本书有两条线索，一条线索是以Linux平台为载体全面深入地介绍C语言的语法和程序的工作原理，另一条线索是介绍程序设计的基本思想和开发调试方法。本书分为两部分：第一部分讲解编程语言和程序设计的基本思想方法，让读者从概念上认识C语言；第二部分结合操作系统和体系结构的知识讲解程序的工作原理，让读者从本质上认识C语言。.
本书适合做零基础的初学者学习C语言的第一本教材，帮助读者打下牢固的基础。有一定的编程经验但知识体系不够完整的读者也可以对照本书查缺补漏，从而更深入地理解程序的工作原理。本书最初是为北京亚嵌教育研究中心的嵌入式Linux系统工程师就业班课程量身定做的教材之一，也适合作为高等院校程序设计基础课程的教材。本书对于C语言的语法介绍得非常全面，对C99标准做了很多解读，因此也可以作为一本精简的C语言语法参考书。...

Need to learn C? Now you can! Forget old-fashioned C programming books that assume you're a computer hardware expert and teach frustrating, old-fashioned coding styles. If you know any language at all, Zed A. Shaw's Learn C the Hard Way can help you get started fast with modern C programming. This book/CD package is called "The Hard Way," but it's really quite easy: it just requires discipline, practice, and persistence. Shaw teaches how to write modern, clean, clear C code through dozens of brilliantly-crafted exercises, most on two pages. You simply read each exercise, type in its sample code precisely (no copy-and-paste!), and make the programs run. As you read, type, fix your mistakes, and watch the results, you learn how C works...what good modern C programs look like...how to read, write, and "see" code...how to spot crucial differences that change or break programs...all the essentials of C logic, I/O, variables, and functions...and the attention to detail that is indispensable to successful C programming. At first, yes, it can be difficult. But it gets easier. And Shaw offers plenty of extra help through 5+ full hours of CD-based teaching video. Nothing important comes without discipline, practice, and persistence. But, with this package, if you bring those qualities, you will master C...and you will reap the very real personal and career rewards that go with C programming expertise!