can view the messages that have been posted or post your own. Other readers can then respond to your questions, often in a relatively short period of time. Newsgroups, like mailing lists, have a protocol to them. Abide by certain guidelines (see the “Asking Questions the Smart Way” sidebar in the Introduction) and you'll get a timely, useful response. Ask a question poorly or demonstrate a lack of effort on your part, and the responses won't be nearly as generous or useful. Still, newsgroups are a great resource and, when used properly, can be a real lifesaver. |
✓ Tips
For more Web sites, check out the links page at this book's support Web site:
www.DMCInsights.com/cvqs (Figure B.2)
Figure B.2. This book's corresponding Web site contains a number of resources, such as links to ever more useful sites.
When searching for C-related sites and information, it helps to begin your searches with either “C programming” or “C language”.
If you don't mind very technical descriptions, you can download a PDF of the official C standard at http://www.nirvani.net/docs/ansi_c.pdf.