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Introduction to C, History, Compilation
Flow
This document provides a brief introduction to the C programming language, covering its
history, key features, and the compilation process. It aims to give a foundational
understanding of C for beginners and those interested in learning more about this powerful
and influential language.
C Programming Foundation
Compilation
Process of converting C code to
executable
Key Features
Essential characteristics of C language
History
Brief overview of C's origins
History of C
C was developed in the early 1970s by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs. It was initially designed for
use with the Unix operating system. C evolved from earlier languages like BCPL and B. The
key milestones in C's history include:
• 1960s: Development of BCPL (Basic Combined Programming Language) by Martin
Richards.
• 1970: Ken Thompson creates B language based on BCPL.
• 1972: Dennis Ritchie develops C at Bell Labs.
• 1973: Unix operating system is rewritten in C.
• 1978: "The C Programming Language" (K&R C) is published by Kernighan and Ritchie,
becoming the de facto standard.
• 1989: ANSI C (C89 or C90) is standardized by the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI).
• 1999: C99 standard is released, introducing new features.
• 2011: C11 standard is released, further updating the language.
C's influence is undeniable. It has served as the foundation for many other programming
languages, including C++, Java, and Python. Its impact on operating systems, embedded
systems, and systems programming is profound.
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The Evolution of C Programming Language
1960s
Development of BCPL by Martin
Richards
1970
Ken Thompson creates B
language based on BCPL
1972
Dennis Ritchie develops C at Bell
Labs
1973
Unix operating system is rewritten
in C
1978
The C Programming Language"
published
1989
ANSI C (C89 or C90) is
standardized
1999
C99 standard is released
2011
C11 standard is released
Key Features of C
C possesses several key features that contribute to its power and versatility:
• Procedural Language: C is a procedural language, meaning programs are structured
as a sequence of procedures or functions.
• Low-Level Access: C provides low-level access to memory and hardware, making it
suitable for systems programming.
• Portability: C code can be compiled and run on a wide variety of platforms with
minimal modifications.
• Efficiency: C is known for its efficiency and speed, making it suitable for
performance-critical applications.
• Rich Set of Operators: C provides a rich set of operators for performing various
operations, including arithmetic, logical, and bitwise operations.
• Pointers: C supports pointers, which allow direct manipulation of memory addresses.
• Functions: C programs are built from functions, which are reusable blocks of code.
• Structures: C allows the creation of structures, which are user-defined data types that
can group together related data.
Key Features of C Programming
Procedural
Low-Level Access
Language
Portability Efficiency
Rich Set of
Pointers
Operators
Functions Structures
Compilation Flow
The compilation process in C involves several stages that transform the human-readable
source code into executable machine code. The typical compilation flow is as follows:
1. Preprocessing: The preprocessor handles directives such as #include and #define. It
includes header files, expands macros, and performs conditional compilation. The
output is a modified source code file.
2. Compilation: The compiler translates the preprocessed source code into assembly
code. Assembly code is a low-level representation of the program that is specific to
the target architecture.
3. Assembly: The assembler converts the assembly code into object code. Object code
is a binary file that contains machine instructions and data.
4. Linking: The linker combines the object code with other object files and libraries to
create an executable file. Libraries contain pre-compiled functions and data that can
be used by the program. The linker resolves references between different object files
and libraries.
The following diagram illustrates the compilation flow:
Source Code (.c) --> Preprocessor --> Modified Source Code --> Compiler -->
Assembly Code (.s) --> Assembler --> Object Code (.o) --> Linker --> Executable
File
Understanding the compilation flow is crucial for debugging and optimizing C programs. It
allows developers to identify and resolve issues at different stages of the compilation
process.
The Journey from Source Code to Executable
Preprocessing
Handles directives and includes
header files
Compilation
Translates preprocessed code to
assembly
Assembly
Converts assembly code to
object code
Linking
Combines object code and
libraries
