C Programming Tips -Must read
What Is the C Programming Language?
To understand what the C programming language
is, it is worth learning what coding is before continuing!
C is a low-level procedural programming
language. C is much closer to the actual machine code your computer runs on.
This makes it incredibly fast, but challenging to use, and capable of breaking
your system if you are not careful!
Why Learn to Program in C?
If C is so complicated and dangerous, why
learn it?
Well, C is everywhere.
- Almost every computer operating system is written in C.
- Most smartphones and tablets have a C based operating
system.
- Almost every microcontroller, whether it runs the
display on your microwave door or the internal telemetry in a car, is
programmed in C.
- C++, Objective C, and C# all are built directly on top
of C, and Python was written in it.
- A good knowledge of C looks great on any programmer's
resume.
Some people think learning C before any other
programming language results in a better understanding of programming as a
whole.
Learning C is also learning about how your
computer works. C programmers can have a deeper understanding of the way code
affects systems, and find learning other programming languages easier as a
result.
1. Learn the Basic Variable
Types
Data comes in different types. It is
important to know what type of data you are working with, as they can be easy
to confuse. An example is knowing that the number 5 can be an integer (as in
the number 5), as well as a character (the written character 5).
int number = 5;
Now there is no confusion, the variable
number is assigned the integer value 5. C needs to be told what types to expect
in order to work the way you want it to.
Data types and how they are assigned to
variables is an essential part of your C course, and it's important to
understand.
Knowing how to give data the correct type is
an important skill in all programming, but it is essential in C.
2. Learn the Operators
If C is the first language you are learning,
you will likely be learning operators for the first time. Operators are symbols
that tell the compiler to carry out a task. Perhaps the simplest example is
the + operator.
answer = number + anotherNumber;
No prizes for guessing that this code adds
together two integer variables. Not all operators are this simple though.
C uses many operators for arithmetic,
assignment, and logic among others. Knowing what each of these operators do will help you
pick up core programming concepts quicker.
3. Use the Standard
Libraries
C may be low level, but it does have a set of
libraries to help with creating programs. Mathematical operations,
locale-specific data (like currency symbols), and various variable types and
macros are all defined in libraries.
You can use these libraries by including them
into your code. Take this example:
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
printf("Hello, World!");
return 0;
}
In C, the simple act of outputting to the
console requires the inclusion of the stdio.h (standard
input/output) header file.
There are 15 standard libraries for
programming in C, and following a guide to what they all do will help you
with your learning.
4. C Is Unforgiving
C will do precisely what you tell it, and
instead of complaining when something doesn't make sense it will still try to
keep working. This can not only break your program but cause problems to your
entire system!
While this sounds dramatic, it usually isn't.
You aren't going to break your computer. You might end up with some weird bugs
though. Take this example:
This piece of code prints questions to the
console, before scanning what the user inputs and storing them as integers. The
program is designed to add them together and subtract them before printing the
answers back to the user.
5. Debugging Is Your Best
Friend
Since
C code can contain unwanted behavior, it can cause errors which are difficult
to track down, with no apparent reason. To stop yourself from completely losing
your mind you should get comfortable with debugging your code.
A
debugger like GDB can help with
this. Here, GDB is running on the faulty script from above.
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