INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING
IN C
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OUTLINE
Definitions of Terms
Programming Paradigms
Compiler Terminology
Errors
C Language
Programming Character Set
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PROGRAMS
What is the general meaning?
Noun
A program of actions or events is a series of
actions or events that are planned to be done.
Verb
When you program a machine or system, you
set its controls so that it will work in a particular
way.
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FOCUS
Programming a machine
Giving it instructions that it understands word for word
Speak to it in a particular language
How does the machine know which language?
The machine must have some kind of brain in it
(residing in processor, hard drive etc.)
What kind of machines?
Phones, computers, scanners, conveyor belts, electric
jugs, factory machines, microwaves, smart-watches
Which machine for this course?
Computer
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WHY THE COMPUTER?
Can be connected to other machines to
make them work
Program can be translated so that other
machines understand it
Computer serves as platform to test the
program and simulate it before mounting it
on big machines
Most machines now computer controlled
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SO HOW DO WE PROGRAM?
First determine steps required to achieve a
particular functionality or task
Algorithm
Then translate the steps into precise steps
Program
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ARE ALL PROGRAMS WRITTEN THE SAME
WAY?
NO
Different languages (means different ways of
translating hence different translators)
Different syntax (i.e. Grammar and
punctuation)
Different functionalities achievable
Some more complex than others
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SO LET’S BEGIN!
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WHAT IS AN ALGORITHM?
An algorithm is a
Series of STEPS which when followed achieve a
TASK
It is much like a recipe
Transformati
ingredients on steps results
Transformati
input output
on steps
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PROGRAMMING
Telling the computer what to do
Giving instructions in a language understood by
the computer
Instructions follow the algorithm
Instructions are a formal writing of the algorithm
Program = Complete set of formal
instructions
For accurate, expected results, Instructions must be
Precise
Unambiguous 06/01/2025 10
ACHIEVING ACCURATE RESULTS
Logical sequential algorithm
Clearly defined data to be used
Clearly defined form of the input data
Clearly defined form of the expected
results (i.e. Output as we call it)
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DISCUSSION 1
Give an algorithm to prepare two whole fried eggs, unscrambled (2
minutes)
? Which
Ingredients
? In what form
? What Process
? What Output
? In what form
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DISCUSSION 2 – COMMENT ON THE RICE
ALGORITHMS
Points to note:
Algorithms are NOT specific
in measures of ingredients
on where or how the ingredients are stored,
on utensils to be used,
on size of utensils to be used
on time , time varies per group and per exposure
Results
Inaccurate (too much rice or too little rice)
Inconsistent (raw rice or overcooked rice)
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DISCUSSION 3 – SO WHAT ARE REQUIRED
CHARACTERISTICS OF PROGRAMS
Requirements of algorithms and
programs
Accurate measures of inputs
Accurate measures of time
Accurate results
Consistent results
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SIMPLE PROGRAMMING MODEL
Cook Rice.
• What is
required
before we steps
start • What are the
actually • What steps
do we carry results of the
cooking the
out in the steps we
rice?
cooking of carried out?
the rice?
outp
input ut
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REAL PROGRAMMING MODEL
Inpu
t
Computer
machine has
data
step Programming =
s writing code
to manipulate
data
outp
ut
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DISCUSSION 4 (3 MINUTES)
Give an algorithm to do two things:
1. add two numbers, display the result, then
2. multiply the numbers and output the multiplication result.
(2 minutes)
Given our previous discussion:
1. Describe the input, and output.
2. List the processing steps that transform the input into
desired output.
Issues:
all using different languages to write no consistency
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varied interpretations
DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO PROGRAMMING
Programming Paradigm:
way of conceptualising what it means to perform
computation and how tasks to be carried out on a
computer should be structured and organised
1. Imperative:
how-to, algorithm explicit, goal implicit, use of functions
e.g. procedural programming, Fotran, C, C++,
functional programming (such as Haskell)
2. Declarative:
what-is, goal explicit, algorithm implicit, use of logical
expressions e.g. Prolog
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3. Object-oriented:
which objects , who? e.g. Smalltalk, C++, Java
PROCEDURAL PROGRAMMING
Procedural programming is a programming
paradigm built around the idea that
programs are sequences of instructions to
be executed. They focus heavily on splitting up
programs into named sets of instructions called
procedures, analogous to functions. A procedure
can store local data that is not accessible from
outside the procedure's scope and can also access
and modify global data variables.
Some of the earliest procedural programming
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languages were Fortran and ALGOL.
HOW DOES PROGRAMMING WORK?
Program
(instructions Compiler
written for (translates and
someone to use interprets
someone=user instructions)
)
Creating
that now Executable Code
RUNs on (invoked by user
Computer to see if it
works)
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MORE ABOUT THE COMPILER
Produce object
file not yet
Source 1. Compiler:
linked to other
program file Check syntax
invoked
(.c) errors
libraries
(.obj, .o)
Run 2. Linker:
Build final
executable file combine all
executable file
and detect object files
(.exe)
runtime errors with libraries
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ERRORS ENCOUNTERED WHEN
PROGRAMMING
Syntax (i.e. compiling) errors Runtime errors
Un-matching braces/ brackets Wrong results
Wrong language constructs Unintended output
Registers used not defined Division by zero (usually
Registers not initialised caused by not controlling
input or wrong calculations)
Invalid way of defining data
(according to language rules)
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SKILLS REQUIRED FROM YOU IN
PROGRAMMING
Attention to detail
Specific
Unambiguous
Knowing the computer is stupid
Until you give it instructions.
It will do exactly as you tell it to.
Good memory
Of syntax, defined names, names of prewritten functions
Ability to think on several levels
Compartmentalise into little box processes which perform23
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useful tasks
NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT C LANGUAGE
Compact language
Powerful (especially for efficient machine-
dependent programming)
Not as heavy as industrial-type languages
like Php, Java
Syntax heavily influenced industrial-type
languages
One of the best teaching languages.
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C LANGUAGE SPECIFICS
Case sensitivity (all these are different!)
Myname2 myName2 Myname2
my_name2 MYname2 MYNAME2
Uses a specific alphabet
ASCII character set
Each letter has different numeric equivalent
Each letter represented as a binary number
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ASCII CHARACTER SET EXAMPLES (see
course outline for full set)
CHAR CODE CHAR CODE CHAR CODE
, 44 a 97 ± 241
- 45 ‗ 242
b 98
. 46 ¾ 243
c 99
/ 47 ¶ 244
d 100
0 48 § 245
1 49 e 101
÷ 246
2 50 f 102
¸ 247
3 51 g 103 ° 248
4 52 A 65 ¨ 249
5 53 B 66 · 250
6 54 C 67
7 55
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RUNNING C PROGRAMS
Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
With built-in compiler, linker, executor
Better if it supports later standards like C99(ISO/IEC
9899:1999) and C11(ISO/IEC 9899:2011).
https://www.thefreecountry.com/compilers/cpp.shtml contains
a list of varied IDEs that support C programming.
E.g. Bloodshed Dev C++, CodeBlocks, Orange C, Microsoft
Visual Studio Community (Microsoft C)
Without built-in compiler and linker
Requires installation of the GNU Compiler Collection gcc 4.9 to
gcc 6.3 (or later) from https://gcc.gnu.org
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SUMMARY
Definition of programming:
steps in defined language to accomplish a
particular task
Important requirements of algorithms and
programs
Precise, singular meaning, clear.
Important properties of C
versatile, learnable.
Uses ASCII character set 06/01/2025 28
Case-sensitive
