Re[2]: noob
Re[2]: noob
- Subject: Re[2]: noob
- From: Peter Mulholland <email@hidden>
- Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:58:42 +0000
Hello Alastair,
Tuesday, December 18, 2007, 1:34:13 PM, you wrote:
> 1. Learn ANSI C. *Not* C++, and not Objective-C (not straight away,
> anyway). **MAKE SURE** that you understand pointers, strings and
> arrays because those are the things people have most trouble with and
> they're actually very straightforward when you understand them. If
> you're confident writing e.g. a program that can read ten numbers from
> the terminal and print the largest, smallest, arithmetic mean, mode,
> etcetera, it will stand you in good stead for Objective-C. I think
> the importance of being able to write simple *non-graphical* programs
> like this is often understated.
I fully agree here. Understanding pointers is a must, and the thing
most beginner C programs have problems with, but when the penny drops
and they realise how simple they really are, they kick themselves for
having trouble with them in the first place :)
> 3. If you want, learn C++. C++ can be useful sometimes, and many Mac
> developers use it extensively in their apps. But make no mistake; C++
> is an unpleasantly complicated language that isn't even understood by
> most of its practitioners. While it is undeniably powerful and
> sometimes very useful, I would be inclined to avoid it where
> possible.
I've a feeling what you really mean here is that the STL is
unpleasantly complicated. However, using C++ does not mean that you
have to use the STL.
Personally, I find C++ preferable to ObjC's strange mutated syntax.
> As far as books go, I know people commonly recommend Stephen Kochan's
> book on C; there's also Kernighan & Ritchie (but if you're looking in
> a public library, make sure you get the ANSI C edition as they might
> have the first edition floating about). And Aaron Hillegass (of Big
> Nerd Ranch fame) probably has the most popular Cocoa book. More
> experienced programmers might prefer Anguish, Buck and Yacktman
> ("Cocoa Programming"), but it is a little dated now whereas I think
> Aaron is readying a new version of his book.
Herbert Schildt's reference books are also good. Buy his C++ - The
Complete Reference one which pretty much covers C as well.
--
Best regards,
Peter mailto:email@hidden
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| References: | |
| | >noob (From: draper jones <email@hidden>) |
| | >Re: noob (From: Alastair Houghton <email@hidden>) |