Lecture Notes: Introduction to C Programming

Overview

• Introduction to C programming language
  • C is one of the oldest programming languages
  • Many modern languages are based on C (e.g., C++)
  • The course will cover everything needed to get started with C

Course Content

• Installing a text editor and C compiler
• Writing basic code in C
• Understanding programs and how they work
• Advanced topics
  • If statements and loops
  • Variables and data types
  • Structures and functions
  • Pointers

Getting Started with C

Setting Up a Development Environment

• Need an environment to write C programs: a text editor or an IDE
• IDE (Integrated Development Environment) makes writing C programs easier
• Recommended IDE: Code Blocks

Installing Code Blocks (Windows)

• Go to codeblocks.org
• Download the binary release suitable for your OS
• Install Code Blocks with minGW setup
  • It includes both the IDE and a C compiler
• Set GNU GCC compiler as default

Installing Code Blocks (OS X)

• Use Terminal to check if a C compiler is already installed
• If not, use xcode-select --install
• Download Code Blocks from codeblocks.org
• Move Code Blocks to Applications folder

Writing Your First C Program

Creating a New Project in Code Blocks

• Start Code Blocks and create a new project
• Choose Console application and C language
• Create project with a suitable title
• Default code ("Hello World") is generated

Running Your Program

• Build and run your program using the IDE
• Understand the role of printf in outputting text

Programming Concepts

Variables

• Containers for storing data (e.g., numbers, text, characters)
• Example: storing a story character’s name and age using variables
• Benefits of using variables include easy modification and management

Data Types

• Different types of data that can be stored in C
  • Integer (int)
  • Double (decimal numbers)
  • Character (char)
  • Strings (array of characters)

More on printf

• printf syntax and special characters
• Format specifiers: %d, %s, %f, %c
• Printing variables with printf

Working with Numbers

• Performing basic arithmetic operations
• Interaction between integers and floating-point numbers
• Using math functions like pow, sqrt, ceil, floor

Comments and Constants

Comments

• Used to explain code or temporarily disable code

Constants

• Variables that cannot be modified
• Use const keyword

User Input

Getting Input from Users

• Using scanf to get input
• Example: getting age, GPA, grade from user

Building a Basic Calculator

• Example: calculator that adds two numbers

Advanced Topics

Control Structures

If Statements

• Allow decision making in programs
• Example: max function comparing two numbers

Switch Statements

• Comparison of one value to multiple values
• Example: responding to test grades

Data Structures

Structs

• Custom data structures to store grouped data
• Example: modeling a student

Loops

While Loops

• Execute code repeatedly while a condition is true
• Example: guessing game with a secret number

For Loops

• Use an indexing variable to control loop execution
• Example: printing elements of an array

Nested Loops

• Loop inside another loop
• Example: printing 2D arrays

Pointers and Memory

Memory Addresses

• Every variable has a memory address
• Memory addresses can be accessed using pointers

Pointers

• Variables that store memory addresses
• Declaring pointers and dereferencing them

Using Files

Writing to Files

• Create, overwrite, append files

Reading from Files

• Using fgets to read lines from a file

Conclusion

• This course provides a comprehensive foundation in C programming
• Encouraged to explore and practice with the provided examples