C and its derivative C++ are probably today's widely-used computer languages, across the full range of hardware platforms. This module looks at the overall characteristics of C by seeing how it fits into the language typology developed in the previous module. It goes on to examine the processes of software creation (editing, compiling, linking) in a PC-based C environment. The module also serves to introduce the specific techniques used for working in the Borland Turbo C system.

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Program Development in C

C and C++ are popular languages for software development because of their simplicity of expression, the compactness of the code, and the wide range of applicability. C allows the programmer a wide range of operations from high level down to a very low level, approaching that of assembly language. Programming in C is a tremendous asset in those areas where you may want to use assembly language but would rather keep it a simple to write and easy to maintain program. It has been said that a program written in C will pay a premium of a 50 to 100% increase in runtime because no language is as compact or fast as assembler. However, the time saved in coding can be tremendous, making it the most desirable language for many programming chores. In addition, since most programs spend 90 percent of their operating time in only 10 percent or less of the code, it is possible to write a program in C then rewrite a small portion of the code in assembler and approach the execution speed of the same program if it were written entirely in assembler.

It is important to note, however, that the C programmer takes on a great deal of responsibility because it is very easy to write a program that destroys itself due to the sort of small errors that a Pascal compiler would flag and call a fatal error. A C compiler, on the other hand, may only issue warnings over the same faults.