C Programming Course Content

Course Overview:

• Definition:

  • The C programming language is a foundational language that serves as a stepping stone to learning more complex programming languages.
  • It is widely used for developing operating systems, compilers, and applications requiring high performance.

• History:

  • Developed by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs in the early 1970s.
  • Evolved from B language, which was based on the Basic Combined Programming Language (BCPL).
  • Played a crucial role in the development of Unix.

• Salient Features of C:

  • General Purpose, Structured Programming Language:

    • C is a structured language, often considered a middle-level language.
    • Combines the efficiency of assembly language with the ease of high-level languages.
    • Known for its high performance and flexibility in application development.

  • Middle-Level Language:

    • Provides control over hardware with bitwise operations and pointers.
    • Facilitates direct memory management, which is crucial for system programming.
    • Highly portable, allowing the same code to be compiled and run on different platforms.

  • Commonly Used in System Programming:

    • Ideal for developing operating systems, embedded systems, and other system-level software.
    • Supports structured programming with functions, making code modular and easier to manage.

• Rules for Forming Identifiers:

  • Identifiers must:
    • Consist of letters and digits.
    • Start with an alphabet or underscore (_).
    • Be case-sensitive (e.g., TEXT is different from text).
    • Only use the underscore (_) as a special character; no other special symbols are allowed.

• Keywords or Reserved Words in C:

  • C language keywords (not available for use as variable/function names):
    • auto, break, case, char, const, continue, default, do, double, else, enum, extern, float, for, goto, if, int, long, register, return, short, signed, sizeof, static, struct, switch, typedef, union, unsigned, void, volatile, while

C Programming Basics

Getting Started:

• Introduction to C Language:

  • What is C, and why is it important?
  • Understanding the basic structure of a C program.

• Setting Up the Development Environment:

  • Step-by-step guide to installing a C compiler.
  • Writing, compiling, and running your first C program.
  • Overview of the compilation process and error debugging.

• Basic Structure of a C Program:

  • #include Preprocessor Directives:
    • Used to include libraries and files before compilation.
  • main() Function:
    • The entry point of every C program.
  • Curly Braces {}:
    • Define the scope of functions and control structures.
  • Statements and Semicolons ;:
    • Each statement must end with a semicolon.

• Writing Your First C Program:

  • Create a simple “Hello, World!” program.
  • Detailed explanation of each line of code.
  • Understanding how to compile and run the program.

• Understanding Errors and Debugging:

  • Common syntax and logical errors.
  • How to interpret compiler error messages.
  • Basic debugging techniques to fix errors.