Introduction to C Programming

C is a powerful, general-purpose programming language that has been the foundation of modern software development for decades. It is widely used in system programming, embedded systems, and high-performance applications.

Why Learn C?

Some key reasons to learn C include:

• Portability: C programs can run on different platforms with minimal changes.
• Performance: It is a compiled language, making it faster than interpreted languages.
• Low-level Access: C provides access to memory, making it useful for system programming.
• Foundation for Other Languages: Many modern languages like C++, Java, and Python are influenced by C.

Setting Up a C Development Environment

To start coding in C, follow these steps:

1. Install a Compiler

   • Windows: MinGW or MSYS2
   • macOS: Install Xcode Command Line Tools (xcode-select --install)
   • Linux: Install GCC (sudo apt install gcc)

2. Choose an Editor or IDE

   • Visual Studio Code
   • Code::Blocks
   • CLion
   • Vim/Emacs

3. Write and Compile a Simple C Program

   #include <stdio.h>
   
   int main() {
       printf("Hello, World!\n");
       return 0;
   }
   

   Compile and run the program:

   gcc hello.c -o hello
   ./hello
   

Basic Syntax and Concepts

1. Variables and Data Types

int age = 25;
float temperature = 36.5;
char grade = 'A';

2. If-Else

if (age >= 18) {
    printf("You are an adult.\n");
} else {
    printf("You are a minor.\n");
}

3. Loops

for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    printf("Iteration %d\n", i);
}

4. Functions

int add(int a, int b) {
    return a + b;
}

int main() {
    int result = add(5, 3);
    printf("Sum: %d\n", result);
    return 0;
}