C Programming: Language Foundations - 2

Dartmouth College via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/c-programming-language-foundations

Introduction

### Course Review: C Programming: Language Foundations - 2 If you're looking to deepen your understanding of programming through one of the most renowned and widely-used languages, then the Coursera course "C Programming: Language Foundations - 2" is a fantastic choice. This course is designed not only for beginners but also for those who might have a little background in programming and want to solidify their knowledge and skills in C. #### Overview of the Course The course promises a comprehensive journey into two critical aspects of C programming: logical statements and arrays. These foundational concepts are essential for anyone looking to develop strong programming skills, especially given that C is a language that forms the backbone for many modern programming languages and technologies. **Course Highlights:** - **Use of Logical Statements:** The ability to make decisions in code using logical statements is a fundamental skill. This course emphasizes the use of `if` and `if-else` statements, helping you understand how to control the flow of your programs based on conditions you define. - **Understanding Arrays:** Arrays are crucial for managing and organizing data. This course guides you through creating and utilizing arrays, equipping you with techniques to handle larger datasets efficiently. - **Fundamental Algorithms:** The practical application of sorting and searching algorithms within the context of arrays is also covered, providing students with essential skills to manipulate and retrieve data effectively. #### Detailed Syllabus Breakdown 1. **Welcome:** The course kicks off with an introduction that sets the stage for coding in C and familiarizes learners with tools that enhance the learning experience. 2. **Week 1 - Logic Conditions and If-Else Statements:** You will begin your journey with logical conditions. This week is crucial as you'll learn about `if` statements and logical operations—AND, OR, and NOT. This knowledge is foundational for building decision-making capabilities in your programs. 3. **Week 2 - Arrays, For and While Loops:** This week dives into one of the most powerful structures in C: arrays. You'll learn how to create arrays for integers and floating-point numbers. Further, you will explore loop constructs (`for` and `while`) to iterate over data, deepening your understanding of control structures in programming. 4. **Week 3 - Strings, Sort, and Search Algorithms:** In this week, the course introduces arrays of characters, or strings, along with practical tasks of string manipulation. Moreover, you will delve into algorithms that allow you to sort and search through data—essential for any programmer looking to work with information effectively. 5. **Concluding the Course:** As you wrap up, you will consolidate your understanding of the concepts learned and see how they fit into the broader tapestry of programming in C. #### Why Learn C? C is not only a powerful language; it is a skill that creates opportunities in many fields, from software development to embedded systems. With its efficiency and performance, C is often the language of choice for system programming, game development, and applications that require high speed and low-level memory management. By learning C, you’ll be able to understand how computers work at a more fundamental level, paving the way for learning other languages like C++, Java, or Python more easily. #### Recommendation I highly recommend the "C Programming: Language Foundations - 2" course for anyone eager to start or deepen their programming knowledge. The course is well-structured, progressively building concepts that are both impactful and applicable in real-world scenarios. The blend of theoretical knowledge with practical coding exercises ensures that you will not only learn but also gain the confidence to apply what you’ve learned in your projects. The chance to interact with course materials, alongside a community of learners, adds another layer of value, making this an excellent course for self-paced learning in a supportive environment. So grab your keyboard and set forth on your programming journey with C!

Syllabus

Welcome

Let's start coding! Let's get ready to code and learn how to use the cutting edge tools that we have developed to facilitate your learning.

Week 1: Logic conditions and if-else statements

This week, you will utilize logical conditions (i.e. if-statements, if-else statements) and combine/negate several logical conditions using logic operations AND, OR, and NOT.

Week 2: Arrays, for and while loops

This week you will create, and utilize arrays of integers and floating point numbers. You will also be able to explain the syntax of a FOR and WHILE loop and create programs using them as nest branch statements.

Week 3: Strings, sort and search algorithms

This week, you will create arrays of characters (strings), use the null terminator, and manipulate strings to find their lengths. You will also be able to sort through arrays: alphabetizing strings, ordering numbers, finding specific numbers, etc.

Concluding the course

Overview

In this course you will learn to use logical statements and arrays in C. Logical statements are used for decision-making with follow-up instructions, based on conditions you define. Arrays are used to store, keep track of, and organize larger amounts of data. You will furthermore implement some fundamental algorithms to search and sort data. Why learn C? Not only is it one of the most stable and popular programming languages in the world, it's also used to power almost all electronic devices. T

Skills

Computer Programming C Programming

Reviews

Great introduction and practice for C programming.

Very clear course and great interactive format. You practice at every lesson and validate the course by actually coding. Thanks so much!

It is a great C prog course; both instructors know how to explain all topics and the exercises are challenging

everything in this course is very good, but i hope they add a discussion post at the end of every activity session, just like on Edx platform