Computer Programming

CSC1261

Dr. Didacienne Mukanyiligira

C programming @2017-2018
 Content
▪ Chapter 1 Introduction
▪ Chapter 2 Data Types
▪ Chapter 3 Expressions and Operators
▪ Chapter 4 Decision Control Statement
▪ Chapter 5 Looping
▪ Chapter 6 Arrays
▪ Chapter 7 Functions
▪ Chapter 8 Structures
▪ Chapter 9 Pointers

C programming @2017-2018
 Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 General Programming Concepts
1.2 Stages in Program Development
1.3 Debugging the Computer Program
1.4 C Fundamentals

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1.1 GENERAL PROGRAMMING CONCEPTS

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 a. Programming Languages Description
• A computer program can be defined as a set of step-by-
step computer instructions that are designed to tell a
computer what and how to accomplish a task.

• Computer programming is the process of designing,

writing, testing, debugging , and maintaining the source
code of computer programs.

• A computer program's source code is the collection of

files needed to convert from human-readable form to
some kind of computer-executable form.

• The source code may be converted into an executable

file (object code) by a compiler.
C programming @2017-2018
 Programming Languages
• A programming language is an artificial language designed to
express computations that can be performed by a machine,
particularly a computer.

• Programming languages can be used to create programs that

control the behavior of a machine, to express algorithms
precisely, or as a mode of human communication.

C programming @2017-2018
 Programming Languages categories
1. Low level language: is a programming language that is
machine dependent, it runs on only on particular type of
computer.

• There are 2 types:

a. Machine language
• Known as the first generation of programming languages,
is the only language the computer recognizes.
• Machine language is a collection of very detailed
instructions that are meant to control the internal
circuitry (hardware) of a particular computer.
• Machine language instructions uses a series of binary (0’s
and 1’s)
C programming @2017-2018
 Programming Languages categories
b. Assembly language: the second generation of programming
languages, a programmer writes instructions using symbolic
codes, these are meaningful abbreviations and codes.

– e.g:
✓ A- for Addition
✓ C- for Compare
✓ L- for Load
✓ M- for Multiply

C programming @2017-2018
 Programming language categories

2. High-level language
• A programming language such as C, FORTRAN, or Pascal that
enables a programmer to write programs that are more or
less independent of a particular type of computer.

• Such languages are considered high-level because they are

closer to human languages and further from machine
languages.

• In contrast, assembly languages are considered low-level

because they are very close to machine languages.

C programming @2017-2018
 Advantages of high level programming
1. The main advantage of high-level languages over low-level
languages is that they are easier to read, write, and maintain.

2. Programs written in a high-level language must be translated

into machine language by a compiler or interpreter.

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 Compilation Terminologies
• A program that is written in high-level language, must be translated
into machine language before it can be executed.

• Compilers
– The compiler translates the entire program (written in high-level
language) into machine language before executing any set of the
instructions.

– A compiler reads the entire program and converts it to the object

code. It provides errors not only for one line but for the entire
program. Only errors free programs are executed.

– It consumes little time for converting a source program to an object

program. When the program length for any application is large,
compilers are preferred.

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 Compilation Terminology
• Interpreter
– An interpreter reads only one line of a source code at a time and
converts it to object codes.
– In case of any errors, the same will be indicated instantly.
– The program written with an interpreter can easily be read and
understood by the other users as well.

Input Interpreter/Compiler Output

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 Comparison between Interpreter and Compiler

Interpreter Compiler

• It reads only one line of a • It reads the entire program

.source program at a time and and converts it to the object
converts it to object code. code.

• It is easier. • It is not easier.

• It consumes more time for • It consumes little time for

converting a source program to converting a source program to
an object program. an object program.

C programming @2017-2018
 1.2 STAGES IN PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

1. Define or understand the problem: First of all, you must understand a

problem, if you don’t know the problem you can’t find a solution as
desired output.
2. Analyze the problem: Once you know what the problem is, you can
analyze it and make a plan to resolve it by thinking about the input data.
3. Develop an algorithm and flowchart: This is a process whereby a set of
instructions are used to produce a solution to a given problem.
4. Writing the code: This is the next step where you write the codes for the
program to make it work.
5. Compiling and debugging the code: Once the program coding is
completed, you compile your program means you translate the source
code to object code and if there are errors, you debug them. Debugging
means to correct or remove errors (bugs) if there are in a program.
6. Run the program: To run an application means to execute it and check, if
using some data, it is working with the correctness of the program
C programming @2017-2018
 1.3 Debugging a Computer Program
• Errors are mistakes which we the programmers make.
• Programming errors are called bugs.
• The process of tracking them down and correcting them if
they are in a computer program is therefore, called
Debugging.
• Programming errors come in 3 categories:
✓ Syntax error (compile error).
✓ Run-time error.
✓ Logic errors.

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 CONT’D…
a. Compile (syntax) error: you get it when you’ve broken the
rules of computer programming language.
E.g: Spelling printf as prinntf or printif
➢ You also receive a compiler error, if you accidentally use the
wrong punctuation or place a punctuation in the wrong place.
b. Run-time error: it can be caused by attempting to do
impossible arithmetic operations, such as calculating non-
numeric data, dividing a number by zero, or find the square
root of a negative number.
c. Logic error: with this, your application runs but produces
incorrect result.
➢ Perhaps the results of calculation are incorrect or the wrong text
appears, or the text is ok but appears in the wrong location.

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 FLOWCHART
• A flowchart: A flow chart is a graphical or symbolic
representation of a process.

• Each step in the process is represented by a different symbol

and contains a short description of the process step.

• The flow chart symbols are linked together with arrows

showing the process flow direction.

• And is also a graphical representation of an algorithm.

C programming @2017-2018
 Different flow chart symbols

• Start/Terminator: An oval flow chart shape

indicating the start or end of the process.

• Data: A parallelogram that indicates data input or

output (I/O) for a process.

• Process: A rectangular flow chart shape indicating a

normal process flow step.

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 Different flow chart symbols

• Decision: A diamond flow chart shape indicating a

branch in the process flow (Conditioning).

• Connector: A small, labeled, circular flow chart

shape used to indicate a jump in the process flow

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 Example
• A flowchart to compare two numbers and display the greatest
Start

A,B

A,B

No Yes
A>B

B A

End

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 1.4 C FUNDAMENTALS
• C is a computer programming language.
• C is the most popular programming languages developed in
1972 by Dennis Ritchie.
• C is one of thousands of programming languages currently in
use.
• To write and run a C program, you must have access to a C
compiler.

C programming @2017-2018
 How C is applied in our daily basis
1. It is used in making computer games.
2. Used for developing operating systems.
3. Used in commercial company for robot control mechanism
using micro controller system.
4. Used to control traffic light system. Using loop structures.
5. Used in motor system control for increase the speed and
velocity of a motor.

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 Advantages of C
➢ C is portable
➢ C is Powerful and Flexible
➢ C has few keywords
➢ Wide acceptability (Popularity)

C programming @2017-2018
 C is portable
• C program written for one computer system (an IBM PC, for
example) can be compiled and run on another system with a
little or no modification.

• Machine language or assembly language varies from

computer to computer and hence, program written in these
languages are not portable.

C programming @2017-2018
 C is Powerful and Flexible
• What you can accomplish is limited only by your imagination.
The language itself places no constraints on you.

• C is used for project as diverse as operating system, word

processors, spreadsheet and even compiler of other language.

• C combines the convenience and portable nature of a high-

level language with the flexibility of low-level language.

C programming @2017-2018
 C has few keywords
• The following names are reserved by the C language.

• Their meaning is already defined, and they cannot be re-

defined to mean anything else.

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 Wide acceptability (Popularity)

• C is a language known by the majority of programmers around

the world.

• C is a popular language preferred by professional

programmers, it has a powerful compiler.

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 Program Development Cycle
1. Editing(or writing) the program
2. Compiling it
3. Linking it
Executing Editing
4. Executing it

Linking Compiling

C programming @2017-2018
 Step 1
• Use an editor to write your source code(the program).
• By tradition C source code files have the extension .c
• That means that you have to save the source code with .c
extension. ex: Hello.c

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 Step 2
• Compile the program using a compiler.
• If the compiler doesn’t find any errors in the program, it
produces an object file.
• The compiler produces object files with an .obj extension and
the same name as the source code file ( for example Hello.c to
Hello.obj).

hello.c Compiler hello.obj

• If the compiler finds errors, it responds (reports) them, you

must return to step 1 to make the corrections in your source
code

C programming @2017-2018
 Step 3
• Link the program with a Linker.
• If no errors occur, the Linker produces an executable program
with an .exe extension and the same name as the object file.

hello.c hello.exe

Compiler Linker

hello.obj

C programming @2017-2018
 Steps 4
• Execute the program to see the results.

• You should test to determine whether it functions properly, if

no start again with step 1 and make modification and addition
to your source code.

C programming @2017-2018
 STRUCTURE OF A C PROGRAM
• Include header file section
• Global Declaration Section
• /* comments */
main() Function name
{
/* comments*/
Declaration part
Executable part
}
User-defined functions{
}

C programming @2017-2018
 STRUCTURE OF A C PROGRAM
• Consist of the following key parts:
1. Include header file section.
2. Global declaration.
3. Function main.
4. Declaration part.
5. Executable part.
6. User- defined function.
7. Comments.

C programming @2017-2018
 STRUCTURE OF A C PROGRAM
1. Include header file section: (Link Section)
• C program depends upon some header files for function
definition that are used in program. Each header file by
default is extended with .h. The file should be included using
# include directive as given below.

• For example if you want to use some mathematical function

then you have to define link for math.h file in link section.

• For Example
# include<stdio.h>
# include<math.h>

C programming @2017-2018
 STRUCTURE OF A C PROGRAM
2. Global declaration: This section declares some variables that
are used in more than one function. These variables are
known as global variables. This section must be declared
outside of all the functions.
3. Function main: Every program written in C language must
contain main () function. Empty parentheses after main are
necessary. The function main () is a starting point of every
‘C’ program. The execution of a program always begins with
the function main (). (A function is a self-contained block of
statements that perform coherent task).
4. The program execution starts from the opening brace ({ )
and ends with the closing brace ( }). Between these two
braces the program should declare the declaration and the
executable part.
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5. Declaration part: The declaration part declares the entire
variables that are used in executable part.
• The initialization of variables are also done in this section.
• The initialization means providing initial values to the
variables.
6. Executable part: This part contains the statements following
the declaration of the variables.
• It contains a set of statements or a single statement. These
statements are enclosed between the braces. Eg. printf(“…..”),
scanf(“….”)

C programming @2017-2018
7. User-defined function: The functions defined by the user are
called user-defined functions. These functions are generally
defined after the main () function. They can also be defined
before main () function.

8. Comments: Comments are not necessary in the program.

However, to understand the flow of programs the
programmer can include comments in the program.

Comments are used for documentation.

• Comments are nothing but some kind of statements which
are placed between delimiters /* and */.
• The compiler does not execute comments.
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 PROGRAMMING RULES
• A programmer while writing a program should follow the
following rules:
1. All statements should be written in lower case letters. Upper case
letters are only used for symbolic constants.
2. Blank spaces may be inserted between words to improve the
readability of statements.
3. It is not necessary to fix the position of statement in the program
➢ I.e. the programmer can write the statement anywhere between the two
braces following the declaration part. The user can also write one or more
statements in one line separating them with a semicolon (;).
The following statements are valid.
• a=b+c;
• d=b*c;
• Or a=b+c; d=b*c;
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4. The opening and closing braces should be balanced i.e. for example,
if opening braces are four; then closing braces should also be four.

5. Every C statement should be ended with Semi-colon (;)

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 The Simplest C Program
#include <stdio.h>
main()
{
printf("Hello!\n");
}

Program Output:
Hello!

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 Second Program
#include <stdio.h>
main()
{
printf("Hello, software\n");
}

• Program Output:
Hello, software

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 Third program
#include <stdio.h>
main()
{
printf("Hello,\n software\n development\n");
}
• Output
Hello,
software
development

C programming @2017-2018
 Other special notation

• \a “bell” – i.e a beep

• \b Backspace
• \f Form Feed (new page)
• \n New Line (line feed)
• \t Tab
• \v Vertical Tab
• \\ Backslash
• \' Single Quote
• \" Double Quote
• \? Question Mark

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 Comment example
#include<stdio.h>
main()
/* main function heading */
{
printf("\n Hello, World! \n");
/* Display message on */
/* the screen * /
}

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 Exercises
• Write a c program which will print the
following out put :
• Question 1:
• Define the following word :
”programming”
• Question 2:
– a=b+c a b c d
– b=a/5

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• Question 3:
– Write a C program to display your personal identification
such as Names, Registration number, Year of study,
Department, Email, District of college location and
telephone number.

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 End

C programming @2017-2018