Advanced C Programming from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Great and very deep understanding of pointers and memory management
Proficiency in using preprocessor
The ability to write modular code, that is extendable, readable and maintainable

Understand how to use c constructs (like structures, unions, arrays, ..) in real-life problems
5 projects to cover most of the topics discussed through the course

Great and very deep understanding of pointers and memory management
Proficiency in using preprocessor
The ability to write modular code, that is extendable, readable and maintainable
Understand how to use c constructs (like structures, unions, arrays, ..) in real-life problems
5 projects to cover most of the topics discussed through the course

Syllabus

Introduction

Preparing the environment

GCC on Windows

The compilation process

Projects Source Files

The C Preprocessor

The #define directive

Function-like macros

CAUTION with using function-like macros

Defining macros through compiler

Predefined macros

#include directive

#if directive

Some notes about #if

Functions

Functions explained

Functions Demo

Local and Global Variables

Scope and Lifetime demo

Function Execution Model

Function Execution Model Demo

Calling Convention

Iterative vs Recursive Functions

Functions vs Function-like macros

Performance vs Code Size Trade-off

Arrays

Introduction to Arrays

Notes on arrays

How arrays are arranged in the memory

Characteristics of Arrays

2D and higher dimensional arrays

Real Life use cases for arrays

[PROJECT]: TicTacToe Game

[PROJECT]: Implementing TicTacToe Game

Extending TicTacToe

Pointers

Introduction to Pointers

Arrays and Pointers

Pointer operators and Pointer casting

Common Uses of Pointers

[Concept] Pass by Value vs Pass by Address

[Example] Pass by by Value vs Pass by Address

Function output parameters

Pass/Return an array to/from functions

[Concept] Dynamic memory allocation

[Example] Dynamic memory allocation

sizeof operator

Strings

How strings are represented in C

Strings Do's and Don'ts

Standard string manipulation functions

Advanced Pointers

Advanced Pointer Topics

Use Case: Capturing input arguments

Structures and Unions

Introduction to Structures

Passing/Returning structures to/from functions

Arrays of Structures

Pointer to Structures

Nested structures

Packing and Padding

[PROJECT] Memory Manager - Theory

[PROJECT] Memory Manager - Lab

[PROJECT] Input Argument Parser Library

PROJECT: Menu

[PROJECT] Menu - Theory

[PROJECT] Menu - Lab

Why to use input[4] with fgets

Unions and Menu Improvement

User Defined Types

Enums

Typedef

File Management

Modes of file opening

The usage of fprintf

[PROJECT] Bitmap File Editor

Theory

Lab

Lab - Change the contrast of an arbitrary bitmap image

Note on the bitmap file used in this example

More ideas on Bitmap project for your own practice

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Delves into the underlying mechanisms of C, such as preprocessors, function execution models, and memory management, offering a deeper understanding beyond basic syntax

Includes a project to develop a BMP image editor, which allows learners to apply their knowledge of C constructs to solve a real-world problem

Covers modular design principles, which enables learners to write code that is reusable, extendable, readable, and maintainable, all of which are valuable in collaborative projects

Requires familiarity with C programming concepts, which may necessitate prior coursework or self-study for individuals without a foundational understanding

Features several projects, including a TicTacToe game and a memory manager, which provide hands-on experience and reinforce theoretical concepts

Explores topics like dynamic memory allocation and function execution models, which are crucial for optimizing code performance and preventing memory leaks

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 Advanced C Programming with these activities:

Review C Fundamentals

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Solidify your understanding of fundamental C concepts before diving into advanced topics. This will make grasping complex concepts like pointers and memory management easier.

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Review basic syntax and data types.
Practice writing simple C programs.
Complete online quizzes on C fundamentals.

Read 'C Programming: A Modern Approach'

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Supplement your learning with a comprehensive textbook on C programming. This book will provide a deeper understanding of the concepts covered in the course.

View C Programming: A Modern Approach, 2nd Edition on Amazon

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Read the chapters relevant to the current course module.
Work through the examples and exercises in the book.
Refer to the book for clarification on difficult topics.

Pointer Exercises

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Sharpen your pointer skills through targeted exercises. This will help you master the most challenging aspect of C programming.

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Solve pointer-related problems on platforms like HackerRank or LeetCode.
Write code that manipulates pointers to different data types.
Debug code that uses pointers incorrectly.

Four other activities

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Write a Blog Post on Memory Management

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Reinforce your understanding of memory management by explaining it to others. Writing a blog post will force you to organize your thoughts and clarify any remaining doubts.

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Research different memory management techniques.
Write a clear and concise explanation of memory management in C.
Include examples and diagrams to illustrate the concepts.

Implement a Dynamic Array

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Apply your knowledge of pointers and memory management by building a dynamic array. This project will solidify your understanding of these critical concepts.

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Design the data structure for the dynamic array.
Implement functions to add, remove, and access elements.
Test your implementation thoroughly.

Explore 'Expert C Programming: Deep C Secrets'

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Deepen your understanding of C's intricacies with this advanced book. It covers subtle aspects and potential pitfalls, enhancing your expertise.

View Melania on Amazon

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Read selected chapters focusing on areas of interest or difficulty.
Analyze the code examples and try to predict their behavior.
Experiment with the concepts in your own code.

Contribute to a C Project on GitHub

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Gain practical experience by contributing to an open-source C project. This will expose you to real-world coding practices and collaborative development.

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Find a C project on GitHub that interests you.
Identify a bug or feature that you can contribute to.
Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete Advanced C Programming will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Embedded Systems Engineer

An Embedded Systems Engineer designs, develops, and tests software for devices like microcontrollers. This course provides a strong foundation in low-level programming, focusing on memory management and direct hardware interaction, which are core skills for this role. The course's in-depth exploration of pointers, dynamic memory allocation, and structures directly translates to efficient resource utilization in embedded systems. Furthermore, the final project of building a BMP image editor is relevant, as embedded systems projects often involve processing data streams and interfacing with hardware devices at the memory level. The course emphasis on modular code is essential for building complex and maintainable embedded system software.

See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Systems Engineer

Systems Programmer

A Systems Programmer works on operating systems, device drivers, or other software that interacts directly with hardware. This course will be highly beneficial to a systems programmer because it dives deep into memory management, low-level C programming, and the execution model of functions. Understanding how the CPU handles function calls, argument passing, and local variable management in the stack, which are all covered in this course, is crucial for systems-level programming. The course's focus on topics like dynamic memory allocation, pointers, and preprocessors will help any systems programmer excel in their role. The bitmap editor project also demonstrates hands-on experience with lower-level data processing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Programmer

Game Developer

A Game Developer uses low-level programming languages like C to create efficient gameplay and rendering systems. This course offers deep insights into C programming, which is valuable for developing core game logic and graphics engines. The course content on pointers and memory management will greatly assist in optimizing game performance. The use of structures and unions, which are covered in this course, are often essential for organizing game data effectively. The final project, a BMP image editor, is related to game development as games often interact with image data. The course focus on modular design also facilitates the creation of maintainable game code.

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Operating Systems Developer

An Operating Systems Developer creates and maintains the core software that manages computer hardware and software resources. This course may be very useful for this role as it provides the essential low-level knowledge needed for writing operating system components. The course explores the execution model, how the CPU handles function calls, and how memory is managed. These topics are of central importance for operating system development. The course material on dynamic memory allocation, structures, and unions are all useful concepts in operating systems. The course's emphasis on modular code helps in building large, complex systems that are maintainable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operating Systems Developer

Compiler Developer

A Compiler Developer works to create the tools that translate human readable code into machine code. This course may be useful for this job since it delves into the intricacies of how code is executed at the CPU level. A compiler developer must understand topics such as function calls, memory allocation, and how code is structured. Learning the preprocessor, how functions work at the low level, and how memory is managed, as taught in this course, will be quite helpful for a compiler developer. The knowledge of pointers presented in this course is a central concept for compilation. The course also covers how code can be modularized, which is valuable for compiler design.

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Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs, develops, and tests software applications. This course helps build a strong foundation in C programming, which is valuable for those who wish to work on high-performance applications or systems level tools. The course content on memory management, pointers, and data structures directly relates to practical software engineering. While a software engineer may not always work on low-level code, the deep understanding offered by this course can help optimize performance and troubleshoot issues in C-based projects. The course focus on modular code also helps to build well-structured and maintainable software. The bitmap project applies the knowledge from the course to a practical problem.

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Firmware Engineer

A Firmware Engineer writes low-level code that controls the hardware of embedded devices. This course may be useful for aspiring firmware engineers because it focuses heavily on low-level programming in C. The course delves into the details of memory management, pointers, and the execution model of functions. These topics are vital for firmware development, where direct hardware interaction and resource management are critical. The course's projects, such as the bitmap editor, illustrate how C can be used to manipulate data at a fundamental level. The material on modular design helps build robust and maintainable firmware.

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Robotics Engineer

A Robotics Engineer develops software and hardware for robots. This course may be useful for a robotics engineer since it provides the essential knowledge of C programming needed for controlling robotic systems. The deeper understanding of memory management, pointers, and low-level operations covered in the course are invaluable for tasks such as sensor integration and real-time control. Additionally, the course material on structures and modular code is helpful for organizing robot software. The final project of creating an image editor might inspire ideas for computer vision applications, a key component of some robotic systems.

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Performance Engineer

A Performance Engineer focuses on optimizing software for speed and efficiency. This course may be of interest because it provides an in-depth understanding of how C code operates at a lower level. A performance engineer must be able to understand how memory allocation, function calls, and data structures affect program execution speed. The material on pointers and memory management, as well as the insights into code modularity covered in this course, contribute to the practical skills of a performance engineer. Although not the sole focus, this course's emphasis on optimization of code and efficiency directly relates to the role.

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Data Structures Developer

A Data Structures Developer designs and implements efficient methods for storing and organizing data, often focusing on the underlying data representations. This course may be useful for that job because it provides a foundational understanding of how memory allocation, pointers, and structures work in C. The course teaches how to use these C constructs to organize data and is particularly relevant to building custom data structures. Although this course does not focus on data structures, the foundational knowledge it builds may contribute to developing a deeper understanding of data structures and their underlying memory representation.

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Computer Graphics Programmer

A Computer Graphics Programmer creates algorithms and software for rendering images and animations. This course may be useful for this role since it will help to build a strong foundation in C, which is a widely used language in graphics programming. While not directly focusing on graphics, the course's coverage of memory management and pointer use is crucial for working with pixel data. Additionally, the image processing focus via the bitmap editor is a relatable example for understanding how image manipulation can be performed in C. The course also provides a deeper understanding of function calls, which may play a role in how graphics are drawn.

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Networking Programmer

A Networking Programmer develops software for network protocols and communication. This course may be helpful for understanding the lower-level aspects of network programming, such as memory management and data manipulation techniques using C. Although this course may not specifically cover networking, it helps build a strong foundation for working with network protocols, as they often require a deep comprehension of pointers, structures, and low-level operations. The course's project, an image editor, may be relatable as it demonstrates how to manipulate data at a lower level. The course material on modular design may contribute to building complex networking systems.

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Database Developer

A Database Developer designs, implements, and maintains databases and related software tools. This course builds foundational knowledge of C, which may be useful for working on database internals. Although database programming is typically done using higher-level languages, knowledge of memory management and fundamental programming concepts from this course may help in understanding the inner workings of database systems. This course may not be central to database development, but the focus on memory and data structure implementation is helpful for a low level view of how databases are implemented. The focus on modular design is also useful when building large systems.

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Scientific Programmer

A Scientific Programmer develops software for scientific computing, data analysis, and simulation. Though this program does not directly relate to scientific programming, this course may be useful as it helps to build a strong foundation in C, a programming language commonly used in high-performance scientific computing. The course's focus on data structures, function calls, and low-level programming concepts are useful although this course does not directly cover numerical methods or the libraries typically used by Scientific Programmers. The course emphasis on modular code is helpful in building large-scale scientific software.

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Data Analyst

A Data Analyst examines data in order to draw conclusions and make decisions. The course may be of some use in this role because a foundation in C may be helpful in building data pipelines, and also for lower level data processing for analytics when a higher level language is not suitable. There is no direct relation between data analysis and this course's content, but the deeper understanding of memory and data structures could provide some utility for a data analyst who wants to engage with data at a low level.

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Advanced C Programming

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Activities

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