Learning C
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I've recently been trying to focus some of my free time on learning C using Zed Shaw's new offering "Learn C The Hard Way". (He really isn't terribly creative when it comes to making titles for his books) He takes an approach that uses numerous exercises that teach essential concepts and build upon one another. I've been making it a point to try and get in a minimum of 2 exercises a day (more when I have the time) to try and reinforce syntax and familiarity with the process of compiling via make/Makefiles.
I am at the point now that I wish I would have focused on C a little more prior to learning what I know in BASH. Just filling in the blank spaces in my knowledge of C, and the associated libraries, has already improved my understanding a little in regards to other languages. So much of the Unix/Linux kernels are written in C, I'm starting to think having a basic understanding of coding in C should be an integral (dare I say mandatory) part of any Linux Admin's training.
For anyone interested in checking out the book there is a free beta version online for your perusal: http://c.learncodethehardway.org/book/
So far a lot of the content coincides with the published book that was released earlier this year. Aside from a little more embellishment on the content of each exercise, and the addition of instructional videos, I haven't really found too great a difference between the two.
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C is pretty easy to learn... only takes 3 fingers...
