CIS 15 Advanced Programming Techniques Using C

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CIS 15 - Advanced Programming Techniques Using C

• Professor Yedidyah Langsam
• 525NE
• 718-951-4161
• langsam_at_sci.brooklyn.cuny.edu
• icq 10661149
• AOL IM BCCISProf
• http//eilat.sci.brooklyn.cuny.edu

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Required Texts

• C Programming A Modern Approach, King, K. N., W.
  W. Norton Co., 1996
• Learning the UNIX Operating System, 4th ed.,
  Peek, J., et. al., OReilly, 1998
• Data Structures Using C and C, 2nd ed.,
  Langsam, Y., et. al., Prentice-Hall, 1996

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Supplementary Texts

• The C Programming Language, 2nd ed., Kernighan,
  B. and Ritchie, D., Prentice-Hall, 1988
• Fun with Unix, Landy, S., Brooklyn College Press
• CIS 15 Class Notes, Langsam, Y.

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Class Requirements

• Midterm 30
• Final 40
• Programs (5-6) 30
• 5 point penalty for each class day an assignment
  is late.
• Programs are to be an individual effort.

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Structured Programming Rules - 1

• Code one statement per line
• Use meaningful variables
• Divide each program into functions
• Each function should perform a single task

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Structured Programming Rules - 2

• Use proper documentation
• Each function must begin with a comment
• Avoid trivial comments - code should read like
  English
• Avoid clever code

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Structured Programming Rules - 3

• Use proper consistent indentation (3-5 spaces)
• For functions - place and on separate lines
• For statements - place on the same line as the
  statement and line up the with the keyword

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Structured Programming Rules - 4

• Comment every
• Skip lines for clarity - but do not double space
• Separate all functions

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Structured Programming Rules - 5

• Use lowercase for all variables and keywords
• Use uppercase for all defined symbolic constants

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Documentation - 1

• Every program must begin with complete
  documentation
• Identification
• Name
• Instructor
• Program number
• Date submitted
• Class Section

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Documentation - 2

• Statement of Problem
• Input Output requirements
• Algorithms used
• Assumptions used and conditions under which
  program will fail

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Characteristics of C - 1

• C is standardized (ANSI C)
• C is ubiquitous
• C is a low-level language
• C is a small language
• C is a permissive language

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Characteristics of C - 2

• Strengths
• Efficiency
• Portability
• Power
• Flexibility
• Standard Library
• Integration with UNIX

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Characteristics of C - 3

• Weaknesses
• C programs can be error prone
• C programs can be difficult to understand
• C programs can be difficult to modify

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Effective Use of C - 1

• Learn how to avoid C pitfalls
• Use software tools to make programs more reliable
  (debuggers, lint, etc.)
• Take advantage of existing code libraries

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Effective Use of C - 2

• Adopt a sensible and consistent set of coding
  conventions
• Avoid tricks and overly complex code
• Use ANSI C
• Avoid non-portable features