C Programming: Getting Started - 1
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C Programming: Getting Started - 1
This course is part of C Programming with Linux Specialization
Instructors: Rémi SHARROCK
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What you'll learn
Define, distinguish and give examples of hardware/software, computer programs/algorithms
Explain the concept of a variable and declare, initialize and modify variables of data types int, double and char
Create and comment simple C-programs that may print text, special characters and variables to the screen with controlled formatting
Create simple C-programs that utilize for-loops to repeat blocks of instructions
Skills you'll gain
Tools you'll learn
Details to know
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- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
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There are 5 modules in this course
Start learning one of the most powerful and widely used programming languages: C. Within moments you will be coding hands-on in a browser tool that will provide instant feedback on your code.
The C programming language is one of the most stable and popular programming languages in the world. It helps to power your smartphone, your car's navigation system, robots, drones, trains, and almost all electronic devices. C is used in any circumstances where speed and flexibility are important, such as in embedded systems or high-performance computing. In this course, you will get started with C and learn how to write your first programs, how to make simple computations and print the results to the screen, how to store values in variables and how to repeat instructions using loops. Beginners, even those without any programming experience, will be able to immediately start coding in C with the help of powerful yet simple coding tools right within the web browser. No need to install anything! Why learn C and not another programming language? Did you know that smartphones, your car’s navigation system, robots, drones, trains, and almost all electronic devices have some C-code running under the hood? C is used in any circumstance where speed and flexibility are important, such as in embedded systems or high-performance computing. C is a foundational programming language taught at engineering schools around the world, and represents one of the building blocks of modern computer information technology. Invented in the 1970’s. It is still one of the most stable and popular programming languages in the world. We are excited to introduce you to the world of coding and launch you along your path to becoming a skilled C programmer! This is the first course in the C Programming with Linux Specialization. This series of seven courses will establish your programming skills and unlock doors to careers in computer engineering. This course has received financial support from the Patrick & Lina Drahi Foundation.
This week you will write your first line of code and become familiar with our learning tools (without installing anything!).
What's included
6 videos10 readings2 assignments4 app items3 discussion prompts
6 videos•Total 17 minutes
- Welcome •2 minutes
- Get to work with Codecast •4 minutes
- Learn about Taskgrader•3 minutes
- How to navigate the third party tool?•3 minutes
- History of the C programming language and its inventors, history of ‘hello world’•2 minutes
- Hardware, software, algorithms, ...•2 minutes
10 readings•Total 51 minutes
- Course Syllabus•5 minutes
- Two universities teamed up to offer a new specialization in C Programming with Linux•3 minutes
- The course team•5 minutes
- Collaborative MOOC•1 minute
- Earn a Specialization from Dartmouth and IMT•5 minutes
- Get the most out of this course•10 minutes
- Pre-course survey•10 minutes
- Learn how to use Codecast and Taskgrader•1 minute
- Codecast Sandbox•1 minute
- Learn how to post code on the Coursera forum•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 10 minutes
- Are you ready to start?•5 minutes
- Self-assess your learning in Welcome and History of C•5 minutes
4 app items•Total 38 minutes
- Get comfortable with your keyboard•10 minutes
- Define key terms•15 minutes
- "Hello world"•5 minutes
- Syntax highlighting in Codecast•8 minutes
3 discussion prompts•Total 21 minutes
- Introduce yourself•10 minutes
- Learn how to post your code•10 minutes
- Technical, general, organizational, and other questions•1 minute
This week you will to print text to the screen, utilize for-loops, explain their code by adding comments in various ways, and recognize the different sections of a simple C-program and their purposes (e.g. variable declaration, main function).
What's included
1 assignment10 app items
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
- Self-assess your learning in Printing, loops, and comments•10 minutes
10 app items•Total 155 minutes
- "Hello world!" – write and compile•10 minutes
- Correct simple syntax errors•10 minutes
- Print text and new lines•15 minutes
- Print multiple lines with one printf statement•15 minutes
- Print quotation mark and escape special characters•15 minutes
- Repeat one instruction with a for loop•15 minutes
- Repeat a block of instructions with a for loop•15 minutes
- Discover the effect of simple looping errors•15 minutes
- Comment your code•30 minutes
- Structure of a simple C program•15 minutes
This week, you will explore the concept of variables and use integer-type variables (of format specifier %d) through declarations, assignments, and reassignments. You will also utilize these integer-type variables in for-loops and with user input.
What's included
1 assignment6 app items
1 assignment•Total 5 minutes
- Self-assess your learning in Integers, variables and user input•5 minutes
6 app items•Total 140 minutes
- Print and compute with integers•15 minutes
- Use variables•45 minutes
- Declare and name variables•30 minutes
- Use variables in loops•15 minutes
- Read user input•20 minutes
- Use scanf() inside a loop to read multiple user inputs•15 minutes
This week you will utilize variables of type integer, double, and character through declarations, assignments, reassignments, printing, converting between types, casting, etc.. You will also create C-programs that perform tasks involving user input, integer and floating point arithmetic operations, and output to the screen.
What's included
1 assignment8 app items
1 assignment•Total 5 minutes
- Self-assess your learning in Characters and doubles•5 minutes
8 app items•Total 200 minutes
- Declare, assign and print characters with the %c format specifier•20 minutes
- Read characters from the user input•20 minutes
- Use decimals•20 minutes
- Divide in C•20 minutes
- Find the remainder in integer division•15 minutes
- Convert integers to double•15 minutes
- Convert double to integers•60 minutes
- Practice division•30 minutes
What's included
1 video2 readings
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Concluding Programming in C: Getting Started•1 minute
2 readings•Total 11 minutes
- Congratulations•1 minute
- End of course survey•10 minutes
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Reviewed on Aug 13, 2022
This course is absolutly is what that I desired. Thank you
Reviewed on Sep 25, 2025
Very thorough and organized, and the Codecast was extremely helpful for taking notes in real-time. Will be recommending this course to everyone!
Reviewed on Oct 21, 2022
very useful and simple method of teaching...really enjoyed a lot
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When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
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