Introduction to programming in C

Lecture 01
Introduction

Zhiao Shi
Course information

Lecturer: Zhiao Shi

Office: 201 Hill Center
Phone: 936-8210
Email: [email protected]
Website:
http://www.accre.vanderbilt.edu/education-outreach/
c_programming_2009/index.php

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References

Reference book:
P.J. Deitel and H.M. Deitel, “C How to Program”, Fifth Edition,
Pearson Prentice-Hall, 2007.
Jeri R. Hanly and Elliot B. Koffman, “Problem Solving and Program
Design in C”, Sixth Edition, Addison Wesley, 2009
Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis M. Ritchie, “C Programming
Language”, Second Edition, Prentice Hall, PTR, 1988.
Anany Levitin, “Introduction to The Design and Analysis of
Algorithms”, Pearson Addison Wesley, 2003.

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Course Outline

Programming Methodologies
Algorithm Design

Flowcharts and Pseudo Codes

Top-down Program Design

Structured Language (focus on C Language)

Data Types, Declarations, Operators and Expressions

Input and Output

Control Structures

Functions and Program Structure

Pointers

Arrays, Strings, and Unions

File Processing

Discipline of Programming
Programming Style

Structured Coding and Program Modularity

Program Documentation and Maintenance

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Outline

Basic computer concepts

Different types of programming languages
C programming language
History
C Standard Library
Object-oriented Programming
Typical C Program Development Environment
Introduction to C programming language

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What is a Computer?

Computer
Device capable of performing computations and making logical decisions

(hardware)
Computers process data under the control of sets of instructions called

computer programs (software)

Hardware
Various devices comprising a computer, such as central processing unit

(CPU), memory, motherboard and hard disks as well as peripheral devices

(keyboard, mouse, external display, optical drive)
Hardware trends - Every year or two the following approximately double:

» Amount of memory in which to execute programs

» The processor speed at which computers execute their programs (Moore’s
Law)
Software
Programs that run on a computer

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Computer Organization

Six logical units in every computer:

Input unit
» Obtains information from input devices (keyboard, mouse)
Output unit
» Outputs information (to screen, to printer, to control other devices)
Memory unit
» Rapid access, low capacity, stores input information
Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU)
» Performs arithmetic calculations and logic decisions
Central processing unit (CPU)
» Supervises and coordinates the other sections of the computer
» ALU is now a fundamental building block of the CPU
Secondary storage unit
» Cheap, long-term, high-capacity storage

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Hardware

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Evolution of Operating Systems
Batch processing
Do only one job or task at a time
Multiprogramming
Resource managment and sharing for multiple programs
Quasi-simultaneous program execution
Single user
Multiuser/Timesharing Systems
Management of multiple simultaneous users
interconnected via terminals
Fair resource management: CPU scheduling

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Operating Systems

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Personal Computing, Distributed Computing, and Client/Server Computing

Personal computers
Economical enough for individual
Distributed computing
Computing distributed over networks
Client/server computing
Sharing of information across computer networks between file
servers and clients

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Personal Computing, Distributed Computing, and Client/Server Computing

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Outline

Basic computer concepts

Different types of programming languages
C programming language
History
C Standard Library
Object-oriented Programming
Typical C Program Development Environment
Introduction to C programming language

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Machine Languages, Assembly Languages, and High-level Languages

Three types of programming languages

Machine languages
» machine specific instructions, executed by CPU
» lowest level representation of computer program
Assembly languages
» English-like abbreviations representing elementary computer
operations (translated via assemblers)
» Example: mov ax, 1234h (mov value 1234h into register ax)
High-level languages
» Codes similar to everyday English
» Use mathematical notations (translated via compilers)
» Example: grossPay = basePay + overTimePay

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Outline

Basic computer concepts

Different types of programming languages
C programming language
History
C Standard Library
Object-oriented Programming
Typical C Program Development Environment
Introduction to C programming language

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History of C

C
Evolved by Dennis Ritchie from two previous programming
languages, BCPL and B
Used to develop UNIX
Used to write modern operating systems
Hardware independent (portable)
Standardization
Many slight variations of C existed, and were incompatible
Committee formed to create a "unambiguous, machine-
independent" definition
Standard created in 1989, updated in 1999

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C Standard Library

C programs consist of pieces/modules called functions

A programmer can create his own functions
» Advantage: the programmer knows exactly how it works
» Disadvantage: time consuming
Programmers will often use the C library functions
» Use these as building blocks
Avoid re-inventing the wheel
» If a premade function exists, generally best to use it rather than write
your own
» Library functions carefully written, efficient, and portable

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Outline
Basic computer concepts
Different types of programming languages
C programming language
History
C Standard Library
Object-oriented Programming
Typical C Program Development Environment
Introduction to C programming language

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C++

C++
Superset of C developed by Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Labs
"Spruces up" C, and provides object-oriented capabilities
Object-oriented design very powerful
» 10 to 100 fold increase in productivity
Learning C++
Because C++ includes C, some feel it is best to master C, then learn
C++

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Java

Java is used to
Create Web pages with dynamic and interactive content
Develop large-scale enterprise applications
Enhance the functionality of Web servers
Provide applications for consumer devices (such as cell phones,
pagers and personal digital assistants)

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Outline
Basic computer concepts
Different types of programming languages
C programming language
History
C Standard Library
Object-oriented Programming
Typical C Program Development Environment
Introduction to C programming language

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A Typical C Program Development Environment

Phases of C Programs:
Edit (C program file names should
end with the .c extension)
Preprocess

Compile

Link

Load

Execute

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Outline
Basic computer concepts
Different types of programming languages
C programming language
History
C Standard Library
Object-oriented Programming
Typical C Program Development Environment
Introduction to C programming language

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Outline

Print a line
Escape sequence
Variables and Data types
Memory concepts
Arithmetic operators
If-then statements
Review

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A Simple C Program: Printing a Line of Text
Example 01:

/* and */ indicate comments – ignored by compiler

#include directive tells C to load a particular file

Left brace declares beginning of main function

Statement tells C to perform an action

return statement ends the function

Right brace declares end of main function

Comments
Text surrounded by /* and */ is ignored by computer
Used to describe program
#include <stdio.h>
A directive to the C preprocessor
Tells computer to load contents of a certain file
<stdio.h> allows standard input/output operations

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A Simple C Program: Printing a Line of Text

int main()
C programs contain one or more functions, exactly one of which
must be main
Parenthesis used to indicate a function
int means that main "returns" an integer value
Braces ({ and }) indicate a block
» The bodies of all functions must be contained in braces
printf( "Welcome to C!\n" );
Instructs computer to perform an action
» Specifically, prints the string of characters within quotes (" ")
Entire line called a statement
» All statements must end with a semicolon (;)
Escape character (\)
» Indicates that printf should do something out of the ordinary
» \n is the newline character
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A Simple C Program: Printing a Line of Text

return 0;
A way to exit a function
return 0, in this case, means that the program terminated normally
Right brace }
Indicates end of main has been reached
Linker
When a function is called, linker locates it in the library
Inserts it into object program
If function name is misspelled, the linker will produce an error
because it will not be able to find function in the library

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Outline

Print a line
Escape sequence
Variables and Data types
Memory concepts
Arithmetic operators
If-then statements
Review

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Some common escape sequences

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The printf function can print Welcome to C! several different
ways

Example 02:

fig02_03.c

printf statement starts printing from

where the last statement ended, so the
text is printed on one line.

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The printf function can print Welcome to C!
several different ways

Example 03:

Newline characters move the cursor to the next line

fig02_04.c

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Objectives

Print a line
Escape sequence
Variables and Data types
Memory concepts
Arithmetic operators
If-then statements
Review

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Example 04:

Definitions of variables

scanf obtains a value from the user

and assigns it to integer1

scanf obtains a value from the user

and assigns it to integer2

Assigns a value to sum

Another Simple C Program: Adding Two Integers

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Another Simple C Program: Adding Two Integers

As before
Comments, #include <stdio.h> and main
int integer1, integer2, sum;
Definition of variables
» Variables: locations in memory where a value can be stored
int means the variables can hold integers (-1, 3, 0, 47)
Variable names (identifiers)
» integer1, integer2, sum
» Identifiers: consist of letters, digits (cannot begin with a digit) and
underscores( _ )
Case sensitive
Definitions appear before executable statements
» If an executable statement references and undeclared variable it will
produce a syntax (compiler) error

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Another Simple C Program: Adding Two Integers

scanf( "%d", &integer1 );

Obtains a value from the user
» scanf uses standard input (usually keyboard)
This scanf statement has two arguments
» %d - indicates data should be a decimal integer
» &integer1 - location in memory to store variable
» & is confusing in beginning – for now, just remember to include it
with the variable name in scanf statements
When executing the program the user responds to the scanf
statement by typing in a number, then pressing the enter (return)
key

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Outline

Print a line
Escape sequence
Variables and Data types
Memory concepts
Arithmetic operators
If-then statements
Review

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Memory Concepts

Variables
Variable names correspond to locations in the computer's memory
Every variable has a name, a type, a size and a value
Whenever a new value is placed into a variable (through scanf, for
example), it replaces (and destroys) the previous value
Reading variables from memory does not change them

Memory location showing the name and value of a variable.

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Memory Concepts

Memory locations after both variables are input.

Memory locations after a calculation.

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Outline

Print a line
Escape sequence
Variables and Data types
Memory concepts
Arithmetic operators
If-then statements
Review

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Another Simple C Program: Adding Two Integers

= (assignment operator)
Assigns a value to a variable
Is a binary operator (has two operands)
» sum = variable1 + variable2;
» sum gets variable1 + variable2;
Variable receiving value on left
printf( "Sum is %d\n", sum );
Similar to scanf
» %d means decimal integer will be printed
» sum specifies what integer will be printed
Calculations can be performed inside printf statements
» printf( "Sum is %d\n", integer1 + integer2 );

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Arithmetic

Arithmetic calculations
Use * for multiplication and / for division
Integer division truncates remainder
» 7/5 evaluates to 1
Modulus operator(%) returns the remainder
» 7 % 5 evaluates to 2
Operator precedence
Some arithmetic operators act before others (i.e., multiplication
before addition)
» Use parenthesis when needed
Example: Find the average of three variables a, b and c
» Do not use: a + b + c / 3
» Use: (a + b + c ) / 3

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Arithmetic

Arithmetic operators:

Rules of operator precedence:

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Example: operator precedence

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Outline

Print a line
Escape sequence
Variables and Data types
Memory concepts
Arithmetic operators
If-then statements
Review

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Decision Making: Equality and Relational Operators

Executable statements
Perform actions (calculations, input/output of data)
Perform decisions
» May want to print "pass" or "fail" given the value of a test grade
if control statement
If a condition is true, then the body of the if statement executed
» 0 is false, non-zero is true
Control always resumes after the if structure

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Decision Making: Equality and Relational Operators

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An Example to Use if statements, relational operators, and
equality operators

Example 05:

Checks if num1 is equal to num2

Checks if num1 is not equal to num2

Checks if num1 is less than num2

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Checks if num1 is greater than num2

Checks if num1 is less than or equal to num2

Checks if num1 is greater than equal to num2

fig02_13.c (2
of 3 )

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fig02_13.c (3
of 3 )

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Precedence and associativity of the operators discussed so far

C’s keywords. Keywords

Special words reserved for C
Cannot be used as identifiers
or variable names

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Outline

Print a line
Escape sequence
Variables and Data types
Memory concepts
Arithmetic operators
If-then statements
Review

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Review

Comments begin with /* and end with */. Comments

document programs and improve readability.
The #include directive tells the preprocessor to include the
content of another file (typically a header file such as <stdio.h>).
The <stdio.h> header contains information used by the compiler
when compiling calls to standard input/output library functions
such as printf.
Every program in C begins executing at the function main.
Functions can return information.
Functions can receive information.
A function starts by a left brace { and ends by a right brace }.
Every statement must end by a semicolon.
Escape sequences, for example \n newline.
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Review

A variable is a location in memory where a value can be stored

for use by a program.
All variables must be defined with a name and a data type
before they can be used in a program.
The %d indicates that the data should be an decimal integer.
The & indicates the memory address of an variable.
Function printf can also use a format control string.
Every variable has a name, a type and a value. Variable names
correspond to locations in the computer’s memory.
Arithmetic operators and precedence.

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Review

if statement allows a program to make a decision based on the

truth or falsity of a statement of fact called a condition.
Conditions in if statement are formed by using the equality
operators and relational operators.
The precedence of relational operators
= should be read “gets” and == should be read “double equals”.
Keywords.

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