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Groups > comp.lang.c > #22675

Re: Learning C as an existing programmer

Date 2012-06-25 13:34 +0200
From David Brown <david@westcontrol.removethisbit.com>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
Subject Re: Learning C as an existing programmer
References <js8275$cpo$1@speranza.aioe.org> <XLSdnSdxHdOhj3XSnZ2dnUVZ8midnZ2d@lyse.net> <js9dn4$62l$1@speranza.aioe.org>
Message-ID <Er-dnTDBMLMj0HXSnZ2dnUVZ8mGdnZ2d@lyse.net> (permalink)

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On 25/06/2012 12:15, Rui Maciel wrote:
> David Brown wrote:
>
>> Do you have to use C?  There are other languages that might be a better
>> choice - Python with SciPy / NumPy comes to mind - then you can
>> concentrate more on the numerical analysis, and less on the details of
>> programming.
>
> For numerical analysis, if it's not possible to use Fortran then the next
> best option is plain old C.
>
> And numerical analysis boils down to details of programming, as the main
> purpose is to squeese as much computational juice out of a computer as
> possible.  You don't get that by simply toying with algorithms.  Hence,
> Fortran and C being the standards for real world number crunching
> applications.
>
> Even if a user wants to toy around with numerical analyis stuff without
> having to look too much under the hood, Python is still not an adequate
> option; there is Matlab/Octave for that.
>
>

I take it you have no experience with Python or SciPy, but are merely 
prejudice against Python because it is interpreted?  Of course you can 
get greater speed with C than with straight Python.  But if you can do 
the grunt work using SciPy / NumPy libraries, Python is likely to be 
/faster/ than a program written in C.  That is because the underlying 
libraries for NumPy are written in C by experts who have spent a lot of 
effort making fast libraries using fast algorithms - the chances are 
very low that a non-expert C programmer will write faster code.

And anyway, who says this is all about speed?  And even if it /is/ about 
speed, who says the "speed" in question is the number of computations 
per second the OP can squeeze out of his machine?  If the OP is 
interested in looking at fast algorithms for a particular problem, for 
example, then Python can easily be a better language if it is easier for 
him to work with (being interpreted is a clear bonus here).  Turning 
this into a fine-tuned C implementation is just optimisation.

I am not saying that Python + SciPy is the best choice for the OP - I am 
just saying he should look for a wider choice.  Thinking that you have 
to use C because "only C is fast" is premature optimisation, and 
therefore evil.

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Learning C as an existing programmer rammy <nospam@nospam.com> - 2012-06-24 21:52 +0000
  Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2012-06-25 10:26 +1200
    Re: Learning C as an existing programmer "Charles Richmond" <numerist@aquaporin4.com> - 2012-06-24 18:28 -0500
      Re: Learning C as an existing programmer "Joe." <antelope3@news.net> - 2012-06-25 01:05 -0600
      Re: Learning C as an existing programmer "Joe." <antelope3@news.net> - 2012-06-25 01:10 -0600
        Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Weland <weland@faeroes.freeshell.org> - 2012-06-25 08:20 +0000
          Re: Learning C as an existing programmer "Joe." <antelope3@news.net> - 2012-07-02 01:46 -0600
      Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Edward Rutherford <edward.p.rutherford79@REMOVETHIS.gmail.com> - 2012-06-25 20:37 +0000
        Re: Learning C as an existing programmer James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2012-06-25 16:51 -0400
        Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-06-25 14:25 -0700
          Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Les Cargill <lcargill99@comcast.com> - 2012-06-25 17:50 -0500
          Re: Learning C as an existing programmer William Ahern <william@wilbur.25thandClement.com> - 2012-06-25 16:52 -0700
        Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Les Cargill <lcargill99@comcast.com> - 2012-06-25 17:49 -0500
        Re: Learning C as an existing programmer nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com - 2012-06-26 00:09 -0700
    Re: Learning C as an existing programmer "Joe." <antelope3@news.net> - 2012-06-25 00:55 -0600
    Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Nachy <mazwolfe@gmail.com> - 2012-06-25 13:26 -0700
      Re: Learning C as an existing programmer James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2012-06-25 17:07 -0400
      Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Nachy <mazwolfe@gmail.com> - 2012-06-25 14:56 -0700
        Re: Learning C as an existing programmer James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2012-06-25 18:29 -0400
        Re: Learning C as an existing programmer pete <pfiland@mindspring.com> - 2012-06-25 18:56 -0400
          Re: Learning C as an existing programmer nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com - 2012-06-26 00:21 -0700
            Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2012-06-26 02:56 -0500
            Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Ike Naar <ike@sverige.freeshell.org> - 2012-06-26 08:10 +0000
        Re: Learning C as an existing programmer "J. J. Farrell" <jjf@bcs.org.uk> - 2012-06-26 07:06 +0100
      Re: Learning C as an existing programmer nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com - 2012-06-26 00:18 -0700
        Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-06-26 00:23 -0700
        Re: Learning C as an existing programmer James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2012-06-26 06:47 -0400
  Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2012-06-25 01:21 +0100
  Re: Learning C as an existing programmer "Joe." <antelope3@news.net> - 2012-06-25 00:54 -0600
  Re: Learning C as an existing programmer David Brown <david@westcontrol.removethisbit.com> - 2012-06-25 09:19 +0200
    Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Rui Maciel <rui.maciel@gmail.com> - 2012-06-25 11:15 +0100
      Re: Learning C as an existing programmer "Ronald Benedik" <Aon.912717285@aon.at> - 2012-06-25 12:30 +0200
        Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Rui Maciel <rui.maciel@gmail.com> - 2012-06-25 11:43 +0100
          Re: Learning C as an existing programmer "Ronald Benedik" <Aon.912717285@aon.at> - 2012-06-25 12:55 +0200
      Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> - 2012-06-25 10:38 +0000
        Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Rui Maciel <rui.maciel@gmail.com> - 2012-06-25 13:05 +0100
      Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Heikki Kallasjoki <fis+usenet@zem.fi> - 2012-06-25 10:56 +0000
      Re: Learning C as an existing programmer David Brown <david@westcontrol.removethisbit.com> - 2012-06-25 13:34 +0200
        Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Rui Maciel <rui.maciel@gmail.com> - 2012-06-25 12:43 +0100
          Re: Learning C as an existing programmer David Brown <david@westcontrol.removethisbit.com> - 2012-06-25 15:16 +0200
            Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Rui Maciel <rui.maciel@gmail.com> - 2012-06-25 14:39 +0100
              Re: Learning C as an existing programmer David Brown <david@westcontrol.removethisbit.com> - 2012-06-26 11:07 +0200
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Rui Maciel <rui.maciel@gmail.com> - 2012-06-26 12:05 +0100
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer David Brown <david@westcontrol.removethisbit.com> - 2012-06-26 14:28 +0200
            Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Rui Maciel <rui.maciel@gmail.com> - 2012-06-25 14:39 +0100
    Re: Learning C as an existing programmer 88888 Dihedral <dihedral88888@googlemail.com> - 2012-06-25 18:21 -0700
      Re: Learning C as an existing programmer David Brown <david@westcontrol.removethisbit.com> - 2012-06-26 11:03 +0200
  Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2012-06-25 00:50 -0700
    Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2012-06-25 11:50 +0100
      Re: Learning C as an existing programmer gwowen <gwowen@gmail.com> - 2012-06-25 04:32 -0700
        Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2012-06-25 14:25 +0100
          Re: Learning C as an existing programmer gwowen <gwowen@gmail.com> - 2012-06-26 02:38 -0700
            Re: Learning C as an existing programmer jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2012-06-26 12:13 +0200
              Re: Learning C as an existing programmer jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2012-06-26 12:15 +0200
              Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2012-06-26 23:08 +1200
            Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2012-06-27 01:55 +0100
              Re: Learning C as an existing programmer 88888 Dihedral <dihedral88888@googlemail.com> - 2012-06-26 18:43 -0700
        Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-06-25 14:27 -0700
          Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2012-06-26 00:18 -0700
            Re: Learning C as an existing programmer nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com - 2012-06-26 04:02 -0700
            Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-06-26 05:54 -0700
              Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-06-26 07:22 -0700
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2012-06-28 04:28 -0700
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-06-29 10:07 -0700
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2012-07-02 08:57 -0700
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer gwowen <gwowen@gmail.com> - 2012-07-03 03:26 -0700
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-07-06 16:28 -0700
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-07-06 18:16 -0700
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2012-07-07 04:51 -0700
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2012-07-07 16:48 +0100
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2012-07-07 09:07 -0700
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-07-07 12:27 -0700
              Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Rui Maciel <rui.maciel@gmail.com> - 2012-07-03 15:01 +0100
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-07-06 16:13 -0700
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Rui Maciel <rui.maciel@gmail.com> - 2012-07-07 19:35 +0100
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2012-07-07 11:52 -0700
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-07-07 19:40 -0700
          Re: Learning C as an existing programmer gwowen <gwowen@gmail.com> - 2012-06-26 03:03 -0700
            Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-06-26 06:34 -0700
            Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-06-26 06:40 -0700
            Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Gareth Owen <gwowen@gmail.com> - 2012-06-27 07:16 +0100
              Re: Learning C as an existing programmer James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2012-06-27 06:48 -0400
            Re: Learning C as an existing programmer "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2012-06-28 09:18 +0200
              Re: Learning C as an existing programmer nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com - 2012-06-28 02:02 -0700
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2012-06-28 12:19 +0200
          Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Rui Maciel <rui.maciel@gmail.com> - 2012-07-03 15:00 +0100
            Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-07-06 15:56 -0700
              Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2012-07-07 09:18 -0700
                Re: Learning C as an existing programmer Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-07-07 11:56 -0700

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