C Programming Tutorial - Start Here

Welcome to About.com's free tutorials on C programming. This tutorial features a series of lessons designed to teach you the basics of C programming. We're still writing these but new ones will appear from time to time.

If you are completely new to programming read these articles to give you an idea what is involved.

• What is Software?
• What is a Programming Language?

There is a fair amount of material to learn in C but take it one step at a time and you'll get there. Plus you can ask on the forums or email me if you get stuck. Don't feel overwhelmed.

If you haven't done so, please check out the requirements before you start this tutorial. You will need a C compiler and we recommend the Open Watcom compiler. Instructions for obtaining that and installing it are here.

If you are unfamiliar with compilers read about compilers and interpreters.

C Tutorial

First Encounters. These cover compiling your first program and getting familiar with manipulating numbers and getting into the nitty gritty of arrays and chars, expressions, control statements and functions.

Basic Lessons

1. Compile your first C Program Start Here
2. Handling Numbers. Learn About Numbers
3. Chars and Arrays Storing Data in ram
4. Expressions Understanding Calculations
5. Control Statements How to control program flow
6. Functions Working with Functions
7. Introduction to Pointers Using Pointers
8. String and Text Handling. Handling text
9. Random Access File Handling Reading and Writing Data files
10. Text File Handling Reading and Writing Text Files

Advanced Lessons These cover the more advanced aspects of c programming. Make sure you are comfortable with the basic lessons before attempting these.

1. Advanced Pointers - Linked Lists and Function Pointers.
2. Low Level Operations. Use of binary and, or and xor and unions.
   
3. Star Trek Conversion which is a conversion from a game in Basic into C.

Alternatively, there are plenty of examples of open source free software in the C Code library.