Introduction to Programming in C

Sep 8, 2024

Lecture Notes: Writing Your First Computer Program

Introduction to the Video

  • Host: Caleb from Caleb the Video Maker 2
  • Objective: Write the first computer program

Clearing the Shell

  • Command: clear
    • Used to clear the terminal screen

Creating a New File

  • File Name: hello.c
    • .c denotes a C programming language file

Using Vim Text Editor

  • Insert Mode
    • Enter: Press i
    • Exit: Press Esc
  • Navigating in Vim
    • Use arrow keys in insert mode
    • More navigation tricks will be covered in future videos

Writing the First Program

Code Structure

  • Include Standard IO Library:
    #include <stdio.h>
    
  • Main Function:
    int main() {
        // Code goes here
    }
    
  • Print Statement:
    printf("Hello world!\n");
    
    • \n is a newline character
  • Return Statement:
    return 0;
    
    • Indicates successful program termination

Saving and Quitting Vim

  • Save & Quit: :wq

Compiling and Running the Program

  • Compiler: gcc
  • Command to Compile: gcc hello.c
    • Success: No output means compilation was successful
    • Error Handling: Compilation errors will be shown if present
  • Running the Program:
    ./a.out
    
    • Expected Output: Hello world!

Understanding the Program

  • Function
    • main() is the entry point of the program
  • Output Explanation
    • printf with \n moves cursor to the next line

Handling Errors

  • Example of Compilation Error
    • Error messages can help diagnose problems
    • Practice reading error messages

Conclusion

  • Preview of next video: More detailed explanation of code components
  • Encouragement to persist through errors
  • Closing remarks: Like and subscribe for more content