Learn C Programming

Get started with writing simple programs in C while learning core programming concepts

Key Features

• Learn essential C concepts such as variables, data structures, functions, loops, and pointers
• Grasp the core programming aspects that form the base of many modern programming languages
• Work with updated code samples and cover array declaration and initialization in detail in this new edition

Book Description

The foundation for many modern programming languages such as C++, C#, JavaScript, and Go, C is widely used as a system programming language as well as for embedded systems and high-performance computing. With this book, you'll be able to get up to speed with C in no time.

The book takes you through basic programming concepts and shows you how to implement them in the C programming language. Throughout the book, you’ll create and run programs that demonstrate essential C concepts, such as program structure with functions, control structures such as loops and conditional statements, and complex data structures. As you make progress, you’ll get to grips with in-code documentation, testing, and validation methods. This new edition expands upon the use of enumerations, arrays, and additional C features, and provides two working programs based on the code used in the book. What's more, this book uses the method of intentional failure, where you'll develop a working program and then purposely break it to see what happens, thereby learning how to recognize possible mistakes when they happen.

By the end of this C programming book, you’ll have developed basic programming skills in C that can be easily applied to other programming languages and have gained a solid foundation for you to build on as a programmer.

What you will learn

• Implement fundamental programming concepts through C programs
• Understand the importance of creating complex data types and the functions to manipulate them
• Develop good coding practices and learn to write clean code
• Validate your programs before developing them further
• Use the C Standard Library functions and understand why it is advantageous
• Build and run a multi-file program with Make
• Get an overview of how C has changed since its introduction and where it is going

Who this book is for

If you're an absolute beginner who has basic familiarity with operating a computer, this book will help you learn the most fundamental concepts and practices that you need to know to become a successful C programmer. If you're an experienced programmer, you'll find the full range of C syntax as well as common C idioms covered in the book useful.

Table of Contents

1. Running Hello, world
2. Understanding Program Structure
3. Working with Basic Data Types
4. Using Variables and Assignments
5. Exploring Operators and Expressions
6. Exploring Conditional Program Flow
7. Exploring Loops and Iterations
8. Creating and Using Enumerations
9. Creating and Using Structures
10. Creating Custom Data Types with Typedef
11. Working with Arrays
12. Working with Multi-dimensional Arrays
13. Using Pointers
14. Understanding Arrays and Pointers
15. Working with Strings
16. Creating and Using More Complex Structures
17. Understanding Memory Allocation and Lifetime
18. Using Dynamic Memory Allocation
19. Exploring Formatted Output
20. Getting Input From the Command Line
21. Exploring Formatted Input
22. Working with Files
23. Using File Input and File Output
24. Working with Multi-File Programs
25. Understanding Scope
26. Building Multi-File Programs with Make
27. Creating Two Card Programs
28. Appendix

Jeff Szuhay is the principal developer at QuarterTil2 which specializes in graphics-rich software chronographs for desktop environments. In his software career of over 35 years, he has engaged in a full range of development activities from systems analysis and systems performance tuning to application design, from initial development through full testing and final delivery. Throughout that time, he has taught computer applications and programming languages at various educational levels from elementary school students to university students, as well as developed and presented professional, on-site training.