From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 To: 9fans@9fans.net Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 09:03:42 +0000 From: comeau@panix.com (Greg Comeau) Message-ID: References: , <561059.20730.qm@web83913.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [9fans] nice quote Topicbox-Message-UUID: 63dec57e-ead5-11e9-9d60-3106f5b1d025 In article <561059.20730.qm@web83913.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>, Brian L. Stuart wrote: >> >K&R is beautiful in this respect. In contrast, I >> never managed to >> >bite in Stroustrup's description. >> >> Ok, now I'll get provocative: >> Then why do so many people have a problem understanding C? > >Are you saying that there is a significant number of >people who understand C++ but not C? The reason I >ask is that it's exactly the other way around for me. >C is a simple enough language that I can understand >it in the sense of knowing what the compiler is doing >with my code. With C++, I have a much harder time >keeping my head around what's being done with the >code, and that makes it much harder for me to understand >the code, much less the language. I wasn't saying anything, I was asking a question. :) But if I were to say something, it would include all you just said and more. Focusing slightly, most people do have a problem understanding/using/whatevering C including from a high level and low level perspective. Even more focusing, most people don't know what the compiler is doing with their C code, even though say C++ usually gets the short end of the stick on this one (deservingly so, but C ain't 0&, far from it IMO). -- Greg Comeau / 4.3.10.1 with C++0xisms now in beta! Comeau C/C++ ONLINE ==> http://www.comeaucomputing.com/tryitout World Class Compilers: Breathtaking C++, Amazing C99, Fabulous C90. Comeau C/C++ with Dinkumware's Libraries... Have you tried it?