| Title: | C Programming |
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| Long Title: | C Programming |
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| Field of Study: |
Computer Software
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| Valid From: |
Semester 1 - 2017/18 ( September 2017 ) |
| Module Coordinator: |
Sean McSweeney |
| Module Author: |
Ignacio Castineiras |
| Module Description: |
C is a general-purpose, procedural, imperative computer programming language that is used to develop applications in many domains including embedded systems.
In this module the learner will effectively design and implement C applications, with a special emphasis for the memory representation of a program execution.
Basic assembly commands (for low-level access to the machine architecture) and their embedding within a C program are also discussed.
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| Learning Outcomes |
| On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to: |
| LO1 |
Assess the memory representation in the execution of a program and evaluate the evolution of the stack and heap areas. |
| LO2 |
Apply pointers in programming and use pointers to achieve efficient handling of storage. |
| LO3 |
Model complex applications via the use of arrays and user-defined data types (structs). |
| LO4 |
Apply well-known String and Input/Output (I/O) APIs to efficiently read from/write to text files. |
| LO5 |
Embed assembler instructions within a C program to control the use of registers and system calls. |
| Pre-requisite learning |
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
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| 12689 |
SOFT7019 |
C Programming |
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list. |
| No incompatible modules listed |
Co-requisite Modules
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| No Co-requisite modules listed |
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
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| No requirements listed |
Module Content & Assessment
| Indicative Content |
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Introduction.
Basic syntax. Compiled vs. interpreted languages. The C-compiler application. Stages: Pre-processing, compilation and linking. Circular dependencies. Makefiles.
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Memory Perspective.
Hexadecimal representation. Virtual memory: Static-based data and code areas vs. dynamic-based stack and heap. Heap memory management: Malloc, free and realloc. Memory debugging tools.
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Pointers.
Definitions and operatiors. Void, non-initialised and null pointers. Maths with pointers. Pointer as function arguments. Pointer to pointers. Pointer to functions.
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Arrays.
Declaration and initialisation. Equivalence of arrays and pointers. Array limitations. Functions and arrays. Multi-dimensional arrays.
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Strings and Input/Output (I/O) APIs
Main API. Variable-length argument programs. Reading and writing characters and lines. Parsing text and formatted files.
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User-defined Data Types.
Structs. Fields access and manipulation. Compound structs. Structs and dynamic data structures. Struct pointers for isolating data usage from data internal representation.
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Language Spectrum
High, mid and low-level languages. Positioning C vs. a low-level language as assembly and a high-level language as Java or Python.
Assembly and machine architecture: Registers, Memory Allocation, System Calls, Data Transfer, Memory Stack, Labels and Branches.
Use 'asm' to embed assembler instructions within a C program to control the use of registers and system calls.
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| Assessment Breakdown | % |
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| Course Work | 100.00% |
| Course Work |
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| Assessment Type |
Assessment Description |
Outcome addressed |
% of total |
Assessment Date |
| Project |
Design and implement a purely stack-based C application involving the use of pointers and arrays. Use memory debugging tools to assess the memory representation in the execution of the application. |
1,2 |
35.0 |
Week 5 |
| Project |
Design and implement a C application involving the use of pointers, arrays, strings and user-defined data types. Embed assembler instructions within a component of the C application (to control the use of registers and system calls). |
3,4,5 |
35.0 |
Week 11 |
| Short Answer Questions |
An examination of the students understanding of the key concepts in C and their competencies in writing C code. |
1,2,3,4 |
30.0 |
Week 12 |
| No End of Module Formal Examination |
| Reassessment Requirement |
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.
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The institute reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment
Module Workload
| Workload: Full Time |
| Workload Type |
Workload Description |
Hours |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
| Lecture |
Lecture delivering theory underpinning learning outcomes. |
2.0 |
Every Week |
2.00 |
| Lab |
Practical computer-based lab supporting learning outcomes. |
2.0 |
Every Week |
2.00 |
| Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) |
Independent Study. |
3.0 |
Every Week |
3.00 |
| Total Hours |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Learner Workload |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Contact Hours |
4.00 |
| Workload: Part Time |
| Workload Type |
Workload Description |
Hours |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
| Lecture |
Lecture delivering theory underpinning learning outcomes. |
2.0 |
Every Week |
2.00 |
| Lab |
Practical computer-based lab supporting learning outcomes. |
2.0 |
Every Week |
2.00 |
| Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) |
Independent Study. |
3.0 |
Every Week |
3.00 |
| Total Hours |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Learner Workload |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Contact Hours |
4.00 |
Module Resources
| Recommended Book Resources |
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- Zed A. Shaw 2015, Learn C the Hard Way: Practical Exercises on the Computational Subjects You Keep Avoiding (Like C), Addison-Wesley Professional [ISBN: 9780133124385]
- Richard Reese 2013, Understanding and Using C Pointers, O'Reilly Media [ISBN: 9781449344184]
| | Supplementary Book Resources |
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- Brian W. Kernighan, Dennis M. Ritchie 1988, The C programming language, Prentice Hall [ISBN: 9780131103627]
- Peter Prinz and Ulla Kirch-Prinz 2003, C Pocket Reference - C Syntax and Fundamentals, O'Reilly Media [ISBN: 9780596004361]
- Daniel Kusswurm 2014, Modern X86 Assembly Language Programming: 32-bit, 64-bit, SSE, and AVX, Apress [ISBN: 9781484200650]
| | This module does not have any article/paper resources |
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| Other Resources |
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- Website: C Tutor - Visualize C code execution to
learn C online
- Website: C reference - cppreference.com - C/C++
Reference
- Website: Simple 8-bit Assembler Simulator
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Module Delivered in
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