C a Software Engineering Approach

by Peter A. Darnell and Philip E. Margolis

Book Overview

A highly readable text designed for beginning and intermediate C programmers. While focusing on the programming language, the book emphasises stylistic issues and software engineering principles so as to develop programs that are readable, maintainable, portable, and efficient. The software engineering techniques discussed throughout the text are illustrated in a C interpreter, whose source listing is provided on diskette, and highlighted "bug alerts"...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0387946756
• ISBN13: 9780387946757
• Release Date: May 1996
• Publisher: Springer
• Length: 498 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 7.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Best Starter Guide for Professional Programming in C

15 years ago I came across this book accidentally in a second hand shop primarily selling Springer books. I already had K & R because it was best known, but was not really satisfied with it as a transitioner from Fortran. This book had all I needed, especially on pointers (see all other reviews). I always enjoyed reading it. It's not about becoming a C obsfucation contest winner, but about C as a tool for software engineers. Combined with Harbison & Steele's "A C Reference Manual" and Hanson's "C Interfaces and Implementations", which are my other most referenced C books, you will have a solid basic library to rely on as a C programmer.

Best C or programming book I've come across

I've been using a previous edition for about 10 years now. This is the best C book I've encountered. It is also an excellent general programing (software engineering) book. It gets back to the basic principles of good programing, something that is often lost in the syntactical complexities that many books/courses concentrate on. Good programing is a mindset and collection of (good) practices which this book goes into. The fact that is focuses on C rather than C++ is nice because the additional baggage (syntax) of C++ would obscure the priciples they are getting at. I am a software engineer for a large computer company. My wife selected this book when she taught an introductory programing course at U. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in the early 90's.

terrific book

This is probably my favorite programming book of all time. This plus a copy of K & R and you're all set (if you're reasonably clever). It puts roughly equal emphasis on teaching the basics of the C language and conveying software engineering "best practices," so it should be supplemented with a concise language reference, and probably the API reference for the platform of your choice. It will not baby-step you through to utter wizardry, so if that's what you're looking for, get one of those 6" thick books that does more hand-holding. But if you want the important parts, very clearly explained, this is an ideal book.

An eminently readable and approachable introduction to C

This book is the best general purpose introduction to C that I've found (during a lot of searching). It's aimed at beginners, but there's excellent material for the intermediate programmer as well. It take's the readable style found in Herbert Schildt's books (also recommended) and extends it with more details on the "why's" behind the code. The addition of warnings about common (and easily missed) errors is an added benefit. If you're looking for a single volume that addresses all the questions a C neophyte might have you won't go wrong with this book.

One of the best choices for learning C.

An inspiring combination of examples and explanations for the beginner coupled with an in-depth treatment of most of the obscure features in C. The book has a comprehensive index of the standard library functions and a layout which makes it easy to find whatever you might be looking for. The only thing missing is a comparison of C to C++.