Beginning Programming with C For Dummies (Gookin, Dan) (Z-Library)

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Beginning Programming with C For Dummies® Visit www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/beginningprogrammingwithc to view this book's cheat sheet. Table of Contents Introduction Is the C Language Relevant? The C Programming For Dummies Approach How This Book Works Icons Used in This Book Parting Thoughts Part I: Getting Started with C Programming Chapter 1: A Quick Start for the Impatient What You Need in Order to Program Obtaining programming tools Acquiring an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) Behold the Code::Blocks IDE Installing Code::Blocks Touring the Code::Blocks workspace Your First Project

Creating a new project Examining the source code Building and running the project Saving and closing Chapter 2: The Programming Thing The History of Programming Reviewing early programming history Introducing the C language The Programming Process Understanding programming Writing source code Compiling to object code Linking in the C library Running and testing Chapter 3: Anatomy of C Parts of the C Language Keywords Functions Operators Variables and values Statements and structure Comments Behold the Typical C Program Understanding C program structure

Setting the main() function Returning something to the operating system Adding a function Part II: C Programming 101 Chapter 4: Trials and Errors Display Stuff on the Screen Displaying a humorous message Introducing the puts() function Adding more text Commenting out a statement Goofing up on purpose More Display Nonsense Displaying text with printf() Introducing the printf() function Understanding the newline Employing escape sequences Goofing up on purpose again Chapter 5: Values and Constants A Venue for Various Values Understanding values Displaying values with printf() Minding the extra zeroes The Computer Does the Math

Doing simple arithmetic Reviewing the float-integer thing Always the Same Using the same value over and over Introducing constants Putting constants to use Chapter 6: A Place to Put Stuff Values That Vary Setting up a quick example Introducing the variable types Using variables Variable Madness! Using more-specific variable types Creating multiple variables Assigning a value upon creation Reusing variables Chapter 7: Input and Output Character I/O Understanding input and output devices Fetching characters with getchar() Using the putchar() function Working with character variables Text I/O, but Mostly I Storing strings

Introducing the scanf() function Reading a string with scanf() Reading values with scanf() Using fgets() for text input Chapter 8: Decision Making If What? Making a simple comparison Introducing the if keyword Comparing values in various ways Knowing the difference between = and == Forgetting where to put the semicolon Multiple Decisions Making more-complex decisions Adding a third option Multiple Comparisons with Logic Building a logical comparison Adding some logical operators The Old Switch Case Trick Making a multiple-choice selection Understanding the switch-case structure Taking no breaks The Weird ?: Decision Thing Chapter 9: Loops, Loops, Loops A Little Déjà Vu

The Thrill of for Loops Doing something x number of times Introducing the for loop Counting with the for statement Looping letters Nesting for loops The Joy of the while Loop Structuring a while loop Using the do-while loop Loopy Stuff Looping endlessly Looping endlessly but on purpose Breaking out of a loop Screwing up a loop Chapter 10: Fun with Functions Anatomy of a Function Constructing a function Prototyping (or not) Functions and Variables Using variables in functions Sending a value to a function Sending multiple values to a function Creating functions that return values Returning early

Part III: Build Upon What You Know Chapter 11: The Unavoidable Math Chapter Math Operators from Beyond Infinity Incrementing and decrementing Prefixing the ++ and -- operators Discovering the remainder (modulus) Saving time with assignment operators Math Function Mania Exploring some common math functions Suffering through trigonometry It’s Totally Random Spewing random numbers Making the numbers more random The Holy Order of Precedence Getting the order correct Forcing order with parentheses Chapter 12: Give Me Arrays Behold the Array Avoiding arrays Understanding arrays Initializing an array Playing with character arrays (strings) Working with empty char arrays

Sorting arrays Multidimensional Arrays Making a two-dimensional array Going crazy with three-dimensional arrays Declaring an initialized multidimensional array Arrays and Functions Passing an array to a function Returning an array from a function Chapter 13: Fun with Text Character Manipulation Functions Introducing the CTYPEs Testing characters Changing characters String Functions Galore Reviewing string functions Comparing text Building strings Fun with printf() Formatting Formatting floating point Setting the output width Aligning output Gently Down the Stream Demonstrating stream input Dealing with stream input

Chapter 14: Structures, the Multivariable Hello, Structure Introducing the multivariable Understanding struct Filling a structure Making an array of structures Weird Structure Concepts Putting structures within structures Passing a structure to a function Chapter 15: Life at the Command Prompt Conjure a Terminal Window Starting a terminal window Running code in Text mode The main() Function Arguments Reading the command line Understanding main()’s arguments Time to Bail Quitting the program Running another program Chapter 16: Variable Nonsense Variable Control Typecasting into disbelief Creating new things with typedef

Making static variables Variables, Variables Everywhere Using global variables Creating a global structure variable Chapter 17: Binary Mania Binary Basics Understanding binary Displaying binary values Bit Manipulation Using the bitwise | operator Using bitwise & Operating exclusively with XOR Understanding the ~ and ! operators Shifting binary values Explaining the binbin() function The Joy of Hex Part IV: The Advanced Part Chapter 18: Introduction to Pointers The Biggest Problem with Pointers Sizing Up Variable Storage Understanding variable storage Reading a variable’s size Checking a variable’s location

Reviewing variable storage info The Hideously Complex Topic of Pointers Introducing the pointer Working with pointers Chapter 19: Deep into Pointer Land Pointers and Arrays Getting the address of an array Working pointer math in an array Substituting pointers for array notation Strings Are Pointer-Things Using pointers to display a string Declaring a string by using a pointer Building an array of pointers Sorting strings Pointers in Functions Passing a pointer to a function Returning a pointer from a function Chapter 20: Linked Lists Give Me Memory! Introducing the malloc() function Creating string storage Freeing memory Lists That Link Allocating space for a structure

Creating a linked list Editing a linked list Saving a linked list Chapter 21: It’s About Time What Time Is It? Understanding the calendar Working with time in C Time to Program Checking the clock Viewing a timestamp Slicing through the time string Snoozing Part V: And the Rest of It Chapter 22: Permanent Storage Functions Sequential File Access Understanding C file access Writing text to a file Reading text from a file Appending text to a file Writing binary data Working with binary data files Random File Access Writing a structure to a file

Reading and rewinding Finding a specific record Saving a linked list to a file Chapter 23: File Management Directory Madness Calling up a directory Gathering more file info Separating files from directories Exploring the directory tree Fun with Files Renaming a file Copying a file Deleting a file Chapter 24: Beyond Mere Mortal Projects The Multi-Module Monster Linking two source code files Sharing variables between modules Creating a custom header file Other Libraries to Link Chapter 25: Out, Bugs! Code::Blocks Debugger Debugging setup Working the debugger

Setting a breakpoint Watching variables Solving Problems by Using printf() and puts() Documenting problems Saving comments for future-you Improved Error Messages Part VI: The Part of Tens Chapter 26: Ten Common Boo-Boos Conditional Foul-Ups == v. = Dangerous Loop Semicolons Commas in for Loops Missing break in a Switch Structure Missing Parentheses and Curly Brackets Pay Heed to That Warning Endless Loops scanf() Blunders Streaming Input Restrictions Chapter 27: Ten Reminders and Suggestions Maintain Good Posture Use Creative Names Write a Function Work on Your Code a Little Bit at a Time

Break Apart Larger Projects into Several Modules Know What a Pointer Is Add White Space before Condensing Know When if-else Becomes switch-case Remember Assignment Operators When You Get Stuck, Read Your Code Out Loud Afterword Appendix A: ASCII Codes Appendix B: Keywords Appendix C: Operators Appendix D: Variable Types Appendix E: Escape Sequences Appendix F: Conversion Characters Conversion-character formatting Appendix G: Order of Precedence About the Author Cheat Sheet Connect with Dummies

Introduction Say “Hello, world” to Beginning Programming with C For Dummies, a book that transforms you from a well-meaning, caring human being into an admired element of the underground nerd subculture, the programmer. Oh, yes, that’s a good thing. When you learn to code in C, you become the ultimate master of a number of electronic gizmos. You can craft your own programs, dictating to computers, tablets, and cell phones your very whims and desires. And the electronics dutifully obey. Given the information offered in this book, you can pass that programming class, impress your friends, be admired by Hollywood, or even start your own software company. Yes, learning to program is a worthy investment of your time. This book helps make learning how to program understandable and enjoyable. You don’t need any programming experience — you don’t even need to buy new software. You just need the desire to program in C and the ability to have fun while doing so. Is the C Language Relevant? An argument surfaces every few years that learning C is a road to nowhere. Newer, better programming languages exist, and it’s far better to learn them than to waste time learning C. Poppycock. In a way, C is the Latin of computer languages. Just about every Johnny- come-lately programming language uses C syntax. C keywords and even certain functions find their way into other popular languages, from C++ to Java to Python to whatever the latest, trendy language could be. My point is that once you learn C programming, all those other programming languages come easy. In fact, many of the books that teach those other languages often assume that you know a little C before you