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· Hardware
#C
5 messages in this thread
George, I noticed the discussion here about C but failed to catch the
beginning of it. I'm an old 370 FORTRAN and BASIC programmer and never had
much use for things like C or Pascal and the like. Now that I've got my
Amiga I find a great deal of discussion dealing with these languages and I
feel the time has come for me to expand my horizons.
Can you give me a brief description of C and its relationship to and relative
merits over say Pascal? Also, which C is best for the Amiga and what are the
best books available on the language?
Thanks for the help. Anyone else reading this with info I can use please
feel free to offer your advice. Ben
Wow..what a question. Best bet is to pick up a book like Jack Purdum's "C
Programming Guide" (Que Publishing) and learn the fundamentals of the
language there. If you think the language suits you then there are a number
of other references noted therein.
C is a small, elegant language that supports low level access to the system
hardware in a HLL context employing such familiar constructs as FOR, WHILE
and DO looping. Local variables, arguments called by value, an orientation
towards structured, modular programming design, and a rich set of operators
and data formats make the language a real joy to use for the hacker who wants
maximum control and minimum maintenance.
There is only one C for the Amiga right now, Lattice. I won't comment on
Lattice, but I'd recommend Aztec C which is in beta test now.
C bears none of the strict typing of Pascal and is much more efficient in
operation. Pascal afficionados will tell you that they appreciate being hit
on the head when they do stupid things…myself, I like having the freedom
with C to walk on the wild side when I'm so inclined. Most Pascal programs
run leaner and faster in C.
They used to say "PASCAL to a programmer is like a dull scalpel to a
surgeon; he can't cut himself with it."
They used to say "PASCAL to a programmer is like a dull scalpel to a
surgeon; he can't cut himself with it."
Wow..what a question. Best bet is to pick up a book like Jack Purdum's "C
Programming Guide" (Que Publishing) and learn the fundamentals of the
language there. If you think the language suits you then there are a number
of other references noted therein.
C is a small, elegant language that supports low level access to the system
hardware in a HLL context employing such familiar constructs as FOR, WHILE
and DO looping. Local variables, arguments called by value, an orientation
towards structured, modular programming design, and a rich set of operators
and data formats make the language a real joy to use for the hacker who wants
maximum control and minimum maintenance.
There is only one C for the Amiga right now, Lattice. I won't comment on
Lattice, but I'd recommend Aztec C which is in beta test now.
C bears none of the strict typing of Pascal and is much more efficient in
operation. Pascal afficionados will tell you that they appreciate being hit
on the head when they do stupid things…myself, I like having the freedom
with C to walk on the wild side when I'm so inclined. Most Pascal programs
run leaner and faster in C.