CSCI 1120 (Low-Level Computing):
Readings

The table below suggests readings for topics covered in class. Try to read at least one of the choices for each topic. "K&R" refers to one of the recommended books, the one by Kernighan and Ritchie. (In many cases the readings cover more material than we discussed in class, and more than I really expect you to read. Skim for topics mentioned in class. You may find the online notes useful.)

Lecture date Topic Readings
August 30 Command-line basics
September 13 Introduction to C (variables, expressions, control structures, functions)
  • Online tutorial sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9
  • C in a Nutshell, chapters 1 through 7 (skim)
  • K&R, chapters 1 through 4 (skim)
September 20 Arrays, strings, and pointers in C
  • Online tutorial section 10
  • C in a Nutshell, chapters 8 and 9 (skim)
  • K&R, chapter 5 (skim)
October 4 I/O and files in C
  • Online tutorial section 11
  • C in a Nutshell, chapter 13 (skim)
  • K&R, chapter 7 (skim)
October 11 Computer representation of data
October  18 Dynamic memory management, function pointers, and structures in C
  • Online tutorial sections 6, 12
  • C in a Nutshell, chapters 10, 12, 18
  • K&R, chapter 6, relevant material in chapters 5, 7 (skim)
October  25 Compiler options and makefiles
  • C in a Nutshell, chapter 19 (skim)
  • The following chapters from the GNU Make Manual: 1 (introduction and 1.1); 2; 3 (introduction, 3.1, and 3.2); 4 (introduction, 4.1, and 4.2); 5 (introduction, 5.1, 5.2, and 5.4); 6 (introduction, 6.1, 6.4, and 6.5); 9 (introduction, 9.1, 9.2, and 9.3); 10 (introduction, 10.1, 10.2 (skim), 10.3 (skim), 10.5 (introduction only), and 10.7).