Beginning C, Fifth Edition

Beginning C, Fifth Edition

by Ivor Horton
Released February 2013
Publisher(s): Apress
ISBN: 9781430248811

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Book description

Beginning C, 5th Edition teaches you how to program using the widely-available C language. You'll begin from first-principles and progress through step-by-step examples to become a competent, C-language programmer. All you need are this book and any of the widely available free or commercial C or C++ compilers, and you'll soon be writing real C programs.

C is a foundational language that every programmer ought to know. C is the basis for C# used in Microsoft .NET programming. It is the basis for Objective-C used in programming for the iPhone, the iPad, and other Apple devices. It is the basis for the C++ that is widely used in a great many contexts, including the GNU Project. It underlies the Linux operating system and many of its utilities. Learning C provides a strong foundation for any programming care, and will even help you better understand more modern languages such as Java.

Beginning C is written by renowned author Ivor Horton. The book increases your programming expertise by guiding you through the development of fully working C applications that use what you've learned in a practical context. You'll also be able to strike out on your own by trying the exercises included at the end of each chapter. At the end of the book you'll be confident in your skills with all facets of the widely-used and powerful C language.

  • The only beginning-level book to cover the latest ANSI standard in C

  • Revised to cover C99 features newly-supported by language compilers

  • Emphasizes writing code after the first chapter

  • Includes substantial examples relevant to intermediate users

    • What you'll learn

  • Make use of all core language features such as for loops and branching

  • Dynamically manage memory using pointers and indirection

  • Modularize your code through controlling scope and creating functions

  • Move data in and out of your program via keyboard, display monitor, and data files

  • Have the computer write your code for you via preprocesser directives

  • Properly type your data and create structures to manage it efficiently

    • Who this book is for

    Beginning C, 5th Edition is aimed at programmers aspiring to work with C and C-like languages on platforms ranging from mobile devices such as phones and tablets to desktop environments to server hardware. The book is also helpful to programmers working in the field of embedded software, such as that used to control microwaves, toasters, and other home appliances. Any programmer seeking mastery of possibly the most fundational language in existence will find in Beginning C an excellent, sound, standards-based introduction that will serve them well in their career.

    Table of contents

    1. Title Page
    2. Dedication
    3. Contents at a Glance
    4. Contents
    5. About the Author
    6. About the Technical Reviewer
    7. Acknowledgments
    8. Introduction
    9. CHAPTER 1: Programming in C
      1. The C Language
      2. The Standard Library
      3. Learning C
      4. Creating C Programs
      5. Creating Your First Program
      6. Editing Your First Program
      7. Dealing with Errors
      8. Dissecting a Simple Program
      9. The Preprocessor
      10. Developing Programs in C
      11. Functions and Modular Programming
      12. Common Mistakes
      13. Points to Remember
      14. Summary
    10. CHAPTER 2: First Steps in Programming
      1. Memory in Your Computer
      2. What Is a Variable?
      3. Basic Arithmetic Operations
      4. Variables and Memory
      5. Working with Floating-Point Numbers
      6. More Complicated Expressions
      7. Defining Named Constants
      8. Knowing Your Limitations
      9. Introducing the sizeof Operator
      10. Choosing the Correct Type for the Job
      11. Explicit Type Conversion
      12. More Numeric Data Types
      13. The op= Form of Assignment
      14. Mathematical Functions
      15. Designing a Program
      16. Summary
    11. CHAPTER 3: Making Decisions
      1. The Decision-Making Process
      2. Multiple-Choice Questions
      3. Bitwise Operators
      4. Designing a Program
      5. Summary
    12. CHAPTER 4: Loops
      1. How Loops Work
      2. Introducing the Increment and Decrement Operators
      3. The for Loop
      4. General Form of the for Loop
      5. More on the Increment and Decrement Operators
      6. The for Loop Revisited
      7. The while Loop
      8. Nested Loops
      9. Nested Loops and the goto Statement
      10. The do-while Loop
      11. The continue Statement
      12. Designing a Program
      13. Summary
    13. CHAPTER 5: Arrays
      1. An Introduction to Arrays
      2. The Address of Operator
      3. Arrays and Addresses
      4. Initializing an Array
      5. Finding the Size of an Array
      6. Multidimensional Arrays
      7. Initializing Multidimensional Arrays
      8. Variable Length Arrays
      9. Designing a Program
      10. Summary
    14. CHAPTER 6: Applications with Strings and Text
      1. What Is a String?
      2. Variables That Store Strings
      3. Arrays of Strings
      4. Operations with Strings
      5. Analyzing and Transforming Strings
      6. Designing a Program
      7. Summary
    15. CHAPTER 7: Pointers
      1. A First Look at Pointers
      2. Arrays and Pointers
      3. Multidimensional Arrays
      4. Using Memory As You Go
      5. Handling Strings Using Pointers
      6. Designing a Program
      7. Summary
    16. CHAPTER 8: Structuring Your Programs
      1. Program Structure
      2. Functions
      3. The Pass-By-Value Mechanism
      4. Function Prototypes
      5. Pointers as Parameters and Return Types
      6. Summary
    17. CHAPTER 9: More on Functions
      1. Pointers to Functions
      2. Variables in Functions
      3. Functions That Call Themselves: Recursion
      4. Functions with a Variable Number of Arguments
      5. The main() Function
      6. Terminating a Program
      7. Enhancing Performance
      8. Designing a Program
      9. Summary
    18. CHAPTER 10: Essential Input and Output
      1. Input and Output Streams
      2. Standard Streams
      3. Input from the Keyboard
      4. Output to the Screen
      5. Other Output Functions
      6. Summary
    19. CHAPTER 11: Structuring Data
      1. Data Structures: Using struct
      2. More on Structure Members
      3. Structures and Functions
      4. Sharing Memory
      5. Designing a Program
      6. Summary
    20. CHAPTER 12: Working with Files
      1. The Concept of a File
      2. Accessing Files
      3. Writing a Text File
      4. Reading a Text File
      5. Reading and Writing Strings to a Text File
      6. Formatted File Input and Output
      7. Dealing with Errors
      8. More Open Modes for Text Files
      9. The freopen_s() Function
      10. Binary File Input and Output
      11. Moving Around in a File
      12. Using Temporary Work Files
      13. Updating Binary Files
      14. File Open Modes Summary
      15. Designing a Program
      16. Summary
    21. CHAPTER 13: The Preprocessor and Debugging
      1. Preprocessing
      2. Macros
      3. Preprocessor Directives on Multiple Lines
      4. Debugging Methods
      5. Date and Time Functions
      6. Summary
    22. CHAPTER 14: Advanced and Specialized Topics
      1. Working with International Character Sets
      2. Specialized Integer Types for Portability
      3. The Complex Number Types
      4. Programming with Threads
      5. Summary
    23. APPENDIX A: Computer Arithmetic
      1. Binary Numbers
      2. Hexadecimal Numbers
      3. Negative Binary Numbers
      4. Big-Endian and Little-Endian Systems
      5. Floating-Point Numbers
    24. APPENDIX B: ASCII Character Code Definitions
    25. APPENDIX C: Reserved Words in C
    26. APPENDIX D: Input and Output Format Specifications
      1. Output Format Specifications
      2. Input Format Specifications
    27. APPENDIX E: Standard Library Header Files
    28. Index

    Product information

    • Title: Beginning C, Fifth Edition
    • Author(s): Ivor Horton
    • Release date: February 2013
    • Publisher(s): Apress
    • ISBN: 9781430248811