Programming

Why write a computer program? There are many reasons. Some programs are written in direct response to a problem too complex to solve by hand. For example, you might write a program to calculate the constant p to 5,000 decimal places or to determine the precise moment to fire the boosters that will safely land the Mars Rover.

Other programs are written as performance aids, allowing you to perform a regular task more efficiently. You might write a program to help you balance your checkbook, keep track of your baseball card collection, or lay out this month's issue of Dinosaur Today.

Whatever their purpose, each of these examples shares a common theme. They are all examples of the art of programming. Your goal in reading this book is to learn how to use the C programming language to create programs of your own. Before we get into C, however, let's take a minute to look at some other ways to solve your programming problems.