Title: Expert C Programming: Deep C Secrets
Author: Peter van der Linden
Published: 1994 (SunSoft Press / Prentice Hall)
ISBN: 978-0131774292
Despite its age, this book remains a cult classic among intermediate and advanced C programmers. Unlike traditional textbooks (e.g., K&R), it explains why C behaves the way it does — including compiler quirks, linker behavior, array-pointer equivalence, and common portability pitfalls — through real-world anecdotes and deep dives into the UNIX/C development environment.
Key chapters include:
If you find the PDF, pay special attention to three specific sections that are more relevant today than ever:
The search term "expert c programming deep c secrets pdf github" is a specific vector. It implies the user knows they want a digital copy (PDF) and expects that the developer community hub (GitHub) is the most likely place to find legitimate resources. expert c programming deep c secrets pdf github
Van der Linden destroys the myth that "arrays are just pointers." He provides the classic extern example:
He explains: an array name is an address, but a pointer is a variable holding an address. The compiler treats them differently in sizeof and &. Title: Expert C Programming: Deep C Secrets Author:
Chapter 7 is pure gold: The difference between internal and external linkage, common blocks in Fortran, and how the linker resolves symbols. He reveals that multiple definitions of a global variable without static lead to "common" extension—a silent bug.
Officially? No. Pearson never released an official DRM-free PDF. If you want a legal digital version, you often have to buy a used physical copy and scan it yourself, or check the Internet Archive (archive.org) for borrowing options (lending periods apply). Safari Books Online (O’Reilly) used to host it, but that has largely moved to other aggregate learning platforms. He explains: an array name is an address,