The C programming language is a general programming language. It can be used to program anything, like computers, embedded systems, operating systems and computer applications. It is a structured and procedural programming language. In the beginning it was developed for UNIX, for system development but due to its ease of use and simplicity it has been used for application development. It is now being used at almost any computer platform and operating system. It is an excellent programming language for due to its simplicity of expression, the compactness of the code, and the wide range of applicability. Also, due to the simplicity and ease of writing a C compiler, it is usually the first high level language available on any computer, including microcomputers, minicomputers, and mainframes. It can be the first step towards object oriented programming like C++ or Java. C programming language is almost available on any platform and can be used to program any computer.
C programming language is specifically created in order to allow the programmer access to almost all of the machine’s internals – registers, I/O slots and absolute addresses.
Early Development
Originally C programming language was developed by Dennis Ritchie of Bell Laboratories in 1972. C programming language was developed to run under UNIX for system development, there has been lot of efforts to standardize C programming language during the 1970s and 1980s, and its different versions were introduced for different platforms. One of the versions of C was developed by ANSI which was called ANSI-C Programming language in 1983. Another version was also developed in 1990 by ISO.
Why C Language?
“You can program anything in C” this statement was made by an experience c programmer. C programming language provides ease and flexibility to the programmer. I give the full control to the programmer at any stage during the program development. Programmers have a full control over the program behavior, memory management, and the flow of the program. One of the examples of being most popular language is the fact that “C programming language is the most frequently studied languages in computer science classes.” Many of the modern programming languages are based on C language. Most popular languages like C++ (Object Oriented Programming for software development), Java, Perl and PHP (used for web application development).
First Program in C language – “Hello World”
C language is quite straight forward and simple to use programming language. Here is the most simple program that can be written in C programming language. The detailed information can be found in the coming tutorials.
1 2 3 4 5 6 | #include <stdio.h> int main() { printf("Hello World\n"); return 0; } |
Here's Must-Read List of C programming books for beginners
C Programming Language, 2nd Edition
With over 600 5-star reviews on Amazon, readers agree that C Programming Language, 2nd Edition by Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie is the best C Programming book for Beginners. The authors present the complete guide to ANSI standard C language programming. Written by the developers of C, this new version helps readers keep up with the finalized ANSI standard for C while showing how to take advantage of C's rich set of operators, economy of expression, improved control flow, and data structures.
21st Century C: C Tips from the New School
Throw out your old ideas about C and get to know a programming language that’s substantially outgrown its origins. With this revised edition of 21st Century C, you’ll discover up-to-date techniques missing from other C tutorials, whether you’re new to the language or just getting reacquainted.
C Programming Absolute Beginner's Guide
Greg Perry is the author of over 75 computer books and known for bringing programming topics down to the beginner’s level. His book C Programming Absolute Beginner's Guide, is today’s best beginner’s guide to writing C programs–and to learning skills to use with practically any language. Its simple, practical instructions will help you start creating useful, reliable C code, from games to mobile apps. Plus, it’s fully updated for the new C11 standard and today’s free, open source tools!
C Programming: A Modern Approach, 2nd Edition
KN King tackles on some C standard library specifics header by header in his C Programming: A Modern Approach book. The second edition maintains all the book's popular features and brings it up to date with coverage of the C99 standard. The new edition also adds a significant number of exercises and longer programming projects, and includes extensive revisions and updates.
Programming Arduino: Getting Started with Sketches
Simon Monk, a Ph.D. in software engineering, writes this great little book for learning to program the arduino using C language. This bestselling guide explains how to write well-crafted sketches using Arduino’s modified C language. You will learn how to configure hardware and software, develop your own sketches, work with built-in and custom Arduino libraries, and explore the Internet of Things—all with no prior programming experience required!
