C in a linux environment for mechanical engineers (algorithms).

A mechanical engineer, an electrical engineer and a computer scientist are in a car and the car won't start.
The mechanical engineer says, "Let's check the pistons and valves."
The electrical engineer says, "Let's check the alternator."
The computer scientist says, "Let's just get out and get back in.

This will be a class in C programming in a Linux environment. However, the class is designed for mechanical engineers. We will avoid complicated graphical interfaces and focus on the coding and compiling at the Linux command line level.

Before we discuss the content, let me first categorize, for I believe it is useful to see the various languages in context with each other. Warning: all cateogrizations ultimately fail. However, I have an OCD issue like this guy (Funes the Memorious) that compels me to do this anyway.

First Generation (1GL): Machine Language

Explanation:

This is the most basic level of programming language, consisting of binary code (0s and 1s).
Instructions are executed directly by the computer’s central processing unit (CPU).
Programming in machine language is highly tedious and error-prone, as it requires writing long sequences of binary code.

Example:

10110000 01100001

Second Generation (2GL): Assembly Language

Explanation:

Assembly language is a low-level programming language that uses symbolic names or mnemonics to represent machine-level code instructions.
Each assembly language instruction corresponds directly to a machine language instruction, but it is more readable for humans.
Requires an assembler to translate the assembly code into machine code.

Example:

MOV AL, 61h

Third Generation (3GL): High-Level Language

Explanation:

These languages are more abstract and easier for humans to understand compared to machine and assembly languages.
They are platform-independent and require a compiler or interpreter to translate the high-level code into machine code.
3GLs introduced control structures such as loops and conditionals, making it easier to write complex programs.
There are two sub-categories here:
- Procedure oriented languages: C.
- Object oriented languages: C++.

Examples:

C: printf("Hello, World!");
Java: System.out.println("Hello, World!");
Python: print("Hello, World!");

Fourth Generation (4GL): Very High-Level Language

Explanation:

Fourth-generation languages are even more abstract and closer to human language, often used for database queries, report generation, and other high-level tasks.
They are designed to be more user-friendly and require less coding effort to accomplish complex tasks compared to third-generation languages.
Focused on reducing programming time and effort.

Examples:

SQL: SELECT * FROM users WHERE age > 30;
MATLAB: plot(x, y);
SAS: PROC MEANS DATA=dataset; VAR variable; RUN;

C's original power was in communicating with the operating system. Thus, it has powerful text manipulation tools. Most books in C focus on that, first and this is difficult for mechanical engineers.

Thus, in this class, we focus on the numerical algorithm (focus on: Gauss reduction, Quadrature, Matrix inversion Newton-Raphson) over text manipulation.

At this time, I load the entire content of a class I last taught 12 years ago. Eventually, I will go back and clean this up and voice the PPT. For now, you can just download as the buttons turn green.

LET ME EMPHASIZE (AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CAPS) THAT I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THESE MODULES IN 12 YEARS. I WILL REVIEW THEM IN 2025. SOME STUDENTS HAVE TOLD ME THEY RECENTLY TAUGHT THEMSELVES FROM THESE, SO I PUT THEM UP NOW.

Finally, I am sorry to say that this content does not discuss structures, typedef, pointers to structures, double pointers, or pointers to structures that contain pointers and so on. For that, it is best to see the FE code.