This is a decent trade publication, though the secrets revealed haven't been particularly profound up to this point. I'm hoping for more depth as the story progresses.
While this book might feel a little dated now, it certainly provides a valuable historical perspective. It's a solid read if you're looking to brush up on the past.
This book offers a surprisingly engaging and comprehensive exploration of classic C programming, even with its age showing a bit. The author masterfully injects humor into the technical material, making complex concepts accessible and enjoyable. It's fascinating to see how prescient some of the jokes about future technology were, especially considering how much has changed since it was written.
This book dives deep into C++'s core concepts like declaration syntax, storage classes, scope, linkage, array versus pointer behavior, and lvalues versus rvalues. While the author correctly identifies many common pitfalls, their proposed solutions often miss the mark. The assertion that 'the programmer is always right' is a valid point, as arbitrary limitations can indeed hinder productivity. Furthermore, the emphasis on minimizing implementation complexity for better portability is a sound principle, echoing the idea that less code often leads to fewer bugs.
This book really highlights what I've long found to be a bit arrogant about C and Unix. While the technical explanations are solid and engaging when the author sticks to them, the overall tone is frequently off-putting. There's a condescending attitude towards less experienced developers and a dismissive approach to differing viewpoints, which unfortunately soured the experience for me.
Even though this book was published in 1994 and covers ANSI C rather than the current C99 standard, it's surprisingly still quite relevant. It offers a really thorough understanding of C programming's trickier concepts, especially declarations, arrays, and pointers. While some sections, like memory management, definitely show their age, they still serve as valuable theoretical foundations, and I rarely found myself skipping entire chapters.
This is easily one of the most exceptional books available on the C programming language. It's a truly outstanding resource for anyone looking to deepen their understanding.
This book is an absolute must-read, especially coming from one of the minds behind the Sun ProC compiler. It doesn't just stop there; it also guides you through the process of creating a basic interpreter. For me, the most valuable takeaway was building a truly solid understanding of how to decipher and construct intricate C declarations.
This book really felt like a detour from what I was expecting. I was hoping for advanced C programming techniques, but instead, I got an in-depth look at arrays and pointers, followed by some surprisingly enjoyable, albeit unrelated, topics. The section on making Oobleck was a definite highlight, even if it wasn't what I signed up for.
This book, despite its age, remains remarkably useful and offers fascinating historical insights, particularly for those with a certain nostalgic bent. If you're still wrestling with C code, I can't recommend it enough.
This book served its purpose as a historical document. It offered a fascinating glimpse into the early days of C++ and its connection to Java, capturing the zeitgeist of the 90s before certain technical decisions led to later challenges.
This book is a fantastic resource for anyone looking to improve their programming skills. It effectively explains complex operating system concepts and their practical applications, making them easy to understand. You'll definitely gain valuable insights into efficient memory management techniques.
This book was a pleasant surprise, leaning towards above average. While I expected more on C, the author's engaging perspective on life really took center stage, which was a welcome turn. A few sections felt a bit dated, but that's hardly unexpected.
This book dives deep into the advanced and often overlooked aspects of the C language. While I bookmarked a few sections for later, many parts felt a bit dated or were already familiar, so there weren't as many highlights as I'd hoped. The theoretical concepts are dense; you'll definitely want to put them into practice right away, or they'll likely slip your mind by the next chapter.
This book served as a fantastic refresher on C, especially for someone like me who learned the language years ago. It really highlights how much C has evolved since its early days, covering key topics with excellent explanations. I particularly appreciated the insights into how C code translates to assembly, which deepened my understanding of the language's inner workings. While it includes some charming historical anecdotes that might not be strictly necessary today, they offer a fascinating glimpse into the past of computing. I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking to deepen their knowledge of C or explore the history of programming.
This book truly shines by going beyond a mere programming manual, which is no small feat! The author masterfully blends technical depth with engaging anecdotes and even a touch of humor, making it a delight for both refreshing forgotten concepts and discovering new insights. While seasoned experts might find some parts a bit basic, the book's ability to captivate passionate amateurs and enthusiasts with its clever stories and practical applications is undeniable.
This book is an absolute gem! It doesn't just delve into the complexities of C programming; it's also packed with engaging anecdotes, witty humor, and insightful explanations for the quirks of the language. I'd wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone, even if you have no intention of coding in C, because it's simply a captivating read on its own merits.
While the sidebars on Sun's development processes were a neat bonus, the main content felt a bit redundant, as much of it is readily available in the comp.lang.c FAQ. I remember borrowing this book during my brief time as a systems programmer at CNN when I was a sophomore, but I never actually bought a copy for myself.
This book is a gem for seasoned C programmers looking to truly master the language. It's definitely not for beginners, but for those with experience, it offers a profound dive that deepens understanding and appreciation, even if specific techniques aren't directly applied in daily coding. It's a fantastic resource that pushes the boundaries of what you thought you knew about C.
This book offers a delightful dive into language, weaving in historical context and engaging stories to make the subject matter fun. While it's a valuable resource, be aware that some of its advice, particularly regarding dynamically linked code over static linking, feels a bit dated now.
This book earns a solid four stars, though its age does detract a bit from a perfect score. While some of the code examples feel a tad outdated, there's still a wealth of valuable, timeless advice to be found. I particularly enjoyed the nostalgic anecdotes about past production mishaps and their root causes, all presented with a delightful blend of conciseness and humor.
This is a solid follow-up to the first book on C, particularly shining in its coverage of pointers and arrays. While a bit dated now, those sections were still valuable, and I skimmed them quickly. However, the C++ chapter isn't the place to start if you're looking to learn the language.
The subtitle alone makes this book absolutely fantastic. It's a truly inspired addition that elevates the entire work.
Once you've mastered the basics with K&R and start wondering about the 'why' behind C's design, _Expert C Programming: Deep C Secrets_ is the natural next step. This book delves into the deeper aspects of C that you won't typically encounter until you've gained some practical experience. It tackles complex topics like activation records, debugging linker errors, and the nuances of arrays versus pointers, all explained clearly and engagingly. It's an invaluable resource for understanding the intricacies of the language beyond the beginner stages.
This book is absolutely fantastic! I devoured the last hundred pages today, and I'm still buzzing with excitement over the "deep secrets" of C programming it reveals. The author masterfully weaves incredible background stories into each chapter, making the technical explanations incredibly engaging. Plus, the exercises are brilliant, truly pushing you to think and solidify your understanding of the low-level and hardware-related concepts. It's a must-have for any serious C programmer, easily deserving a spot on the shelf next to K&R and The Practice of Programming.
This book, despite its age, remains remarkably relevant and engaging. It's packed with humor, UNIX history, and insights applicable to any C-based system, making it a worthwhile read even if you're not a C expert. While the author's strong opinions on topics like linking might not have panned out exactly as predicted, his assessment of C++ as a newer language was surprisingly fair. The author's real-world experience shines through, offering a valuable perspective that still resonates today.
This book offers some genuinely fun and interesting puzzles, which is a definite plus. However, it's clear that parts of it are quite outdated and could really benefit from a refresh. For instance, the comparisons to C++ and the discussion around lint integration feel like they belong to a different era of programming.
This book feels like a time capsule that should have stayed buried. The information within is so outdated and irrelevant that it's a struggle to find anything of actual value. Honestly, you'd be better off spending your time elsewhere; it's just not worth the effort to sift through the historical dust.
This book offers a solid grounding in writing systems code, particularly in C. While some of its advice feels a bit outdated and not every suggestion resonated with me, it certainly covers a wealth of valuable topics. Much of the content was already familiar due to my time at Sun, and the book does lean heavily on Unix/Sun examples.
This is hands down the funniest tech book I've ever picked up. I was genuinely sad when I reached the last page; it was that good!
