Getting good at: C | #2 - getchar and putchar

2 - putchar('='); putchar(')');

How's it going bros. The next jacksepticeye here. Today, I'm going to show you how to use getchar() and putchar(). These are self explanitory: getchar receives a character, and putchar prints out a character. 

So to use putchar, type putchar(':'); in your main function. You can replace ':' with any character you want, so long as you keep it inside the single quotes. Your program should look like this:

int main()
{
    putchar(':');
    return 0;
}

This should print a colon on the screen.

In order to use getchar, we have to be familiar with another type of variable: char. (Actually, you can get away with using regular variables, but I don't recommend it.) Char is a variable that can only be used for characters. (You can set char variables to equal numeric values, but it'll be translated to ASCII, which will make it a character.) To use it, type char name = ':';, where 'name' is any name you want, and ':' is the character the 'name' is set to. Like regular variables, we can set char name to nothing, but to use getchar, you have to set char name equal to getchar(). Your program should look something like this:

int main()
{
    char name = getchar();
    return 0;
}

This allows the user to input any character. To output this character, just add printf("%c",name);, where "%c" tells printf() that the integer we're passing through is a character. Your program should look something like this:

int main()
{
    char name = getchar();
    printf("%c",memes);
    return 0;
}

This allows the user to input a character and outputs the same character. You can also use getchar() to pause a program. For example:


int main()
{
    int memes;
    memes = 1337;
    printf("memes = %d\nPress any key to continue.\n",memes);
    getchar();
    return 0;

}

This prompts the user to enter a character, and only after that will the program stop.

NOTE: You don't have to do the challenges below, but you can if you want to.

With this newfound knowledge, write a program that properly utilize both getchar() and putchar().

That's all I have for now. Until then...

Getting good at: C | #1 - Integers and printf()

1 - int a = 9

No, that's not a typo. C is a programming language published in 1978 by a company called 'Bell Labs'. (later AT&T)

C and C++ are very similar in syntax (They both look similar), but there are a few differences, a big one being that you can't make a class the same way you could in C++. With that out of the way, let's get right into this.

NOTE: If you have not installed Code::Blocks prior to reading this tutorial, do so now. If you're having trouble installing it, refer to this post.

So before we get started, we need to first make a C project. (Most projects are C++ by default.) 

Step 1: Click on 'Create a new project'.

Step 2: Click on 'Console Application'.

Step 3: Click 'Next >' once.

Step 4: Choose 'C' from the list.

Step 5: Continue as normal.

So after you're done, you should see something like this:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main()
{
     printf("Hello World\n");
     return 0;
}

This is a program that prints 'Hello World' on the screen. This is how it works:

#include - This tells the compiler to include a header file, usually stdio.h

int main() -  This is your main function. You can put statements like 'printf()' in it. 

NOTE: Don't forget to include this function in your program, or else it won't compile.

printf("words") - This statement prints words, values, or other stuff on the screen.

return 0 - When a program runs successfully, it returns a value of '0' to the system, telling it that the program ran without errors.

NOTE: Don't forget to put semi-colons at the end of your statements. Otherwise, you'll 
T R I G G E R your compiler.

To make a variable in C, you type 'int ' (without the quotes) and then your variable name. Then set it equal to something. (The bold letters signify that it was typed recently. You don't have to copy and paste the entire function to write a new statement.) It should look like this:

#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
     int a = 2;
     return 0;
}

After that's done, press 'enter' and type 'printf("")' (without the ' quotes). In the " quotes, type %d . Outside the " quotes but still in the parentheses, put a comma, and then your variable name, in this case it's a. It should look like this:

#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
     int a = 2;
     printf("%d", a);
     return 0;
}

After you're done, you should see something like this:

2
Process returned 0 (0x0)
Press any key to continue.

homework

You don't have to do these, but you can if you want to. I highly recommend you do so, because they will make learning programming languages a lot easier.

Exercise 1-1: Write a program that prints 5 on the screen, but make a variable and pass it to printf() rather than doing something like 'printf("5");'.

That's all I've got for today.