⚙️ C Programming (Structured Approach) BCA 102 | I/I
📌 Course Description
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the C programming language, a foundational tool in computer science and software development. Emphasizing structured and procedural programming techniques, it covers variables, data types, operators, control structures, arrays, functions, pointers, structures, unions, and file handling. Hands-on lab sessions reinforce writing efficient, modular, and error-free code — establishing groundwork for algorithms, systems programming, and advanced development.
🎯 Course Objectives
- Understand C syntax, data types, operators, and control statements
- Develop algorithmic thinking and structured programming techniques
- Apply modular programming using functions for reusability
- Manipulate arrays, strings, and pointers efficiently
- Use structures, unions to model complex data
- Perform file I/O operations (text/binary)
- Write, compile, debug, and test programs using modern tools
- Build a strong foundation for data structures & OS courses
| Topic Area | Details |
|---|---|
| 📖 Course Focus | Procedural programming, memory management, structured design |
| 🛠️ Key Tools | GCC, Turbo C / Code::Blocks, terminal-based compilation, debuggers |
| 📝 Evaluation Scheme | Theory (written) + Practical Lab Exam + Internal Assessment |
| 🔁 Core Paradigms | Modularity, recursion, dynamic memory, pointers |
📚 Detailed Unit-wise Syllabus
- Evolution of programming languages, history & characteristics of C
- Structure of a C program, compilation & execution process
- C Tokens: keywords, identifiers, constants, string literals, operators
- Variables: declaration, initialization, scope, lifetime
- Data Types: basic (int,char,float,double,void), derived, user-defined
- Type casting: implicit & explicit
- Operators & Expressions: arithmetic, relational, logical, bitwise, assignment, ternary, sizeof, comma, address-of, precedence
- Formatted I/O: printf(), scanf()
- Unformatted I/O: getchar(), putchar(), getch(), putch()
- Decision making: if, if-else, nested if-else, else-if ladder, switch, conditional operator
- Looping: while, do-while, for, nested loops
- Jump statements: break, continue, goto
- Functions: advantages, definition, prototype, call, call by value vs reference, recursion
- Arrays: 1D, 2D, multi-dimensional, array with functions, matrix ops
- Strings: declaration, I/O (gets/puts), string handling functions (strlen, strrev, strcpy, strcmp, strcat, strupr, strlwr)
- Array of strings
- Structures: defining, declaring, accessing members, nested structures, arrays of structures
- Passing structures to functions
- Unions: definition, comparison with structures
- Enumerations (enum) and typedef implementation
- Pointer declaration, initialization, dereferencing, pointer arithmetic
- Pointers with arrays, strings, functions, structures
- Dynamic memory allocation: malloc, calloc, realloc, free
- DMA with structures
- Dangling pointers & memory leaks
- File concepts (text vs binary), file operations (open, close, read, write)
- File modes, standard I/O: fgetc, fputc, fgets, fputs, fprintf, fscanf, fread, fwrite
- Random access: fseek, ftell, rewind, error handling
- Command-line arguments: argc, argv, accessing arguments
- Graphics in C: graphics modes, drawing primitives (line, circle, rectangle, ellipse), colors, fill styles, text in graphics, simple animation
🧪 Laboratory Work (48 hours – hands-on emphasis)
Practical focus: weekly programming assignments covering all core topics. Students will implement, debug, and submit documented code.
✅ Lab sessions also include: program logic design, code reviews, and a minor project integrating file + DMA + structures.
📖 Required Readings & References
- Balagurusamy, E. – Programming in ANSI C (Latest ed.), Tata McGraw-Hill
- Deitel, P.J. & Deitel, H.M. – C How to Program, Pearson
- Kernighan, B.W. & Ritchie, D.M. – The C Programming Language, Prentice Hall
- Prata, S. – C Primer Plus, Pearson Education
📌 Additional resources: online C99/C11 references, man pages, and lab handouts.
📊 Assessment Overview: Internal assessment (assignments, lab performance, viva) + Theory examination (conceptual & problem-solving) + Practical final examination evaluates code writing, debugging, and output analysis.