2. Topic 1 - Getting Started

We begin our study of C programming by introducing basic concept of computer programming and then with a quick survey of the C language. The intent is to introduce most of the important concepts and terms so that they may be referenced later. Most of the material in this first topic is covered in more detail later.

By the end of Topic 1, you should be able write a simple program and be familiar with the fundamental concepts of computer programming using the C language.

Warning

This topic covers a great deal of material. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED if you do not master all of the material. The material will also be covered later, in a slower manner.

Contents:

• 2.1. The Programming Process
• 2.2. Compile Stages
• 2.3. Integrated Development Environments
  • 2.3.1. Using the Debugger
• 2.4. Using Visual Studio
  • 2.4.1. Start a Project
  • 2.4.2. Visual Studio: Prevent console application window from closing
  • 2.4.3. Slow from the Jump Drive
• 2.5. Linux Tools for generating a running program
  • 2.5.1. editor
  • 2.5.2. compiler
  • 2.5.3. linker
  • 2.5.4. make
  • 2.5.5. debugger
• 2.6. A simple C program
  • 2.6.1. General form of a C program
  • 2.6.2. Hello World Example
  • 2.6.3. Analysis of Hello World
• 2.7. Declaring Variables
  • 2.7.1. Basic data types
  • 2.7.2. Constants
• 2.8. Arithmetic operations and assignments
• 2.9. Basic Input / Output (I/O)
  • 2.9.1. printf()
  • 2.9.2. Format modifiers
  • 2.9.3. Special formating symbols
  • 2.9.4. Examples of printf()
  • 2.9.5. scanf()
  • 2.9.6. scanf() examples
  • 2.9.7. getchar / putchar Example
• 2.10. Control Constructs
  • 2.10.1. if block
  • 2.10.2. Relational and Logical Operators
  • 2.10.3. while loops
  • 2.10.4. For loop
• 2.11. Functions
  • 2.11.1. Function Prototypes
  • 2.11.2. Function Definition
  • 2.11.3. Return statement
  • 2.11.4. Function Invocation - call-by-value
  • 2.11.5. Function Example
• 2.12. Arrays
  • 2.12.1. An Array Example
• 2.13. Strings
  • 2.13.1. Initializing a string
• 2.14. File I/O
  • 2.14.1. File I/O examples
• 2.15. Example of developing a C program
  • 2.15.1. Specification
  • 2.15.2. Design
  • 2.15.3. Coding
  • 2.15.4. Testing