C: Data Structures, Pointers, and File Systems

Introduction

• Learn data structures and pointers in C
• Using the exercise files
• Configuring the IDE

1. Arrays and Structures

• Understanding arrays
• Working with arrays
• Modifying arrays
• Passing an array to a function
• Working multi-dimensional arrays
• Building a structure
• Nesting structures
• Creating an array of structures
• Sending a structure to a function
• Understanding a union
• Challenge: Presidents of the U.S.A.
• Solution: Presidents of the U.S.A.

2. Characters and Strings

• Using single character I/O
• Testing characters
• Working with character conversions
• Understanding strings in C
• Fetching string input
• Sending string output
• Reviewing printf() placeholders
• Using printf() placeholders
• Exploring string functions
• Manipulating strings
• Avoiding string problems
• Challenge: String I/O and manipulation
• Solution: String I/O and manipulation

3. Pointers

• Understanding pointers
• Using pointers to manipulate data
• Doing pointer math
• Comparing arrays and pointers
• Allocating storage
• Working with a pointer array
• Using pointers in structures
• Passing pointers to functions
• Returning pointers
• Challenge: Create a pointer array
• Solution: Create a pointer array

4. Files and the Operating System

• Reading from a file
• Writing to a file
• Working with raw data
• Using random file access
• Manipulating files
• Exploring the path
• Reading a directory
• Getting file information
• Using command line arguments
• Calling the operating system
• Challenge: Read and store filenames
• Solution: Read and store filenames

5. The Interesting and Extraordinary

• Solving math puzzles
• Creating random numbers
• Working with time functions
• Sorting data
• Debugging your code
• Using a debugger
• Writing your own header file
• Mixing multiple source code files
• Challenge: Lotto simulation
• Solution: Lotto simulation

Conclusion

• Next steps