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Questions tagged [c]

Questions about instruction specific to the programming language C. Use this tag only when the language used would affect the question significantly (if your question uses C as an example, but does not focus on the language itself, you need not use the tag).

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3 votes
1 answer
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Why are block graphics being taught? (either "instead of ncurses" or "at all")

I'm not entirely sure if this is an international phenomenon, but every time I tutor students (Usually approximately age 14, and mostly without prior knowledge in programming) I ask myself the ...
csabinho's user avatar
  • 403
8 votes
2 answers
747 views

A more recent book (or equivalent resource) on C programming to be acquainted with the latest standards (or the language grammar)

I have studied books on C like the classic "The C Programming Language [2e]" by Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan or "C-The Complete Reference [4e]" by Herbert Schildt. But these ...
Abhishek Ghosh's user avatar
3 votes
6 answers
1k views

First programming Language : C or Python?

These days everybody is learning Python. I remember when we first started programming we were taught C Language. As a teacher which language should be taught first these days, C Language or Python?
Free Palestine's user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
874 views

Order of parameter / variables on stack in C

Several years ago, I put together this little memory address exploration for my students to help them to understand pointers, arrays, the stack, and the heap. I just compiled and ran it in a new ...
Bryan R's user avatar
  • 508
4 votes
5 answers
498 views

First Time Learning Non-Linear Data Structures

I'm looking for effective strategies and projects for introducing non-linear data structures to students. I currently teach linked lists, stacks, and then introduce binary trees. A lot of students ...
guitarcat's user avatar
  • 321
4 votes
1 answer
325 views

Teaching an absolute beginners class Operating Systems with Rust

In our Bachelor curriculum the course Operating Systems and Computer Networks (5 CP) is designated to be taken in the second semester. Currently it uses C, and while I'm personally very fond of C, it ...
ljrk's user avatar
  • 163
8 votes
2 answers
421 views

How can we measure proficiency in programming languages?

Recently Python and Java have started to be the de facto standard for teaching CS1/2. This means that students arrive in courses like Embedded Systems, Operating Systems or High Performance Computing ...
igordsm's user avatar
  • 680
8 votes
6 answers
997 views

Students' confusion over C structure members and structure variables

Before I ask my question, some background may be apposite to provide context. Please indulge me. At the institute I teach, our Intro to Programming. It involves a coverage of C language. We believe C ...
Mallam Awal's user avatar
25 votes
7 answers
5k views

Why teach C using scanf without talking about command line arguments?

Most of the books I read give examples using printf and scanf. At some point the students know perfectly how to use these two ...
nowox's user avatar
  • 467
2 votes
3 answers
437 views

Why and how is it efficient to process sorted arrays than unsorted arrays?

It is well accepted that processing sorted arrays is easier and efficient. What would be the pedagogical approach to explain how and why it is more efficient to process sorted collections than ...
Mayank Kumar Chaudhari's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
350 views

Teaching C++ to students that know Java

I am now teaching an OOP course to 2nd year undergrads. This is actually a course in advanced programming in Java. In the next semester, I am going to teach the same students, a C++ course. From what ...
Erel Segal-Halevi's user avatar
13 votes
11 answers
4k views

What should be included in a best practices C course?

At our University, we have in the first semester a very difficult C Introductory Course, that consists of presenting a shortened version of the language specification: What are for/while loops, if ...
Git's user avatar
  • 153
4 votes
1 answer
288 views

Enjoyable and\or fun way to explain cmake

As a pilot project (which was delayed by an incredible amount, seeing as it's starting 8 weeks after it was meant to), my school grouped together a few kids (high school, they know basic OOP and work ...
ItamarG3's user avatar
  • 6,312
2 votes
2 answers
144 views

Teaching intermediate Java to students familiar with C

The class I teach (a class whose teacher I assist1, to be precise) is learning intermediate Java this year (data structures, basic OOP and a few lessons about how Java actually works). A few of the ...
ItamarG3's user avatar
  • 6,312
0 votes
3 answers
216 views

Teaching pointers (C) to a Java guy [closed]

I have already looked at this and this, but it does not help me at all. I am teaching a guy who is something of a Java expert. Unfortunately, due to the mandatory-ness of the university curriculum, ...
Jay's user avatar
  • 1,884
4 votes
3 answers
148 views

Lesson ideas for introducing macros in C

Thanks to working with Racket recently, I've been spending a lot of time learning about and implementing non-trivial macros. In the process, I have been thinking about ways to apply this skill to my ...
Peter's user avatar
  • 9,112
8 votes
5 answers
1k views

Simple Pointer Examples in C

Thanks to feedback in this thread, I'm beginning to plan how to integrate a basic introduction to pointers into my unit on arrays. Here's a sample program I just wrote up: ...
Peter's user avatar
  • 9,112
12 votes
7 answers
785 views

Lesson Idea: Arrays, Pointers, and Syntactic Sugar

One of the most challenging concepts to instill in new CS students is 0-indexing (indeed, the pedagogy of this fact probably merits its own discussion). Another difficult topic -- although a slightly ...
Peter's user avatar
  • 9,112
11 votes
4 answers
1k views

Should I teach modern web development in an introductory programming course? How?

I'm currently teaching a introductory programming class in a technological university course (FYI, this is a type of university course that is not a BS). The recommended language to use for this ...
James's user avatar
  • 383