Beej's Guide to C Programming [pdf] (opens in new tab)

Previous discussions with notable engagement:

- Feb 2023, 284pts, 64 comments: <https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34946811>

- March 2023, 115pts, 37 comments: <https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35338074>

- April 2021, 507pts, 172 comments: <https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26911399>

- September 2017, 427pts, 79 comments: <https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15198093>

Worth noting that there are changes on a regular basis: <https://github.com/beejjorgensen/bgc>

I learned about beej when I started the Vortex wargame on OverTheWire (https://overthewire.org/wargames/vortex/vortex0.html). I emailed him about an error in the part about loops, and he told me he'd fix it, but never did. Only years later when I got nostalgic and went to reread that part of his guide, did I realize there had never been a bug, I'd simply misunderstood the code, and he had humored me.

I'm such a huge beej fan.

This is a better link as it provides more formats, including ones that (unlike PDF) work well on mobile: https://beej.us/guide/bgc/

Beej is an incredible author. His networking guide is not only succinct and informative, it's also very funny. He's got a great writing style.

There was a thread a month or two back showing off some more of his guides, including this one. Going to download some of these for a long flight coming up. Huge thank you to Beej for the incredibly high quality content at no cost. There's also a paperback of at least the network programming guide available to support (great gift to give to a junior engineer).

Beej's guides are great. As for C, you also need the mandatory companion guide: A Guide to Undefined Behavior in C and C++ (https://blog.regehr.org/archives/213).

Here's another guide to C, from a slightly different angle, that I've been working on for a while:

https://github.com/codr7/hacktical-c

If you're ever in Bend, beej shows up at these events pretty regularly: https://www.meetup.com/deschutes-tech-guild/

Beej taught me half of what I know about network programming and unix sockets. The dude deserves a medal for the work he has done over the decades.

I need to learn rust for work. Since beej doesn't seem to have a guide for rust, what's the next best thing? :)

Help me understand what is so “great” about a writing style that reads like a couple of tech bros cracking jokes next to a water cooler, please?

That, “You” language spread all over the text to the point that I’ll almost take programming too personally!

The only missing overabundance in the text is that of memes and emojis in it’s style.

Is it oh-so-very “accessible?”

Is it a “very conversational” style?

Is it so-very “TLDR” over “RTFM?”

Is it a late-night talk show?

Is it the M&M’s of technical writing for distracted kids?