C Programming Fundamentals

These C programming fundamental topics will provide a comprehensive introduction to the ANSI C language, emphasizing portability and structured design. They will introduce you to all major language elements including fundamental data types, flow control, and standard function libraries.

Comprehensive hands on exercises should be integrated throughout to reinforce learning and develop real competency.

This list was taken from the C Programming course available from Software Skills Training, Inc.

Overview of C

• Operating System Independence
• Design Goals and Capabilities
• Flavors of C

Fundamental Data Types, Storage Classes, and Scope

• Fundamental Data Types and Qualifiers
• Constants and Strings
• Storage Classes
• Scope and Block Structure
• Scope and Data Hiding
• Data Initialization

Macros

• Functions vs. Inlining
• Purpose of Macros
• Use of Macros
• Making Code More Readable
  • Auto Adjustment of Compile Time Values
  • Conditional Compilation
  • Making Code Portable
  • Simplifying Complex Access Calculations
• Advanced Micro Design Tips
• Using Macros to Help Write Portable Programs
• When to Use a Macro instead of a Function
• Using Macros for Debugging

Basic Formatted I/O

• Standard I/O Library
• Character Set Encoding
• Standard Input and Output
• Character I/O Functions
• Formatted I/O Functions
• String Constants

Operators and Expressions

• Arithmetic, Logical, and Bit Operators
• Precedence and Associativity
• Assignment and Casting
• The Conditional Operator

Functions (Subroutines)

• Purpose of Functions
• Functions vs. Inlining
• Automatic Variables
• The Argument Stack
• Passing By Value
• Passing By Reference
• Declaring External Functions
• Function Prototyping
• ANSI Prototyping
• The _NO_PROTO Compiler Symbol
• Varargs Functions
• Passing a Function as an Argument
• Designing Functions for Reusability
• Calling a Function from Another Language
• Returning a Dynamically Allocated Value Using Double Indirection
• Casting the Return Value of a Function
• Recursion and Reentrancy

Advanced Structures and Unions

• Nested Structures
• Arrays of Structures
• Bit Fields
• Unions
• Linked Lists

Strings and Character Manipulation

• Strings as Character Arrays
• String Library Functions
• Reading and Writing Strings

Structured Programming

• Structuring Code for Quality, Reliability, Maintainability
• Designing for Modularity and Reusability

Compiler Directives and the C Preprocessor

• Compile-Time Directives
• Use of typedef
• C Preprocessor Syntax

Pointers and Dynamic Allocation

• Advantages of Pointers
• User of Pointers
• Pointer and Address Arithmetic
• Dynamic Storage Allocation
• sizeof Operator
• Double Indirection

Arrays

• Purpose of Arrays
• Declaring an Array
• Initializing an Array
• Addressing Elements
• Stepping Through an Array
• Variable Size Arrays
• Arrays of Pointers
• Arrays of Strings
• Passing an Array to a Function
• Dynamic Memory Allocation
• Multidimensional Arrays

Program Debugging

• Problem Analysis
• Instrumenting with printif
• Instrumenting with ctrace
• The Purpose of Debuggers
• How Not to Use Debuggers
• Symbolic Debuggers

Flow Control Constructs

• Conditional Constructs: if, switch
• Looping Constructs: while, do, for
• Programming Style

Structures

• Purpose of Structures
• Defining and Declaring Structures
• Accessing Members
• Pointers to Structures
• Dynamic Memory Allocation
• Passing a Structure to a Function
• As a Pointer
• Passing the Actual Structure

C Runtime Library Standard Functions

• Character I/O
• Unformatted File I/O
• Formatted File I/O
• Math Functions
• Miscellaneous Functions

Accessing Command Line Arguments and Environment Symbols

• argc and argv
• Parsing Command Line Options
• Accessing the Environment Array

Advanced Programming Consideration

• Writing Portable Code
• Use of Macros
• ANSI C Limits
• Feature Test Macros
• Client/Server Design
• Performance Considerations