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Hi, I need to know the specs. of the C language.I have a few books on C but does anyone have a link/soft copy/forums. Rgds Raj Shetgar
"Is there any online document which is free..." No. The formal definition of the 'C' language is an ISO specification (though still commonly called "ANSI"). Unfortunately, many Standards bodies (including ANSI and the ISO) don't seem to see making their publications available without cost as a way to increase the uptake of their standards... However, in my opinion, a distinguishing feature of a Professional in any trade is a commitment to the use of the proper tools - so, if this is important to you, you shouldn't baulk at the cost. Although the internet is a wonderful resource, You must beware that some of the "free" information out there is worth exactly what you pay for it! The trouble with the internet is that there is no quality control - anyone can post anything. Many misconceptions and even downright errors are propagated on well-meaning but ill-founded websites. Therefore, you need to do your own quality control: do not rely on anything simply because you saw it on a website; always check with reputable sources - preferably the source documents. For example, see this thread on a common misconception about RS232 cable lengths: http://www.8052.com/forum/read.phtml?id=57915 Note that I am not saying that everything on the internet is rubbish; there is plenty of excellent material out there - it's just up to you to determine the wheat from the chaff!
I believe the final draft of the ISO C99 standard is available for free. If you search comp.lang.c you should find a link. Stefan
I found an early edition of K&R to be something of a joke. Instead, I rely upon Harbison & Steele; these guys were compiler writers who had to survey many C implementations, in the time before the ANSI effort, in order to produce their own compiler. The language can be a bit difficult, but I've only once come away from that book with unanswered questions or a lack of confidence in what I read (that one occasion dealt with some rather arcane intricacies of the macro processor). Even that said, I'd like to have the actual standard documents. David
I found an early edition of K&R to be something of a joke. ? What was so funny about it ? You know, it's not exactly fair play to judge a book by its earlier editions some 14 years(!) after a heavily revised new edition came out. K&R2 is still the single most important book on C, as a programming language, rather than a particular implementation of that language. Nowadays, it may be a possibility to use H&S and a copy of the actual standard (C90 with all the addenda, a.k.a. C95) instead, but that's only because the price of the standard document has dropped by an order of magnitude recently, so it's now affordable on a non-institutional budget.
What was so funny about it ? Not speaking for David, but there is nothing "funny" about K&R. Perhaps closer to the point is that, although K&R is the "popular choice", for those who travel in the almost-a-language-lawyer circles, H&S is generally more highly regarded than K&R on the basis of dealing with the nitty-gritties that K&R does not touch upon, among other reasons.
The draft might still be available but it is inaccurate as there were changes between the final public draft and the issued standard