C programming quick start

Intro

#include <stdio.h>

The #include is a "preprocessor" directive that tells the compiler to put code from the header called stdio.h into our program before actually creating the executable. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_file_input/output stdio.h] provides input output functions like printf & scanf.

int main() { }

Main body of program. Returns integer exit status to O.S. after execution. 0 = success, non zero is an error message.

hello world example

1. include <stdio.h>

int main() {

   printf( "Hello world!\n" );
   printf( "(hit enter to end)\n" );
   getchar();
   return 0;

}

compiling with gcc

gcc hello.c -o hello

run hello world and check exit status of last command

$ ./hello
Hello world!
(hit enter to end)

$ echo $?
0
$ ./hello
Hello world!
(hit enter to end)
^C
$ echo $?
130              <<<--- Script terminated by Control-C exit code

variables

types Char: a single character Integer: number without decimal place float: number with decimal place

placement

variable declarations must come before other types of statements in the given "code block"