Driving Compilers (2023)
Published on: 2025-07-27 05:17:12
By Fabien Sanglard
May 3rd, 2023
Mistake - Suggestion
Feedback
Introduction
I remember how pleasant it was to learn to program in C. There were so many good books explaining not only the language but also the standard library. I devoured both The C Programming Language (K&R) by Kernighan/Ritchie and The Standard C Library by P.J. Plauger. Then came Expert C Programming by Van der Linden and finally C: A Reference Manual by Harbison and Steele.
It was an equally enjoyable experience when I took on C++. I found myself unable to put down the Effective C++ series by Scott Meyers. I loved the simple layout and the astute usage of red text for emphasis. I must have read half the first volume while standing in Toronto World's Biggest Bookstore before I left with the complete series under my arm. I remember power walking to my place to keep on reading.
A contrasting experience was to learn how to use the tools to turn my programs into executable. It was a painfully slow and deeply unp
... Read full article.