[Coco] What version the of C programing is most used?

[Andrew]

 > Message: 9
 > Date: Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:52:17 -0600
 > From: Brian G <briang0671 at sbcglobal.net>
 > Subject: [Coco] What version the of C programing is most used?
 > To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
 > Message-ID: <4ED86791.7010402 at sbcglobal.net>
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 >
 > I have an opportunity to take a programming class. I have only have
 > programming in a class. The jobs I have had never used programming.
 > So my question is what version is more often used to run
 > electronics. Would I be more employable with C++ or C# ? Or is this
 > there more to consider?

What do you mean by "run electronics"? That could potentially cover a 
lot of ground. Your best bet is to go for some kind of bog-standard C, 
and the best way to learn it would be to set up an install of Linux or 
BSD, and play with gcc:

http://gcc.gnu.org/

You might also want to find a copy of K&R's "The C Programming Language" 
for reading; while a lot of it is outdated, it does introduce some 
concepts at the beginning, that, if you learn them, and take them to 
heart (ie, really, deeply understand them), you likely won't have to 
"learn" a particular programming language in the future. Instead, by 
understanding these common programming structures, which almost all 
languages abide by (especially most modern derivatives), you'll be able 
to pick up and go on any language very quickly.

Now, besides the class, another couple of good books to have on-hand for 
learning C:

C++ How to Program - http://www.deitel.com/books/cpphtp4/

Yeah, I know it is focused on C++ (and you'll want to learn it, too - or 
at least have an understanding of object oriented programming), but it 
also has a lot of stuff in there for C; I used it as a textbook for a 
C/C++ programming class I took at a local community college.

Another great book (long out of print - so you might have to dig for 
it), at least I thought it was, was a book published by QUE 
(http://www.quepublishing.com/) called "Programming with C" by Edward 
B.Toupin, as part of their "Easy" series (ISBN 1-56529-888-8). It's a 
little long in the tooth (1994), but it makes understanding and learning 
C very easy; it's enough to get you going, at least.

But ultimately, my best advice is to try to steer clear of learning 
technologies (ie, a specific programming language), and instead learn 
the what's, why's and structures of programming in general (it also 
helps to learn about the history of computing, but it isn't required); 
by learning these general concepts, you build a skillset that allows you 
to understand and learn nearly any language out there - at least the 
ones that matter for career pursuits...

-- Andrew L. Ayers, Glendale, Arizona