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Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C

Andrew D. Hilton, Genevieve M. Lipp, and Anne Bracy

Building on the course Programming Fundamentals, this course will teach you how to write code by first planning what your program should do—an important approach for novice and professional programmers. You will learn how to compile and run your program, and then how to test and debug it. This course builds on the Seven Steps you have already learned and provides a framework for systematically testing for problems and fixing them, so you can find and fix problems efficiently.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Writing Code

In this module, you will learn to write code and do your first assignment in the Practice Programming Environment. You have practiced the first four steps of the Seven Steps in the previous course, and you will review them here before learning Step 5: Translating Your Algorithm to Code. Expert programmers spend most of their time planning before they begin writing code, and you will learn to do the same!

Compiling and Running

Now that you know how to plan an algorithm and translate it to code, you need to learn how to compile and run it! You will learn about the compiler, which takes the code you wrote and translates it into instructions a machine can execute, which you can then run. You will also learn about different options you can give the compiler, as well as different ways to run your program that give you debugging information.

Testing and debugging

Two skills that are crucial to good programming are testing—finding problems with your code, and debugging—fixing them. In this module you will learn systematic ways to identify problems in your code, as well as how to apply the scientific method to fix your program when you do find a bug.

Project

In this module you will begin the project you will complete over the course of the rest of the specialization. At the end of each course, you will write a piece of a program that will calculate the odds of different poker hands winning with a Monte Carlo simulation—a way to calculate complicated probabilities by generating random data.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Builds a strong foundation for beginners in writing code

Develops skills that can be applied to a variety of programming languages

Taught by experts who are recognized for their work in programming education

May be useful for students who want to improve their coding skills

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Reviews summary

Writing, running, and fixing code in c: a good course

Learners say this specialization teaches algorithmic thinking using C language. It's described as a competitive course that can be hard but students say there's a great sense of achievement when they complete it. Students recommend this specialization to learners who have some prior programming knowledge. One area where students would like to see improvement is the lack of clarity in some of the assignment instructions and readings.

Active instructor participation in forums

"The course forum is active with a very high instructor participation rate."

Time commitment is manageable

"Really enjoying myself, learning all this new stuff. Hard work probably because I have not worked in this field ever, but the sense of achievement, when I get things right, is well worth it. And I really like that the level of time commitment is round about a month. Makes it all manageable."

Great course for learning C

"This whole specialization is one of the best for a person looking for beginners."

"This course is more competitive than the previous one in this specialization."

"it has been amazing working with andrew and all, tho discussion forrum was quite helpful. thanks to everyone for helping me to complete the course."

"Really enjoying myself, learning all this new stuff."

"Definitely a pretty big learning curve to this course if you've never done any programming before and the previous course provides a good intro to this one."

"This course was perfect and wonderful for me."

"If you are increadibly slow like me at the beggining, you will definitively become better at the end, with a very good understanding of the topic and abilities to apply that understanding in the real world."

Assignments require a lot of guesswork

"There were some parts in the teachings that were logically "broken" as well."

Unclear assignments and readings

"The Readings sections in the course need a major revision. I had to spent hours trying to understand what was being conveyed."

"Also the README files of the assignment tasks. The language used was confusing and many times the instructions were not clear."

Challenging course

"Secondly hard to beginner but very helpful."

"This course is too much hard for any beginner. I can not understand anything from this course."

"It was a great course. And we gain a lot of information from this one."

"I followde all steps of the teacher to do the first programming test, but the system doesn't let me pass. The compiler of this system is awful."

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 Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C with these activities:

Review functions, conditionals, and loops from programming fundamentals

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In order to successfully understand this course you should be able to apply concepts such as functions, conditionals, and loops. Take some time to review these concepts so that you are confident with them before moving forward.

Browse courses on Functions

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Organize your notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams

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Keeping your materials organized will help you to stay on track and study more effectively.

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Create a system for organizing your materials
File your materials in the appropriate place
Review your materials regularly

Complete the 'Writing Simple Programs' section in the practice programming environment

Show steps

The practice programming environment will provide you with an opportunity to immediately apply the concepts learned in the course. Completing these drills will reinforce what you have learned and ensure that you have a strong foundation.

Show steps

Go to the Practice Programming Environment
Select the 'Writing Simple Programs' section
Complete all of the exercises in the section

Four other activities

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Watch the 'Introduction to Compiling' tutorial

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This tutorial will provide you with a clear and concise overview of the compilation process. It is important to understand this process in order to be able to debug your code.

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Go to YouTube and search for the 'Introduction to Compiling' tutorial
Watch the tutorial in its entirety

Join a study group and discuss the course material with your peers

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Talking about the course material with other students will help you to reinforce what you have learned and identify areas where you need additional support.

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Find a study group or create your own
Meet with your group regularly to discuss the course material
Share your understanding of the material and help others to learn

Use a debugging tool to identify and fix errors in your code

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Debugging is a critical skill for programmers. This activity will provide you with an opportunity to practice debugging your code using a real-world tool.

Show steps

Choose a debugging tool such as GDB or LLDB
Set breakpoints in your code
Step through your code and examine the values of variables
Fix any errors that you find

Create a simple program that implements the seven steps of programming

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This project will allow you to apply all of the concepts that you have learned in this course. It will also give you an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the programming process.

Show steps

Choose a problem to solve
Design an algorithm to solve the problem
Translate your algorithm to code
Compile and run your program
Test and debug your program

Career center

Learners who complete Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Computer Programmer

Working as a Computer Programmer, you will translate ideas and translate them into instructions that a computer can execute. The Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C course can help future Computer Programmers obtain a solid understanding in the coding languages and principles behind modern computer systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Programmer

Web Developer

Web Developers enjoy the opportunity to design and develop web pages and applications. Not only does the Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C course provide an introduction to this exciting field, but it also helps Web Developers gain essential knowledge in coding that they can utilize to bring their concepts to life.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Software Engineer

Professionals working as Software Engineers design, develop, and test software systems, including those that are used to operate computers and mobile devices, as well as software that runs cloud computing applications. Taking the Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C course can help aspiring software engineers build foundational skills in programming, as they will learn how to originate code and translate it from an idea into reality.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts identify and address an organization's information security risks. While the Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C course may not be directly related to this career, it can still be helpful for those wishing to enter this field as it can help build a foundation in programming and debugging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Computer Hardware Engineer

Computer Hardware Engineers design, develop, and test computer hardware. While the Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C course may not be directly related to this career, it can still be helpful for those wishing to enter this field as it can help build a foundation in programming and debugging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Hardware Engineer

Information Technology Manager

Information Technology Managers plan, implement, and maintain an organization's computer systems and networks. While the Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C course may not be directly related to this career, it can still be helpful for those wishing to enter this field as it can help build a foundation in programming and debugging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Technology Manager

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts study an organization's current computer systems and procedures, and design changes to make them more efficient and effective. While the Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C course may not be directly related to this career, it can still be helpful for those wishing to enter this field as it can help build a foundation in programming and debugging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Computer Support Specialist

Computer Support Specialists provide technical assistance to computer users. While the Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C course may not be directly related to this career, it can still be helpful for those wishing to enter this field as it can help build a foundation in programming and debugging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Support Specialist

Database Developer

Database Developers design and develop databases. While the Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C course may not be directly related to this career, it can still be helpful for those wishing to enter this field as it can help build a foundation in programming and debugging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Developer

Webmaster

Webmasters design, develop, and maintain websites. While the Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C course may not be directly related to this career, it can still be helpful for those wishing to enter this field as it can help build a foundation in programming and debugging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Webmaster

Software Quality Assurance Analyst

Software Quality Assurance Analysts test software to ensure that it meets the requirements and specifications. While the Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C course may not be directly related to this career, it can still be helpful for those wishing to enter this field as it can help build a foundation in programming and debugging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Quality Assurance Analyst

Information Technology Project Manager

Information Technology Project Managers plan, implement, and manage information technology projects. While the Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C course may not be directly related to this career, it can still be helpful for those wishing to enter this field as it can help build a foundation in programming and debugging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Technology Project Manager

Database Administrator

Database Administrators are responsible for the performance, integrity, and security of an organization's data. While the Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C course may not be directly related to this career, it can still be helpful for those wishing to enter this field as it can help build foundational skills in coding and debugging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Network Administrator

Network Administrators manage the day-to-day operations of an organization's computer network. While the Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C course may not be directly related to this career, it can still be helpful for those wishing to enter this field as it can help build a foundation in programming and debugging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Administrator

Data Analyst

Data Analysts help organizations understand data by creating visual representations and reports for insights. The Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C course can be useful for this career field because it helps Data Analysts build foundational skills in programming and debugging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Reading list

We've selected 16 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 Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C.

Code Complete

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Is considered a classic in the field of software development. It provides a comprehensive overview of the software development process, from planning and design to coding and testing. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about writing high-quality code.

Writing, Running, and Fixing Code in C

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Reviews summary

Writing, running, and fixing code in c: a good course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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