C Programming: Memory, Pointers, and I/O

This unit expands foundational C skills to focus on memory, data representation, pointers, and input/output. Students will work with variables, storage sizing, bit and hex operations, strings, arrays, linked lists, file I/O, libraries, and debugging techniques to build and troubleshoot moderately complex programs.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze C program behavior by tracing variable lifetimes, storage sizes, pointer references, and data layout for arrays, strings, and linked lists
• Apply file input/output and random-access techniques along with standard library routines (printf formatting, time, random) to read, write, and format persistent data
• Demonstrate effective debugging and development practices using an IDE and debugger to locate and correct common errors (e.g., assignment vs comparison, pointer misuse), and employ meaningful naming and constants to improve code quality
• Evaluate and implement bitwise operations, hexadecimal representations, control flow (while loops, multiple comparisons), and random number generation to manipulate binary data and control program logic