Seeking Text Recommendations for Intro Course to Programming in C

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around seeking recommendations for introductory texts on programming in C, particularly for engineering students preparing for a first-year course. Participants share their experiences and suggest various resources while considering the appropriateness of certain texts for beginners.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a need for guidance on suitable introductory texts for learning C programming, specifically asking about "Engineering Problem Solving with C" by Delores M Etter.
  • Another participant suggests waiting until the course begins before deciding on additional texts, recommending the Schaum's Outline as an inexpensive option for those in a hurry.
  • A different participant shares that "C Primer Plus" by Stephen Prata was their main reference for C and suggests it as a good resource for beginners, also mentioning "C++ Primer" for those interested in C++.
  • A participant acknowledges the recommendations and explains their need for a head start due to a slower learning pace.
  • Another participant agrees that getting a head start is beneficial and suggests discussing perplexing questions with the professor. They note that "Engineering Problem Solving with C" may not be suitable for beginners and recommend checking book reviews or previewing the book at a library.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the value of getting a head start in learning C programming, but there is no consensus on the suitability of "Engineering Problem Solving with C" for beginners. Multiple viewpoints on recommended texts are presented without resolution.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the appropriateness of certain texts for beginners, and there is mention of the need to preview materials before making a decision. The discussion reflects varying levels of familiarity with the recommended texts.

Who May Find This Useful

New engineering students or individuals interested in learning C programming who are seeking introductory resources and recommendations.

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I'm new to programming languages in general and I discovered that engineering students at my university, of which I am one, have to take a first-year introductory course to programming in C. Apart from the fact that I'm clueless as to where to start, I'm looking for a good text which I can learn from. Can anyone here recommend some good introductory texts I can learn from. I'm currently looking through some of the websites listed in the stickies here but I don't see any recommended texts.

Can someone comment on whether Engineering Problem Solving with C by Delores M Etter is a good starting text?

Thanks.
 
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Why don't you wait until the course starts to make a decision about whether or not you need an additional text. If you're in a hurry, try the Schaum's Outline, it is inexpensive.
 
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Thanks for the recommendations. I'll go check them out. Reason why I wanted to get a recommendation is because I learn rather slowly and would therefore need some kind of head-start to study at the same pace as the rest.
 
Its generally a good idea to get a head start. In this way you won't be surprised by the lectures. You can also take sometime to write some questions that are perplexing and discuss them with your professor.

I haven't read Engineering Problem Solving with C, but from the book summary it sounds quite interesting, but not at an introductory level. You should probably pick it up after you're done with your introductory course. Have you read book reviews? You may even want to preview a copy of the book at your school's library.
 

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