Learning C

[najjar]

Hi everybody,

I am new (really new) to C, I took a class in school but that was
nine years ago, that’s not a problem I can remember that and
work hard but my boss asked to create a chat server and I found
out that C is the best language to go for.

I like C a lot but I did not have a chance to work on it,
I do Web Applications using PHP and ASP ...

Anybody can guide me where to start or what to do any help
will be appreciated.

All I know that its not gonna be easy

Thank you in advance.

 

[palbano]

>> All I know that its not gonna be easy

Good place to start from then...

>> my boss asked to create a chat server

You need more requirements and specifications than that to get started, then....

In my opinion, this is not a valid project for a beginner in C or C++. Novice developers in C/C++ need to start by focusing on fundamentals, not production projects. Learning C/C++ is a complex domain, and a chat server is a complex project for an experienced developer. An internet (TCP/IP) server application is going to involve solving complex problems like threads, concurrency, synchronization and resource pooling. By combining the two sets of problems the level of complexity is…. perhaps exponentially greater.

"But, that's just my opinion... I could be wrong."

-pete

 

[marsd]

I wouldn't use C.
Use a high level language in tune with your
background: perl probably.

Using C you would have to understand and
implement a new design model and jump other
little obstacles like learning C well enough
to get by.

 

[PerFnurt]

>I found out that C is the best language to go for.

Really? Where did you find that?

Depending on the scale of the server I'd say for an ASP programmer, ASP could be sufficient. At least if its to be a web application. Or perl (as mentioned).

If its a pure server implementation. Then perhaps C (or C++ even).

/Per
[sub]
if (typos) cout << &quot;My fingers are faster than my brain. Sorry for the typos.&quot;;
[/sub]

 

[najjar]

Actually I chosed C, acording to what I found on the web C
is the best thing to use bacause the server will be faster
than using other languages.

I used C for some time but that was 9 years ago plus I know
that I can do that coz I do not have a dead line I have my
time.

I do not think that ASP is a good idea at all maybe Perl.

 

[obislavu]

Hi,
I think Perl is a first option because you know it.
Secondly, is hard to say , you chhose C because is faster. This depends on how you code it as you try to remember C.
I suggest you to start with C# if you have the opportunity.
-obislavu-

 

[SamBones]

Is this going to be a commercial product that your company will be selling?

That would be the only reason I could see to write your own. I'm sure there are quite a few freeware, shareware, and commercial chat servers out there. Why reinvent the wheel?

Using C would be MY choice just because I know C very well. I wouldn't recommend someone else using it for this project if they only had a class 9 years ago and they don't really remember it. That's scary!

I would say stick with what you know. You're an ASP programmer, that should do.

I would also toss out a vote for Java.

Hope this helps.

 

[azimuth0]

How fast does a chat server have to be, anyway? People are only going to be typing so fast.

ASP should be fine, but I'll throw out my own vote for ruby (

http://www.ruby-lang.org/),

just from its ease of learning and rapid development.

http://www.sanctuary.org/~azimuth/

 

[PerFnurt]

>People are only going to be typing so fast

Agree. Plus bottleneck is more likely the connection than the server's execution speed.

/Per
[sub]
if (typos) cout << &quot;My fingers are faster than my brain. Sorry for the typos.&quot;;
[/sub]

 

[najjar]

Okay guys, Thank you for you help
I guess that I need to talk to my supervisor
about Perl or Java.

and I will be back with the final decision...

By the way I do not know Perl, did I say that I do so.

Thank you much

 

[marsd]

You said you know PHP..it's a short jump to perl..
There are a few conventions to unlearn and a few
quirks to adjust to, but it's not as difficult
as moving to C.

 

[najjar]

Thanks,
Thats a good thing to know...
I guess Perl is the one to go for.