Computer Programming (C)

A general-purpose programming language that provides low-level access to memory & system resources. It is widely used for developing operating systems, embedded systems, & performance-critical applications.

Key Features

• Structured Language: Supports modular programming through functions.
• Low-Level Access: Direct memory manipulation using pointers.
• Fast Execution: Compiled language with minimal runtime overhead.
• Portability: Can run on various hardware architectures with minimal changes.
• Extensive Libraries: Standard libraries provide support for file handling, memory management & data structures.

Applications

• OS: Linux, Windows, & macOS components are built using C.
• Embedded Sys: Used in microcontrollers & IoT devices.
• GameD: Game engines utilize C for high-performance computations.
• Compiler Development: Many compilers for different languages are written in C.
• Networking: Network protocols & applications rely on C for efficient data processing.

Memory Management

C provides manual memory management, allowing developers to allocate & free memory as needed. Key functions include:

• malloc(): Allocates dynamic memory.
• calloc(): Allocates & initializes memory blocks.
• realloc(): Resizes an allocated memory block.
• free(): Deallocates previously allocated memory.

Proper memory management is crucial in C to prevent memory leaks & ensure efficient use of system resources.

Data Structures

C supports various data structures that help in organizing & managing data efficiently:

• Arrays: Store multiple values of the same type.
• Structures: Group different types of variables under a single entity.
• Linked Lists: Dynamic data structure with efficient insertions & deletions.
• Stacks & Queues: Used in algorithms & memory management.
• Binary Trees: Efficiently store & retrieve hierarchical data.

Debugging

Debugging is an essential skill in C. Common debugging techniques include:

• printf() Statements: Print variable values to track program execution.
• GDB (GNU Debugger): Helps in step-by-step execution of C.
• Valgrind: Detects memory leaks & performance issues.
• Code Reviews: Identifying logical errors through peer reviews & testing.