C Language Overview and Environment Setup

Study Notes

C Language Overview

Developed by Dennis M. Ritchie at Bell Labs to create the UNIX operating system.
Initially implemented on the DEC PDP-11 computer in 1972.
K&R standard, the first public description of C, was produced by Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie in 1978.
Widely used for system programming and applications in UNIX, C compilers, and many state-of-the-art software.
Known for its ease of learning, structured approach, efficiency, and ability to handle low-level activities.
Compiles on various computer platforms, making it versatile for developers.
C is a successor to the B programming language, which emerged around 1970.
Formalized by ANSI in 1988.
Essential for implementing popular software like the Linux OS and RDBMS MySQL.

C Environment Setup

Requires two software components: a Text Editor and a C Compiler.

Text Editor

Used to write and save source code for C programs, typically with a ".c" extension.
Examples include Windows Notepad, EMACS, vim, and vi; choice depends on the operating system.
Essential to have familiarity with saving, compiling, and executing programs.

C Compiler

Translates human-readable source code into machine language for execution by the CPU.
GNU C/C++ Compiler is the most commonly used free compiler.
Installation varies by operating system.

Installation on Different Operating Systems

UNIX/Linux

Check if GCC is installed with the command: $ gcc -v.
If installed, will display version information; if not, follow instructions on the GCC website.

Mac OS

Obtain GCC through Xcode development environment from Apple's website.
Simple installation instructions are provided on developer.apple.com.

Windows

MinGW is needed to install GCC.
Download from the MinGW homepage and run the installer.
Install essential components: gcc-core, gcc-g++, binutils, and MinGW runtime.
Update the PATH environment variable to include the MinGW bin directory for easy access to tools.

Conclusion

C programming offers a robust framework for system and application development, with straightforward installation across various platforms, making it an enduring choice for software engineering professionals.

Description

This quiz covers the key concepts of the C programming language, including its history, significance, and usage in system programming. It also discusses the essential components for setting up a C programming environment, such as text editors and compilers. Test your understanding of C and its fundamentals.