C
  • Introduction
    • Fundamentals of a Program
    • Overview of C
    • Features of C
  • Installing Required Software
    • Setting Up VSCode for Windows
    • Setting Up VSCode for macOS
    • Setting Up VSCode for Ubuntu
  • Starting to write code
    • Compiling and Running Your Code
    • Creating Our First C Program
    • Errors and Warnings
    • Program: Writing a C Program to Display Your Name
    • Structure of a C Program
  • Basic Concepts
    • Comments in C
    • Preprocessor in C
    • The #include Statement
    • Displaying Output
    • Reading Input from the Terminal
    • Enums and Chars
    • Data Types and Variables
    • Format Specifiers
    • Command Line Arguments
    • Program: Calculating the Area of a Triangle
  • Operators
    • Converting Minutes to Years and Days
    • Basic Operators
    • Bitwise Operators
    • Program: Byte Sizes of Basic Data Types
    • cast and sizeof Operators
    • Operator Precedence
  • Control Flow
    • If-Else Statements
    • Program: Weekly Pay Calculation
    • Switch Statement
    • For Loop
    • While and Do-While Loops
    • Nested Loops and Loop Control
    • Program: Guess the Number
  • Arrays
    • Introduction to Arrays
    • Program: Prime Number Generator
    • Multidimensional Arrays
    • Program: simple Weather Program
    • Variable Length Arrays (VLAs)
  • Functions
    • Overview of Functions
    • Defining Functions
    • Arguments and Parameters
    • Returning Data from Functions
    • Variable Scoping
    • Program: Tic Tac Toe Game
    • Recursion
  • Strings
    • Defining a String
    • Constant Strings in C
    • Common String Functions
    • Program: Bubble Sort
    • Searching, Tokenizing, and Analyzing Strings
    • Converting Strings
  • Debugging
    • What is Debugging
    • Understanding the Call Stack
    • Common C Mistakes
    • Understanding Compiler Errors
  • Pointer
    • Defining Pointers
    • Accessing Pointers
    • Program: Pointer Demonstration
    • Pointers and Const
    • Void Pointers
    • String Pointers
    • Array Pointers
    • Utilizing Pointers with Functions
    • Pointer Arithmetic
  • Dynamic Memory Allocation
    • malloc, calloc, and realloc
    • Program: User Input String
    • Memory Deallocation
  • Structure
    • Structures and Arrays
    • Nested Structures
    • Structures and Pointers
    • Structures and Functions
    • Program: Structure pointers and Functions
  • File Input and Output
    • Accessing Files
    • Reading from a File
    • Program: Finding the Total Number of Lines in a Text File
    • Writing to a Text File
    • Finding Your Position in a File
    • Program: Converting Characters in a File to Uppercase
    • Program: Printing the Contents of a File in Reverse Order
  • The Standard C Library
    • Various Functions in C
    • Math Functions in C
    • Utility Functions in C
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On this page
  • Introduction
  • Modern Features
  • Diverse Applications
  • Role in Linux Development
  • C and C++ Relationship
  • Historical Context
  • C Standards
  • Enduring Relevance

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  1. Introduction

Overview of C

Introduction

C is a versatile, imperative programming language designed for structured programming. It excels in state manipulation through statements, emphasizing how a program changes over time. Today, it stands as one of the most extensively used programming languages, renowned for its reliability and readability.

Modern Features

C, despite its inception in 1972, incorporates the essential control structures and features of modern programming languages. With a focus on top-down planning, C promotes modular design through functions, fostering structured programming. Its adaptability ranges from minicomputers and Unix/Linux systems to PCs and mainframes.

Diverse Applications

C serves as the preferred language for various applications, from word processing programs and spreadsheets to compilers. Notably, it has gained popularity in programming embedded systems, found in automobiles, cameras, DVD players, and more.

Role in Linux Development

C has played a pivotal role in the development of Linux. Its programs are not only easy to modify but also readily adaptable to new models or languages. The language's influence extends to the 1990s when C++ emerged for larger programming projects, incorporating object-oriented programming tools.

C and C++ Relationship

C is a subset of C++, which introduced object-oriented features. Learning C provides a foundation for understanding C++, and any valid C program is also a valid C++ program. Despite the shift towards C++ in the 1990s, C remains a core skill in demand, consistently ranking among the top 10 desired skills.

Historical Context

Initially gaining prominence as the development language for the UNIX operating system, C evolved from the earlier programming language B. While inheriting concepts from B, C introduced data typing and other powerful features, addressing B's "typeless" nature. By the late 1970s, "traditional C" emerged, leading to standardized versions like C89/C90, C99, and the current C11.

C Standards

The current standard, commonly referred to as C11, ensures portability across different platforms with standard C compilers. While some language elements in C11 are optional, compilers may not implement all features. This guide will base its examples and concepts on C11, offering a contemporary perspective.

Enduring Relevance

C's importance endures as one of the most popular programming languages. Despite migrations to languages like C++, Objective C, and Java, C remains relevant. Its rich history, readability, and writability make it not only a standalone language but also a stepping stone to others.

In your documentation using Writeside, ensure clarity, coherence, and a balance between historical context and modern relevance. Consider incorporating practical examples and code snippets to enhance understanding.

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