Dan Gookin's C for Dummies is a two-volume tutorial for beginner C programmers that looks at the basics of programming from the ground up. It moves at a slow, but very logical, pace. If you've ever found traditional C programming books too hard, these two books might be worth a look. The author takes great care in presenting the basics of programming from the ground up and avoids complicated math and syntax wherever possible. The first volume covers the fundamentals of the language, such as basic language constructs, variable types, functions, program logic, looping, and simple console I/O. The second half presents more ANSI C functions, arrays, and strings. Only then does the author take on the difficulties of C pointers. The tutorial closes with some file I/O and the basics of using multi-file projects. Throughout these two books, the author succeeds in making programming fun with a lot of humor (including comics) and as little jargon as possible. The technical information is in there too, between the lines, in separate sections. Each chapter ends with a quiz to make sure you are getting all the basics of programming in C (answers are included at the end of volume two). Plenty of source code is provided for all examples. All in all, this set provides a really successful introduction to C programming, which can succeed where other tutorials fail. If you've been stumped by other introduction to C texts, check out these two books.


Book Description
Programmers won't want to miss out on this special two-volume set! This hot new bundle contains practically everything a C programmer needs to know about using C. The set contains C For Dummies, Volume One, which has been completely updated, as well as the all new C For Dummies, Volume Two.


Book Info
Volume 1 is your first aid kit for writing and using C programs. Covers all popular compilers, including the latest from Borland and Microsoft. Paper.


From the Back Cover
C For Dummies, Volume One, and C For Dummies, Volume Two, are the ideal companions for anyone who's ever tried to program in C, only to encounter keyboard-pounding frustration. Figure out functions and find out how to deal with the ever-changing variables and math associated with C programming. These down-to-earth references explore the short history of the C language and provide helpful tips that allow users to troubleshoot in C.

Inside, find helpful advice on how to:Get detailed information about strings, structures, and disk access Write your own C program and make it do something useful Avoid unimportant and laborious concepts Find coverage on all the popular compilers, including the latest from Borland and Microsoft Uncover shortcuts, tips, and suggestions from C gurus for avoiding pratfalls Hone your C knowledge with chapter quizzes and final exams


About the Author
Dan Gookin got started with computers back in the post slide rule age of computing: 1982. His first intention was to buy a computer to replace his aged and constantly breaking typewriter. Working as slave labor in a restaurant, however, Gookin was unable to afford the full word processor setup and settled on a computer that had a monitor, keyboard, and little else. Soon his writing career was under way with several submissions to (and lots of rejections from) fiction magazines.The big break came in 1984 when he began writing about computers. Applying his flair for fiction with a self-taught knowledge of computers, Gookin was able to demystify the subject and explain technology in a relaxed and understandable voice. He even dared to add humor, which eventually won him a column in a local computer magazine.Eventually, Gookin's talents came to roost as he became a ghostwriter at a computer book publishing house. That was followed by an editing position at a San Diego computer magazine, at which time he also regularly participated in a radio talk show about computers. In addition, Gookin kept writing books about computers, some of which became minor best-sellers.In 1990, Gookin came to IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., with a book proposal. From that initial meeting unfolded an idea for an outrageous book: a long overdue and original idea for the computer book for the rest of us. What became DOS For Dummies blossomed into an international bestseller with hundreds and thousands of copies in print and many foreign translations.Today, Gookin still considers himself a writer and computer "guru" whose job it is to remind everyone that computers are not to be taken too seriously. His approach to computers is light and humorous yet very informative. He knows that the complex beasts are important and can help people become productive and successful. Yet Gookin mixes his knowledge of computers with a unique, dry sense of humor that keeps everyone informed -- and awake. His favorite quote is, "Computers are a notoriously dull subject, but that doesn't mean I have to write about them that way."Gookin's titles for IDG Books include: DOS For Dummies, Windows 95 Edition; PCs For Dummies, 6th Edition; and Discovering Windows 95. Gookin holds a degree in Communications from the University of California, San Diego, and lives with his wife and four boys in the rare and gentle woods of Idaho.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

C For Dummies, Volume One, and C For Dummies, Volume Two, are the ideal companions for anyone who's ever tried to program in C, only to encounter keyboard-pounding frustration. Figure out functions and find out how to deal with the ever-changing variables and math associated with C programming. These down-to-earth references explore the short history of the C language and provide helpful tips that allow users to troubleshoot in C.