What is C? Career in C programming and advantages of C.
C Programming Tutorial
C is a procedural and general-purpose programming language that is used most widely for system programming. Dennis Ritchie initially developed C between 1972 and 1973 at Bell Labs. American National Standard Institute (ANSI) later formalized this programming language in 1988. The initial purpose of the development of the C programming language was to make utilities of the UNIX based operating system. Directly or indirectly many other computer programming languages have taken/borrowed features from C programming language. Program written in C can be very efficiently mapped to machine instructions which make C programming very much popular to use for any embedded software application development which runs on a microcontroller.
Why do we need to learn C?
- C is the most widely and commonly used programming language to develop the different operating systems. The popular operating systems like UNIX and LINUX are written in C.
- C program allows programs to maintain portable and compact code along with maintaining performance and minimizing CPU constraints like memory and execution time etc.
- C programming language allows programmers to control memory allocation and reallocation which will be very helpful while working with software development for small embedded systems.
- C is middle-level language and very fast in terms of execution compared to other programming languages.
- Different algorithms and data structures can be implemented using C language very efficiently which can be used in may software applications.
- Due to the portability feature of C programming language, the C program written for one computer platform can easily be run on different other platforms with very little modification in code.
- Various compilers that are used for other programming languages can be very efficiently designed and developed using the C programming language.
Applications of C
- To develop and design system software like compilers for other programming languages.
- To develop different operating systems for embedded devices and kernels.
- To develop graphics related software like gaming application.
- To design and develop network device software.
- To develop a software system where memory and execution time is constraint like software for microcontrollers which is mainly used for small embedded systems.
- Used for systems that require direct access/modification of data from memory.
Example (One short example)
To have an initial understanding of C programming language, Have a look at below sample example code where two age variables are taken as input and compared those for age comparison.
Code:
#include <stdio.h>int main(){int age1 = 90;int age2 = 70;if (age1 > age2){printf("age1 is greater than age 2");}else{printf("age2 is greater than age 1");}return 0;}Output:
Prerequisites
You should have a basic understanding of computer programming language methodologies like variable, condition, looping, constants, operators, etc. Knowledge of any other programming language is an added advantage to learn this tutorial.
Introduction to C
The following article provides an outline for Introduction to C. C language is one of the most popular high-level programming languages, which was initially developed by the developer named Dennis Ritchie for the Unix OS primarily. It was first used on a Digital Equipment Corporation computer called PDP – 11 was in 1972. It is a procedural programming language whose main purpose was to be used as a system’s programming language to write an operating system.
Many popular operating systems, such as Unix operating system and all Unix-related applications, are written in the C language. It is among the most popular languages between developers as it’s easy to learn and code, produces efficient programs, is a structured language, able to handle low-level activities, can be compiled on a variety of computers.
Main Components of C
Given below are the main components of C:
- This programming language was created so that Unix could be written using it.
- This language has B language as its immediate parent language, which was developed in the 1970s.
- The ANSI( American National Standard Institute ) formalized this language as an official programming language in 1988.
- When it comes about System friendly programming language, there is no better choice than C.
- The state of the art software is built using C language.
- The main reason for using C language as the system-specific programming language is its high speed and efficiency, which is as close as the assembly language.
- The c programs have an extension of .c.
Characteristics of C
Given below are the characteristics of C:
- Low-level memory access: The lightweight programming language requires a low level of memory access and hence is a good fit for system programming.
- Simplified keyword set: Rich and easy to understand and use a set of simplified keywords that meet one of the most important characteristics of this language.
- The clean style: This language focuses on keeping the code neat and tidy, and hence the code flow is clean.
- Pointer mechanism: The efficient use of a pointer and addressing mechanism in C language makes it unique and different from all other programming languages.
- An efficient language for compiler designing: The reasons such as the lightweight, rich and varied set of commands and features, ability to be able to work extremely well with hardware, low memory utilization makes it an ideal language for the development of compiler designing.
- It is a very robust language with a rich set of built-in operators and functions.
- The programs which are coded in C are fast and more efficient.
- It is a highly portable language. It means that once the programs which are written in C can easily run on various other machines with next to no modification.
- It has a huge collection of library or built-in functions. It also provides us with the capabilities to custom or create our own function and include it in the collection of the C library.
- It is a highly extensible language.
Applications of C
Given below are the applications of C:
- Operating systems: This language is used to develop operating systems because of its high flexibility and versatility.
- Microcontrollers: This language is used in system programming due to its efficiency and speed and hence at times replaces the need to use assembly language. The compiler of C directly converts into machine language. It also makes a good choice as it allows maximum control with a minimal set of commands.
- Scientific systems: This language is used in building and creating many scientific systems.
- Parent language for advanced languages: All the high-level programming languages are a result of the C language; therefore, knowing this language opens many doors for various other programming languages.
- Assemblers: All the assemblers which are put to use to execute machine-level hardware-specific systems are created in C language.
- Text Editors: One of the important feature or a characteristic of the text editor is that it’s lightweight and no language better than C can create the text editors.
- Print spoolers: The software program which is responsible for sending the jobs to the printer once the command is fired is created with the help of the C programming language.
- Network drivers: The network drivers responsible for accessing the internet and running the WIFI and other kinds of drivers are all written in C language.
- Modern programs: Various modern programs whose prime requirement is to consume less memory and be closer to hardware communication are written in the C programming language.
- Databases: There are many databases that are required to store a huge amount of data in them and thus are written in C language.
- Language interpreters: The various language interpreters are the ones who are responsible for changing the language type from a high level to a machine level language.
- Utilities: Various command and program system-specific utilities are also written in C language.
Advantages and Disadvantages of C
Given below are the advantages and disadvantages mentioned:
Given below are the advantages and disadvantages mentioned:
Advantages:
- C language forms as the building block for many major programming languages and have huge and powerful operators and data types and therefore makes it a fast and efficient programming language.
- It is a highly portable language which means it is interoperable.
- The 32 keywords which are present as a part of built-in functions are present in ANSI-C. Alongside, user-built functions are also used widely.
- This language can be extended by making use of many other library functions.
- The modular structure of the programming language makes debugging, testing, and programming of this language much easier.
- C language forms as the building block for many major programming languages and have huge and powerful operators and data types and therefore makes it a fast and efficient programming language.
- It is a highly portable language which means it is interoperable.
- The 32 keywords which are present as a part of built-in functions are present in ANSI-C. Alongside, user-built functions are also used widely.
- This language can be extended by making use of many other library functions.
- The modular structure of the programming language makes debugging, testing, and programming of this language much easier.
Disadvantages:
- C language is devoid of the terminology and the concept of OOPS, which is a very popular and important concept these days among all high-level programming language.
- No Strict type checking possible.
- No checks for runtime.
- It doesn’t give us the provision of having a namespace.
- It also doesn’t have the concept of the constructor as well as a destructor.
- C language is devoid of the terminology and the concept of OOPS, which is a very popular and important concept these days among all high-level programming language.
- No Strict type checking possible.
- No checks for runtime.
- It doesn’t give us the provision of having a namespace.
- It also doesn’t have the concept of the constructor as well as a destructor.
Introduction to C
C is the commonly used system programming language that can be applied to any kind of system development, such as for a system application development process, a software application development process or even for web-based application development. It works with an in-built compiler, as it works on converting C from being a programming language into a machine-readable coded language. It is the most preferred language for decades now due to its high performance, remarkable efficiency, and portability.
C is the commonly used system programming language that can be applied to any kind of system development, such as for a system application development process, a software application development process or even for web-based application development. It works with an in-built compiler, as it works on converting C from being a programming language into a machine-readable coded language. It is the most preferred language for decades now due to its high performance, remarkable efficiency, and portability.
Prerequisites for learning C Language
You need to know nothing much before starting learning C. Basic knowledge about logic building skills, and mathematics are enough to start learning it.
You need to know nothing much before starting learning C. Basic knowledge about logic building skills, and mathematics are enough to start learning it.
Understanding C
There are a fixed structure and syntax for writing a program in any language, and writing it in any other form will give a compilation error. It means that we have a fixed structure for writing a C program as well.
There are a fixed structure and syntax for writing a program in any language, and writing it in any other form will give a compilation error. It means that we have a fixed structure for writing a C program as well.
Structure of C
Uses
- Operating Systems: It is used to program Operating systems like Windows, Linux, Mac. Kernel, which is also known as a central part of an OS, is mostly developed in the C language.
- Mobile Phone: Mobile phone kernels are also written using this language. So, the smartphones which we have in our hands all the time are running on C kernel.
- Mobile Applications: Languages like C++, C#, Objective-C is derived from it and are used to make phone and web applications.
- Databases: Many popular databases like MySQL, Oracle Database, MS SQL Server are written using this language.
- 3D movies, Animation, Computer Graphics: Applications which make 3D movies, Animation, Computer Graphics need to be fast and efficient. Therefore, we code these applications in C, as it is very efficient and fast.
- Embedded Systems: Embedded systems like Mp3 player, Alarm clock, radio, microwave, coffee making machine, sensors in the car etc., are coded and programmed in C.
- Operating Systems: It is used to program Operating systems like Windows, Linux, Mac. Kernel, which is also known as a central part of an OS, is mostly developed in the C language.
- Mobile Phone: Mobile phone kernels are also written using this language. So, the smartphones which we have in our hands all the time are running on C kernel.
- Mobile Applications: Languages like C++, C#, Objective-C is derived from it and are used to make phone and web applications.
- Databases: Many popular databases like MySQL, Oracle Database, MS SQL Server are written using this language.
- 3D movies, Animation, Computer Graphics: Applications which make 3D movies, Animation, Computer Graphics need to be fast and efficient. Therefore, we code these applications in C, as it is very efficient and fast.
- Embedded Systems: Embedded systems like Mp3 player, Alarm clock, radio, microwave, coffee making machine, sensors in the car etc., are coded and programmed in C.
Advantages
Below are the advantages:
- Portable: Its portability allows code to run on different computers and different operating systems without making any change.
- Efficient: It is a general-purpose programming language. Therefore it works efficiently.
- Case-sensitive: You need to be very careful while writing the code as it treats lowercase and uppercase letter differently.
- Memory Manipulation and allocation: It has the ability to manipulate arbitrary memory addresses. It also allows allocating the memory dynamically.
- Middle-level language: It merges the features of both low level and high-level languages in itself.
Therefore, it can be used for both:
- Low-level programming: Like in the development of Kernels
- High-level programming: Like in the development of applications.
- Structured programming language: It is a structured programming language. Therefore, a complex program can be broken into different functions.
- Ability to extend itself: Since the library supports it, it allows us to add our own functions to its library.
Below are the advantages:
- Portable: Its portability allows code to run on different computers and different operating systems without making any change.
- Efficient: It is a general-purpose programming language. Therefore it works efficiently.
- Case-sensitive: You need to be very careful while writing the code as it treats lowercase and uppercase letter differently.
- Memory Manipulation and allocation: It has the ability to manipulate arbitrary memory addresses. It also allows allocating the memory dynamically.
- Middle-level language: It merges the features of both low level and high-level languages in itself.
Therefore, it can be used for both:
- Low-level programming: Like in the development of Kernels
- High-level programming: Like in the development of applications.
- Structured programming language: It is a structured programming language. Therefore, a complex program can be broken into different functions.
- Ability to extend itself: Since the library supports it, it allows us to add our own functions to its library.
Why should we use C Language?
We should use this language because of the following reasons:
- First, it makes the code size small.
- It is efficient, portable, structured and well understood.
- It has only 32 keywords which are easy to remember.
- It is near to Assembly language as code written in C language runs as fast as code written in assembly language.
- It has Pointers that connects hardware like kernel, drivers to a system; because of this reason, C will always be in use.
We should use this language because of the following reasons:
- First, it makes the code size small.
- It is efficient, portable, structured and well understood.
- It has only 32 keywords which are easy to remember.
- It is near to Assembly language as code written in C language runs as fast as code written in assembly language.
- It has Pointers that connects hardware like kernel, drivers to a system; because of this reason, C will always be in use.
Scope
Though many people do not use it, it is still one of the most valuable and sought skills. Moreover, it is worth learning it because there is a lack of C programmers, and work is not less.
Operating systems, Embedded systems can only be coded in C language as they need fast and efficient execution.
Though many people do not use it, it is still one of the most valuable and sought skills. Moreover, it is worth learning it because there is a lack of C programmers, and work is not less.
Operating systems, Embedded systems can only be coded in C language as they need fast and efficient execution.
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