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Ira Pohl

This course is for everyone. In the new world we live in, coding is a universally valuable skill, whether you're a scientist, artist, or a humanist. Algorithms are everywhere, and we all have to understand how they work. The C language is particularly well suited as an introduction to coding: It's a tried-and-true language, and it allows you to understand computing processes at a deep level.

No prior knowledge of coding is needed for this course. We'll start at the beginning.

The time estimated time commitment for this course is five hours a week for five weeks.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction
An overview of the course, a history of the C language, and a first set of programming activities.
Lexical Elements and Data Types
Read more
Lexical elements and data types, programming activities of increasing sophistication, and an optional discussion of more advanced issues.
Flow of Control and Simple Functions
Flow of control and simple functions, even more sophisticated programming activities, and an optional discussion of more advanced issues.
Advanced Functions, Recursion, Arrays, and Pointers
A continuation of functions, recursion, arrays, and pointers.
Arrays and pointers
Further treatment of arrays and pointers and an interesting programming activity.
Final Exam
The end of the first part of C for Everyone and an opportunity to assess your learning.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Develops skills in programming using a universally valuable skill, which is standard in many industries
Develops fluency in the C programming language, which is taught by an experienced instructor
Lays a foundation for ongoing programming language learning, especially for those working in science or technology
Build a programming foundation for those without a technical background in coding, making it a good option for beginners
Provides comprehensive coverage of all of the necessary C programming topics for a beginner, including arrays, pointers, and recursion

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Reviews summary

C fundamentals for beginners

learners say this course is largely positive for beginners who want to learn the fundamentals of C programming. According to students, the course is well received by learners and to highlight key features of the course. Examples of key features include lectures, readings, exams, quizzes, homework assignments, instructors, deadlines, and certificates. Examples of phrases to wrap may include "largely positive," "largely negative," "engaging assignments," "difficult exams."The summary must not mention the "sentiment", "importance", or "confidence" scores.
suitable for any skill level, caters more towards beginner programmers
"This course is suitable for any skill level although I think it caters more towards beginner programmers."
"It is an excellent course for beginners."
engaging and comprehensive learning experience
"The 'C for Everyone: Programming Fundamentals' course on Coursera delivers an engaging and comprehensive learning experience."
explanations for each one of them which shows what they do in a program
"Professor Pohl explains the concept thoroughly and gives examples for each one of them which shows what they do in a program."
challenging for me
"This was an amazing course! I've learned so much about programming in C and the activities were very challenging for me."
great first step into learning to code. I am confident this has given me the skills to begin making my way into the tech sector, and am excited to continue my education.
"This course gave me a good first step into learning to code."
there should be more instruction for the final assignment as it had a difficulty spike compared to the other assignments
"It feels like the course rushes over concepts and expects students to already have the book written by the professor to refer back to, which isn't very friendly to people new to programming and those taking the course without the book."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in C for Everyone: Programming Fundamentals with these activities:
Review basic programming concepts
Recall key concepts from the beginning of the course to ensure a strong foundation.
Browse courses on Data Types
Show steps
  • Revisit the different data types available in C.
  • Review the syntax and usage of basic operators.
Read "The C Programming Language" by Kernighan and Ritchie
Gain a deeper understanding of the C language from the authoritative source.
Show steps
  • Read through the book, paying attention to the fundamentals of C.
  • Solve the exercises and programming challenges provided in the book.
  • Apply the concepts learned from the book to your own programming projects.
Implement pointers
Reinforce your understanding of how pointers are used in C.
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Show steps
  • Write a program that uses pointers to access and modify variables.
  • Use pointers to create and manipulate arrays.
  • Explore different scenarios where pointers can be used effectively.
Six other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all nine activities
Engage in code review sessions
Enhance your coding skills by providing and receiving feedback on code.
Browse courses on Programming
Show steps
  • Form a study group with peers who are also taking the course.
  • Establish a schedule for regular code review sessions.
  • Review each other's code, providing constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement.
Build a simple calculator
Apply your knowledge of flow of control and simple functions to create a practical tool.
Browse courses on Flow of Control
Show steps
  • Design the user interface and functionality of the calculator.
  • Implement basic arithmetic operations using `if-else` statements.
  • Add support for more complex calculations, such as parentheses and exponents.
Explore advanced C libraries
Enhance your knowledge of C by exploring additional libraries and their applications.
Browse courses on Advanced Functions
Show steps
  • Identify a specific C library that aligns with your interests or project goals.
  • Follow tutorials and documentation to understand the library's functionality.
  • Implement the library in a practical project to solidify your understanding.
Solve recursion problems
Develop your problem-solving skills and master the technique of recursion.
Browse courses on Recursion
Show steps
  • Understand the concept of recursion and its applications.
  • Practice solving problems using recursive algorithms.
  • Analyze the efficiency and time complexity of recursive solutions.
Build a data analysis application
Apply your knowledge of arrays and pointers to a real-world problem.
Browse courses on Arrays
Show steps
  • Identify a dataset that you want to analyze.
  • Design a data structure to store the data efficiently.
  • Implement algorithms to perform the desired analysis on the data.
  • Create a user interface to visualize and interact with the results.
Contribute to an open-source C project
Gain practical experience and contribute to the open-source community.
Browse courses on Open-Source
Show steps
  • Identify an open-source C project that aligns with your interests and skill level.
  • Review the project's documentation and codebase.
  • Identify an area where you can contribute, such as bug fixes or feature enhancements.
  • Submit a pull request with your contributions to the project.

Career center

Learners who complete C for Everyone: Programming Fundamentals will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Web Developer
Web Developers design and develop websites. This course may be useful in understanding the fundamentals of coding, which could help you build websites.
Computer Programmer
Computer Programmers write and maintain the code that runs computers and other devices. This course may be useful in understanding the fundamentals of coding, which could help you get started in this field.
Computer Systems Analyst
Computer Systems Analysts design and implement computer systems. This course may be useful in understanding the fundamentals of coding, which could help you get started in this field.
Network Administrator
Network Administrators design, implement, and maintain computer networks. This course may be useful in understanding the fundamentals of coding, which could help you get started in this field.
Information Security Analyst
Information Security Analysts protect computer systems and networks from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This course may be useful in understanding the fundamentals of coding, which could help you get started in this field.
Database Administrator
Database Administrators design, implement, and maintain databases. This course may be useful in understanding the fundamentals of coding, which could help you get started in this field.
Computer Hardware Engineer
Computer Hardware Engineers design and develop computer hardware. This course may be useful in understanding the fundamentals of coding, which could help you get started in this field.
Systems Administrator
Systems Administrators design, implement, and maintain computer systems. This course may be useful in understanding the fundamentals of coding, which could help you get started in this field.
Software Developer
Software Developers write and maintain the code that makes software and applications run. This course may be useful in understanding the fundamentals of coding, which could help you get started in this field.
Computer Software Engineer
Computer Software Engineers design and develop computer software. This course may be useful in understanding the fundamentals of coding, which could help you get started in this field.
Information Technology Specialist
Information Technology Specialists design, implement, and maintain computer systems and networks. This course may be useful in understanding the fundamentals of coding, which could help you get started in this field.
Computer Support Specialist
Computer Support Specialists provide technical support to computer users. This course may be useful in understanding the fundamentals of coding, which could help you get started in this field.
Computer and Information Research Scientist
Computer and Information Research Scientists conduct research in the field of computer science. This course may be useful in understanding the fundamentals of coding, which could help you get started in this field.
Computer and Information Systems Manager
Computer and Information Systems Managers plan and direct the activities of computer and information systems departments. This course may be useful in understanding the fundamentals of coding, which could help you get started in this field.
Data Scientist
Data Scientists use data to solve problems and make predictions. This course may be useful in understanding the fundamentals of coding, which could help you collect and analyze data.

Reading list

We've selected 15 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in C for Everyone: Programming Fundamentals.
This monumental work comprehensive treatise on computer programming. It covers a wide range of topics, from basic algorithms to advanced data structures. It valuable reference for anyone who wants to learn more about computer programming.
This classic book comprehensive introduction to algorithms. It covers a wide range of topics, from basic data structures to advanced algorithms. It valuable reference for anyone who wants to learn more about algorithms.
This classic book is written by the original creators of the C language. It provides a concise and authoritative overview of the language, and valuable reference for anyone who wants to learn more about C.
Provides a comprehensive overview of computer systems from a programmer's perspective. It covers a wide range of topics, from computer architecture to operating systems. It valuable reference for anyone who wants to learn more about computer systems.
Provides a comprehensive overview of computer vision. It covers a wide range of topics, from image processing to object recognition. It valuable reference for anyone who wants to learn more about computer vision.
Comprehensive guide to programming in C, covering the basics of the language as well as more advanced topics such as pointers and data structures. It valuable reference for anyone who wants to learn more about C programming.
Provides a comprehensive overview of algorithms, covering both the theory and practice of algorithm design and analysis. It valuable reference for anyone who wants to learn more about algorithms.
Provides a comprehensive overview of deep learning. It covers a wide range of topics, from deep learning models to deep learning applications. It valuable reference for anyone who wants to learn more about deep learning.
Provides a comprehensive overview of natural language processing with Python. It covers a wide range of topics, from natural language understanding to natural language generation. It valuable reference for anyone who wants to learn more about natural language processing.
Provides a comprehensive overview of operating systems concepts. It covers a wide range of topics, from process management to file systems. It valuable reference for anyone who wants to learn more about operating systems.
Provides a comprehensive overview of computer networks. It covers a wide range of topics, from network protocols to network security. It valuable reference for anyone who wants to learn more about computer networks.
Provides a comprehensive overview of database systems. It covers a wide range of topics, from database design to database query processing. It valuable reference for anyone who wants to learn more about database systems.
Provides a comprehensive overview of machine learning. It covers a wide range of topics, from supervised learning to unsupervised learning. It valuable reference for anyone who wants to learn more about machine learning.
Provides a comprehensive overview of data structures and algorithms in C. It valuable reference for anyone who wants to learn more about these topics.
Provides a comprehensive overview of computer organization and design, covering key concepts such as computer architecture, assembly language, and operating systems. While it may be more advanced than the level of this course, it valuable reference for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of computer systems.

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