1. Introduction to Programming

A high-level overview of programming concepts, history, and where C fits in the landscape.

In this lesson you’ll get a high-level view of programming and where C fits.

What is programming?

Programming is writing instructions a computer can execute. Programs are built from simple operations composed into larger behaviors.

A very brief history

• Early automation: Hero of Alexandria’s devices; Jacquard loom punched cards.
• Foundations: Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine; Ada Lovelace’s algorithms.
• Computation theory: Alan Turing’s model of computation.
• C’s lineage: developed by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs (1970s) for UNIX.

Compilers vs. interpreters

• Compiler: translates source to machine code before running (C).
• Interpreter: executes directly, translating as it goes (Python, JS engines).

High-level vs. low-level

• High-level: easier to write, portable; hides hardware details.
• Low-level: closer to hardware; more control and performance.

Examples

Hello World (hello_world.c)

The simplest C program illustrates the basic structure every C program follows:

#include <stdio.h>

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