C Tutorials

C Tutorials Roadmap

Section 1: Introduction to C and Basic Concepts

  • Introduction to C:
    • What is C?
    • History and Evolution of C.
    • Importance and applications of C (Operating Systems, Embedded Systems, Game Development, etc.).
    • Compilation process (Preprocessing, Compilation, Assembly, Linking).
    • Setting up a C development environment (Compiler like GCC/Clang, IDE or text editor).
  • Your First C Program:
    • Writing and compiling "Hello, World!".
    • Understanding the basic structure of a C program (#include, main(), statements).
    • Using printf() for output.
  • Data Types:
    • Understanding fundamental data types (int, char, float, double, void).
    • Understanding size modifiers (short, long, signed, unsigned).
    • Understanding type ranges and limitations.
  • Variables and Constants:
    • Declaring and initializing variables.
    • Variable naming rules and conventions.
    • Using constants (const keyword, #define preprocessor directive).
    • Understanding scopes (local, global).
  • Input and Output (I/O):
    • Using scanf() for input.
    • Formatted input and output.
    • Handling different data types with printf() and scanf().
    • Basic character I/O (getchar(), putchar()).
  • Operators:
    • Arithmetic operators (+, -, *, /, %).
    • Relational operators (==, !=, >, <,>=, <=).
    • Logical operators (&&, ||, !).
    • Assignment operators (=, +=, -=, etc.).
    • Increment and Decrement operators (++, --).
    • Bitwise operators (&, |, ^, ~, <<,>>).
    • Ternary operator (?:).
    • Operator precedence and associativity.
  • Control Flow - Conditional Statements:
    • if statement.
    • if-else statement.
    • if-else if-else ladder.
    • Nested if statements.
    • switch statement.
  • Control Flow - Loops:
    • while loop.
    • do-while loop.
    • for loop.
    • Nested loops.
    • break and continue statements.

Section 2: Arrays and Strings

  • Arrays:
    • Declaring and initializing arrays.
    • Accessing array elements (indexing).
    • Array bounds and potential issues.
    • Multidimensional arrays (e.g., 2D arrays).
    • Passing arrays to functions.
  • Strings:
    • Strings as character arrays.
    • Null-termination of strings ('\0').
    • Declaring and initializing strings.
    • Using standard library string functions ():
      • strlen() (string length).
      • strcpy() (string copy).
      • strncpy() (safe string copy).
      • strcat() (string concatenation).
      • strncat() (safe string concatenation).
      • strcmp() (string comparison).
      • strncmp() (safe string comparison).
      • strstr() (substring search).
    • Inputting strings (scanf() with %s, gets() - avoid, fgets() - preferred).
    • Outputting strings (printf() with %s, puts()).

Section 3: Functions

  • Introduction to Functions:
    • What are functions?
    • Benefits of using functions (modularity, reusability).
    • Function declaration (prototype) and definition.
    • Function call.
  • Parameters and Return Values:
    • Passing arguments to functions (pass by value).
    • Returning values from functions.
    • void functions.
  • Scope and Lifetime of Variables:
    • Local variables.
    • Global variables.
    • Static variables.
  • Recursion:
    • Understanding recursion.
    • Writing recursive functions (base case, recursive step).
    • Examples (Factorial, Fibonacci).
    • When to use and when to avoid recursion.

Section 4: Pointers

  • Introduction to Pointers:
    • What is a pointer?
    • Declaring and initializing pointers.
    • Address-of operator (&).
    • Dereference operator (*).
    • Null pointers.
  • Pointers and Arrays:
    • Relationship between pointers and arrays.
    • Array name as a pointer.
    • Pointer arithmetic.
    • Accessing array elements using pointers.
  • Pointers and Functions:
    • Passing pointers to functions (pass by reference).
    • Returning pointers from functions.
  • Pointers and Strings:
    • Strings as character pointers.
    • Manipulating strings using pointers.
  • Pointer to Pointer (Double Pointer).
  • Void Pointers (Generic Pointers).
  • Dangling Pointers and Wild Pointers.

Section 5: Structures, Unions, and Enums

  • Structures:
    • Declaring and defining structures.
    • Accessing structure members (. operator).
    • Nested structures.
    • Arrays of structures.
    • Pointers to structures (-> operator).
    • Passing structures to functions.
    • Returning structures from functions.
  • Unions:
    • Declaring and defining unions.
    • Difference between structures and unions.
    • Use cases for unions.
  • Enumerations (Enums):
    • Declaring and defining enums.
    • Assigning integer values to enum members.
    • Using enums for readability.
  • typedef Keyword:
    • Using typedef to create aliases for data types (including structures, unions, enums, and pointers).

Section 6: Dynamic Memory Allocation

  • Introduction to Dynamic Memory Allocation:
    • Why use dynamic memory allocation? (Flexible memory size during runtime).
    • Heap vs. Stack memory.
  • Standard Library Functions ():
    • malloc() (memory allocation).
    • calloc() (contiguous allocation and initialization to zero).
    • realloc() (reallocating memory).
    • free() (releasing allocated memory).
  • Handling Memory Leaks:
    • Understanding memory leaks.
    • Best practices for managing dynamically allocated memory.
    • Debugging memory issues.

Section 7: File Input and Output (File Handling)

  • Introduction to File Handling:
    • Why use file handling? (Persistent data storage).
    • Types of files (Text files, Binary files).
  • File Operations:
    • Opening a file (fopen()).
    • File modes (r, w, a, r+, w+, a+, rb, wb, ab, etc.).
    • Closing a file (fclose()).
  • Reading and Writing Text Files:
    • fprintf() and fscanf().
    • fgetc() and fputc() (character I/O).
    • fgets() and fputs() (string I/O).
  • Reading and Writing Binary Files:
    • fread() and fwrite().
  • File Position Indicators:
    • fseek() (setting file position).
    • ftell() (getting current file position).
    • rewind() (resetting to beginning).
  • Error Handling in File Operations.

Section 8: Preprocessor Directives

  • Introduction to Preprocessor:
    • What is the preprocessor?
    • Common preprocessor directives.
  • Macro Definitions:
    • Object-like macros (#define NAME value).
    • Function-like macros (#define MACRO(params) replacement).
    • Macro expansion.
    • Potential issues with macros.
  • Conditional Compilation:
    • #ifdef, #ifndef, #endif.
    • #if, #elif, #else.
    • defined() operator.
  • Include Directives:
    • #include (standard library headers).
    • #include "filename" (user-defined headers).
    • Include guards (preventing multiple inclusions - #ifndef, #define, #endif).
  • Other Directives:
    • #undef (undefining a macro).
    • #pragma (compiler-specific directives).
    • Predefined macros (__FILE__, __LINE__, __DATE__, __TIME__, __STDC__).

Section 9: Advanced Topics and Best Practices

  • Pointers to Functions:
    • Declaring and using pointers to functions.
    • Passing functions as arguments.
    • Callbacks.
  • Command Line Arguments:
    • Understanding argc and argv in main().
    • Processing command line arguments.
  • Type Casting:
    • Implicit and explicit type casting.
    • Casting pointers.
  • Storage Classes:
    • auto, register, static, extern.
    • Understanding their scope, lifetime, and linkage.
  • Bit Fields in Structures.
  • Error Handling:
    • Using errno and perror().
    • Returning error codes.
    • Assertions ().
  • Debugging Techniques:
    • Using a debugger (GDB).
    • Print statement debugging.
  • Introduction to Data Structures in C:
    • Linked Lists (Singly, Doubly, Circular).
    • Stacks.
    • Queues.
    • Trees (basic concepts).
    • Graphs (basic concepts).
    • Implementing these using pointers and dynamic memory allocation.
  • Introduction to Algorithms in C:
    • Sorting algorithms (Bubble Sort, Selection Sort, Insertion Sort, Merge Sort, Quick Sort).
    • Searching algorithms (Linear Search, Binary Search).
  • Modular Programming and Header Files:
    • Designing and structuring larger programs.
    • Creating and using custom header files.
  • Best Practices and Coding Style:
    • Writing clean, readable, and maintainable code.
    • Commenting your code effectively.
    • Following coding standards.

Section 10: Project Building and Further Exploration

  • Building Projects with Multiple Files:
    • Using Makefiles or build systems (e.g., CMake).
    • Understanding compilation and linking of multiple source files.
  • Working with Standard Libraries:
    • Exploring common standard libraries beyond and (e.g., , , ).
  • Introduction to System Programming Concepts (Optional):
    • Process management.
    • Inter-process communication (IPC).
    • Threading (basic concepts).
    • Socket programming (basic concepts).
  • Contributing to Open Source Projects (Optional).
  • Learning Related Languages:
    • Transitioning to C++ (Object-Oriented Programming, STL).
    • Exploring lower-level languages or scripting languages for system tasks.
  • Practice and Problem Solving:
    • Solving coding challenges (e.g., on platforms like HackerRank, LeetCode, Codewars).
    • Working on personal projects to apply learned concepts.