Get started with C Programming

Get started with C Programming

First of all I want to make my audience clear that I am not a Great C Programmer. I consider my Programming Skills as being average and I am still learning. I have never done well in any Coding Contests

(except the one in my college, which is not worth mentioning).

"C is quirky, flawed, and an enormous success"

- Dennis M. Ritchie

There is a very slight difference between a 

• Good Programmer,
• An average Programmer and 
• a Bad one.  

And that is the lack of WILL. Yes, because if you don't bother, you wont learn. Always remember that here "Practice is the Key".

First of all ask yourself. Do you really want to learn it because you have keen interest in it? Or merely because you want a Good Job? If your answer is yes to the second question, don't read this post further. Programming is an art that comes from Practicing. Most of the Great Programmers are Great today because they love what they do. Develop interest in it and no doubt the Jobs will come.

Some Good Recommended C Programming Books

• The C Programming Language: Whether you are a Beginner or an Experienced C Programmer, The C Programming Language by Brian W Kernighan and Dennis M Ritchie, should always be your first choice. Beginners should use it to learn C quickly and Experienced ones should use it for a quick revision. This book is reffered as "The Bible of C".
  
  Note: If you are a totally newbie and don't have any experience in Programming, skip this as your First C book. Instead go for the next mentioned book.

• C All in one Desk Reference for Dummies: This is my all time favourite Book. Don't get fooled by the Title of the Book. You will get here everything you need to know about C. Scary things such as Pointers and Linked lists, are so well and easily explained that at times you will start loving the Author (Dan Gookin).

• Understanding and using C Pointers: Pointers play a vital role in Memory Management in C. You don't know C if you don't know Pointers. This book has all that Pointer Stuff you need to know about.

• The C Puzzle Book: Now that you know some C, its time to Test your Skills. This book along with the Yashwant Kanetkar - Test your C Skills are some good choices.

Remember that reading these Books doesn't Guarantee you to be a Good Programmer. Good Programmers never learn things by heart. Always understand what you read and try to do it practically (We Programmers just want a laptop/PC and that becomes our whole laboratory). The more you practice, the more you find to learn and the more you'll become proficient in it.

Don't end here. Practice and Participate in online Coding Contests. There are many available Websites for it such as CodeChef, Top Coder, Coding Bat and Google Code Jam, etc. Start from the easy level and proceed further for the next levels. 

So get set for the way to become a Great Programmer. Happy Coding.