“C” Programming Language

What is language ?

• Language is medium of communication.

• If two persons want to communicate with each other , they have to use a common language.

• Like Hindi, English, Punjabi …….

What is Programming Language ?

• Much in the same way when a user wants to communicate with a computer ,the language that he/she uses for this purpose is known as programming language .

• Like C, C++, JAVA ……• At the same time we know that computer understands only one language

that is MACHINE LANGUAGE.• This language comprises of only 0 & 1. It’s very difficult for us to learn

this language.• For Example two persons belonging to two different countries , want to

communicate then there may be a problem of common communication medium.

• To solve this problem there is a requirement of translator.

Types of Programming language

Basically there are two types of Programming languages.

Programming. Language

Low Level Languages High Level Languages

Machine Language

Assembly languageJAVA

C++

C

Programming languages

• Various programming languages• Some understandable directly by computers• Others require “translation” steps

– Machine language• Natural language of a particular computer• Consists of strings of numbers(1s, 0s)• Instruct computer to perform elementary operations

one at a time• Machine dependant

Programming languages• Assembly Language

– English like abbreviations

– Translators programs called “Assemblers” to convert assembly language programs to machine language.

– E.g. add overtime to base pay and store result in gross pay

LOAD BASEPAY

ADD OVERPAY

STORE GROSSPAY

Programming languages

• High-level languages

– To speed up programming even further– Single statements for accomplishing substantial tasks– Translator programs called “Compilers” to convert high-

level programs into machine language

– E.g. add overtime to base pay and store result in gross pay

grossPay = basePay + overtimePay

Types of Translator

Compiler

Interpreter

Assembler

SOURCECODE

SOURCECODE

SOURCECODE

OBJECTCODE

OBJECTCODE

OBJECTCODE

Basics of “C”

Why use C?

• Mainly because it produces code that runs nearly as fast as code written in assembly language. Some examples of the use of C might be: – Operating Systems – Language Compilers – Assemblers – Text Editors – Print Spoolers – Network Drivers – Modern Programs – Data Bases – Language Interpreters – Utilities

Why C Still Useful?• C provides:

Efficiency, high performance and high quality flexibility and power many high-level and low-level operations middle level Stability and small size code Provide functionality through rich set of function libraries Gateway for other professional languages like C C++ Java

• C is used: System software Compilers, Editors, embedded systems data compression, graphics and computational geometry, utility

programs databases, operating systems, device drivers, system level

routines there are zillions of lines of C legacy code Also used in application programs

Software Development Method• Requirement Specification

– Problem Definition• Analysis

– Refine, Generalize, Decompose the problem definition• Design

– Develop Algorithm • Implementation

– Write Code• Verification and Testing

– Test and Debug the code

Development with C• Four stages

Editing: Writing the source code by using some IDE or editor Preprocessing or libraries: Already available routines compiling: translates or converts source to object code for a

specific platform source code -> object code linking: resolves external references and produces the

executable module

Portable programs will run on any machine but….. Program correctness and robustness are most important than

program efficiency

History• In 1972 Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs writes C and in 1978 the publication of The C Programming Language by Kernighan & Ritchie caused a revolution in the computing world

• In 1983, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) established a committee to provide a modern, comprehensive definition of C. The resulting definition, the ANSI standard, or "ANSI C", was completed late 1988.

The Beginning of C

History of C• Evolved from two previous languages

– BCPL , B• BCPL (Basic Combined Programming Language) used for

writing OS & compilers• B used for creating early versions of UNIX OS• Both were “typeless” languages• C language evolved from B (Dennis Ritchie – Bell labs)• C was developed by Dennis Ritchie at AT & T bell laboratory

of USA in 1972.

History of C

• Hardware independent• Programs portable to most computers• Dialects of C

– Common C – ANSI C

• ANSI/ ISO 9899: 1990• Called American National Standards Institute ANSI C

• Case-sensitive

C – A Middle Level Language

C is Middle Level Language

• C stands in between these two categories.• Since it was designed to have both:

• A relatively good programming efficiency as compared to Machine Oriented Languages .

• A relatively good Machine efficiency as compared to Problem Oriented Languages .

• That’s WHY it is called a Middle Level Language.

Application Areas Of C

• C was initially used for systems programming.• A system program forms a portion of the operating

system of the computer or its support utilities.• Operating Systems, Interpreters, Editors, Assembly

programs are usually called system programs.• The UNIX operating system was developed using C.• There are C compilers available for almost all types

of PC’s.

A simple Program of C/* Write a program to print a message */

#include<stdio.h>

#include<conio.h>

void main()

{

printf(“ C Programming”);

getch( );

}

Comment about the program should be enclosed within ‘/*’ & ‘*/’.

printf() is a function which is used to print messages on the screen.

main() is a function from which execution of the program starts.

Here stdio.h is a library file which contains standard input/output functions , keywords etc.

#include<> is used to define the library file that is to be used in the program for compiler information.

Compilation & Execution of a Program

C Preprocessor

Expanded C Source Code

C Compiler

Target Assembly Code

Linker

Executable Code

Loader

Output

C Source Code

Basics of C Environment• C systems consist of 3 parts

– Environment– Language– C Standard Library

• Development environment has 6 phases– Edit– Pre-processor– Compile– Link– Load– Execute

Basics of C Environment

Editor DiskPhase 1

Program edited in Editor and storedon disk

Preprocessor DiskPhase 2

Preprocessor program processesthe code

Compiler DiskPhase 3

Creates object code and stores on disk

Linker DiskPhase 4

Links object code with libraries and stores on disk

Basics of C Environment

LoaderPhase 5

Puts program in memory

Primary memory

CPUPhase 6

Takes each instructionand executes it storingnew data values

Primary memory

Execution Process of a Program

PROCESS SHORT CUT FILE NAME

Save F2 abc.cCompile Alt + F9 abc.obj

Execute Ctrl + F9 abc.exe

Back up Again F2 abc.bak

Escape Sequence

• \n new line• \t tab• \r carriage return• \a alert• \\ backslash• \” double quote

Thanks……