Programming in C
Course Outline
Welcome to Programming in C — a foundational course designed to build strong problem-solving skills and introduce you to the core concepts of the C programming language. This outline summarizes the modules you will study throughout the semester.
Module I: Introduction to Computing
- Fundamentals of computing and historical evolution
- Early computers and computing machines
- Components of a computer system
- Problem-solving using pseudo-code and flowcharts
- Concepts of memory, variables, values, and instructions
- Basics of programs and programming logic
Module II: Overview of C
- Phases of developing a C program
- Importance and applications of C language
- Basic structure and sample programs
- Executing and debugging C programs
- Programming style guidelines
Module III: Data Types, I/O, Decision Making, and Loops
- Constants, variables, and data types
- Storage classes and operator precedence
- Arithmetic, relational, and logical operations
- Input–output statements and compound statements
- Decision making: if, if-else, switch, goto
- Looping constructs: for, while, do-while
- Loop control statements and overflow handling
Module IV: Arrays, Strings, and Functions
- One-dimensional, two-dimensional, and multidimensional arrays
- Character arrays and string handling
- Function prototypes, definitions, and calls
- Argument passing (by value and via pointers)
- Recursion and iterative formulations
- Basic searching and sorting concepts
Module V: Pointers, Structures, and Unions
- Pointer declaration, initialization, dereferencing, and arithmetic
- Pointers with arrays, strings, and functions
- Structures: definition, operations, nesting, and arrays of structures
- Passing structures as function arguments
- Self-referential structures
- Union definition, usage, and memory sharing behavior
Module VI: File Management, Dynamic Memory, and Preprocessors
- File operations: defining, opening, closing, reading/writing
- Streams and command-line arguments
- Error handling and random access in files
- Dynamic memory: malloc, calloc, realloc
- Basics of linked lists using dynamic allocation
- Macros, file inclusion, and preprocessor directives
By the end of this course, you will have a strong foundation in procedural programming, memory management, data structures, and essential C programming techniques required for further courses in Computer Science.