Programming in C

[Mojo]

Not really looked about but can anyone suggest a good, preferably free, programming program for C under Windows?

[NickB]

By programming program are you after an IDE (Interactive Development Environment) or something else. All you need to write C is an editor and a compiler, both of which can be downloaded for free. Stick "gcc" into google for the gcc compiler, and a nice(ish), basic editor is emacs.
Nick

[Mojo]

ahh yeah sorry i mainly meant a compiler, cheers.

[sambartle]

djgpp is a pretty good suite for dos/windows its ANSI compliant and has some extras such as emacs and other IDE's

Its free at www.delorie.com/djgpp (use the zip picker itll ask a few questions and provide links and instructions customised to what you want)

oh and its based on a port of GCC ;)

[Savage]

emacs is an awesome editor and the addons avalable are great combined with gcc its a good combo but often very difficult to set up.

For simplicity I'd say lcc it s a dead simple install combined editor and compiler it does the job well.

[Vash]

Hi, I was wondering if you lot could help, you seem to know your stuff about c, i want to start learning to program in c, but as i have no previous programing knowledge i don't know where to start, any tips would be great, thanks.

[NickB]

Try working your way through some of these tutorials:
http://www.strath.ac.uk/IT/Docs/Ccourse/
http://cplus.about.com/library/blctut.htm

You'll need to get an editor and compiler first, but then you should be able to work through the tutorials quite easily.
Nick

[bulldog]

if you want to start out, you might be best to get yourself one of those "learn C in 21 days" kinda books, anyone, I think they are all as good as each other really :)

[Welly]

I've got that Program C++ in 21 Days book. The ... in 21 Days series, 9 times out of 10, are utter ****e but fair play to this one, it's actually very good. Until it gets to pointers but then pointers never were meant to be easy.

Actually pointers are fine but pointers to arrays of pointers (or pointers to arrays of whatever) are a nightmare.

Might be worth you learning C++ over C if at all possible. But then again, depends what you want to do but C++ might be more useful in this day and age. And once you get C++, going back to C is a walk in the park.

Welly

[bulldog]

yeah, i think if your just started out programming, with no prior experience, it might be easier to start in c++, its a bit higher level i think and easier to follow. :)

[NickB]

But if you learn C first then you'll appreciate C++ more, and you'll end up writing better code.
Nick

[eXistenZ]

I use Dev-c++ for C programming. It's a syntax highlighting editor and compiler in one, works very well and is free :)
http://www.bloodshed.net/devcpp.html

C porgramming in easy steps (www.ineasysteps.com) is a very good book for getting into C, and is under £10 :)

[Arc]

Originally posted by Welly

Actually pointers are fine but pointers to arrays of pointers (or pointers to arrays of whatever) are a nightmare.


Tbh pointers aint that hard (speaks he of 4 years worth of Uni programming in C ;) ).

The easiest way to understand them is to sit down with a bit of paper and start drawing. Its by far the easiest way to understand them, believe me, I've been there :(. Then before you know it you'll be able to figure it all out in your head (although your head will be sore by the end of writing a program ;) ).

[Vash]

thanks for all your help