Introduction to Programming - (C Language) - Unit : 1 – COMPILATION AND EXECUTION - FIRST C PROGRAM

Compilation and execution are fundamental processes in computer programming and software development. They are crucial steps in converting human-readable source code into machine-executable instructions, allowing computers to perform tasks as directed by the programmer. This introduction will provide an overview of these two processes and their significance in the world of programming.

1. Compilation:

Compilation is the process of translating high-level programming code, written in languages like C, C++, Java, or C#, into lower-level code known as machine code or bytecode. This transformation involves several steps:

Source Code: Programmers write human-readable source code using a high-level programming language. This code is easy to understand and write but cannot be directly executed by a computer.

Compiler: A compiler is a software tool that takes the source code as input and converts it into machine-readable code. The compiler performs syntax checking, optimization, and code generation to produce an executable file or bytecode. Different programming languages have different compilers.

Executable File or Bytecode: The output of the compilation process is often an executable file (e.g., .exe for Windows) or bytecode (e.g., .class for Java). These files contain the instructions that the computer's processor can understand and execute.

 

2. Execution:

Execution is the process of running the compiled or interpreted program to achieve the intended task. Depending on the programming language, there are two primary methods of execution:

Compiled Languages: In languages like C and C++, the compiled code is directly executed by the computer's processor. When you run the program, the operating system loads the executable file into memory, and the CPU processes the instructions, producing the desired output.

Interpreted Languages: Languages like Python and JavaScript are interpreted. In this case, the source code is not compiled into machine code beforehand. Instead, an interpreter reads and executes the code line by line at runtime. This can make development and debugging more straightforward but may result in slower execution.

 

 Why are Compilation and Execution Important?

Efficiency: Compilation optimizes code for faster execution, as it can make various performance enhancements.

Portability: Compiled code can be distributed without revealing the source code, enhancing security. Interpreted languages often require distributing the source code or bytecode.

Cross-Platform Compatibility: Compiled code can be platform-specific, while interpreted languages are often more platform-independent, making them suitable for web applications and cross-platform development.

Error Checking: Compilation performs extensive error checking at the early stages, reducing the likelihood of runtime errors.

 

PROCESS OF WRITING PROGRAM

1.     Problem analysis: We should analyze the problem to be solved initially. In this process we clearly understand the exact problem, finding best solution among various solutions, using the suitable concepts for solving problem.

2.     Writing of code: Write the program code

3.     Compiling: Now compile the code. In this process we will get the errors and correct them and then convert into machine code(binary code).

4.     Execution/Running: Then execute the machine code.

5.     Output: Now check the output.

Components needed to write a program?

            To write a program we need the following requirements.

è Editor

è Preprocessor

è Debugger

è Compiler

è Linker

è Standard object Library

è Header files

è Help Document.

Turbo C++ IDE (Integrated Development Environment)  is an integration of several tools.

You can download Turbo C++ (which is useful for C and C++) from internet from many sites.

Structure of a ‘c’ program :

Header files

preprocessor commands

global variable declarations

main()

{

local variable declarations ;

statements ;     

  }

function(arguments)

{

local declarations ;

statements ;

 }

 

 Rules and conventions to write c program

·        The ‘C’ program has a free formatted structure.

·        Every statement must be terminated with a semicolon  ;

·        A program is a collection of functions. There may be a lot of functions but at least one function must be there that is main(), where the execution starts.

·        C has case sensitivity. All the keywords are defined in lower case.

·        So better to write entire program in lower case.

 

Preprocessor commands:

The commands which start with a hash(#) symbol are called Preprocessor commands.

Ex :

# include <stdio.h>

# include <conio.h>

# define PI  3.14159

Global declarations :

To use any variable it must be declared with its data type before the first executable statement. The variables which declared in a block are available in that block only.

To use the variable in the entire program with same effect it must be declared as global.

 

printf() scanf() in C

The printf() and scanf() functions are used for input and output in C language.

Both functions are inbuilt library functions, defined in stdio.h (header file).

printf() function

The printf() function is used for output. It prints the given statement to the console.

The syntax of printf() function is given below:

printf("format string",argument_list);

The format string can be %d (integer), %c (character), %s (string), %f (float) etc.

scanf() function

The scanf() function is used for input. It reads the input data from the console.

 

scanf("format string",argument_list);  

 

Sample Program

/*Sample program in C language*/

#include <stdio.h> 

#include <conio.h> 

void main()

{ 

clrscr();

printf("Hello C Language"); 

            getch(); 

} 

 

Program explanation:

Ø  /*..*/ is comment line. It is used to give additional information about the program.

Ø  #include <stdio.h> includes the standard input output library functions. The printf() function is defined in stdio.h .

Ø  #include <conio.h> includes the console input output library functions. The getch() function is defined in conio.h file.

Ø  void main() The main() function is the entry point of every program in c language. The void keyword specifies that it returns no value.

Ø  printf() The printf() function is used to print data on the console.

Ø  getch() The getch() function asks for a single character. Until you press any key, it blocks the screen.

// Sum of two numbers

#include <stdio.h>

int main()

{

    int num1 = 10; // Initialize num1 with the value 10

    int num2 = 20; // Initialize num2 with the value 20

    int sum = num1 + num2; // Calculate the sum of num1 and num2

    printf("Sum: %d\n", sum); // Display the result (sum)

    return 0;

}

 

In this program:

int is a data type and num1,num2,sum are the variables

int num1 = 10; initializes num1 with the value 10.

int num2 = 20; initializes num2 with the value 20.

int sum = num1 + num2; calculates the sum of num1 and num2 and stores it in the sum variable.

printf("Sum: %d\n", sum); prints the result (the sum) as an integer.

return 0; indicates successful execution of the program to the operating system.

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