[sdiy] how to learn C?

[Scott Gravenhorst]

"Paul Burns" <paul at fitvideo.co.uk> wrote:
>Give me Fortran or give me death :)
>
>That was 30 years ago ...about the time I played keys for Rick Wakeman..
>Gawd ...

My nephew is attending UCI for an engineering degree.  His first programming class was
FORTRAN.  So it's not dead quite yet.  Of course, I do know that there are bear-trap
courses in university that are designed to thin out the classes...

My own experience was to learn various microprocessor assembly languages (and machine
language too) first.  Later, I learned C - someone else mentioned getting to know the
hardware you're using intimately - I agree with that and that's what I did by learning
assembly and machine language.  And once I had done that, there was no longer "magic" in
the machines, rather, they were concepts that I understood and moving to C was a more
natural thing.  Also, having already learned assembly, I was able to use C compilers that
allow in-line assembly.  I do realize that compilers can and do have various levels of
optimization, but I will admit to not having a lot of trust that they will always do
things the absolute best/fastest/fewest instructions way.  For that, I go back to using
assembly language so that at least I can satisfy myself.  At this point, I am so
comfortable with assembly language that it is my language of choice for embedded work.

Of course, your milage may vary.

-- ScottG
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-- Scott Gravenhorst
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