Why should you start programming?
The first obvious answer is that it allows you to create applications or devices that can improve everyday life – both yours and that of others (especially if you combine it with your professional work). But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Just like chess or logic and strategy games, programming supports the development of logical thinking. By planning sequences of events, anticipating the consequences of unwanted actions, or simply implementing logically structured steps, we develop our cognitive abilities, visual memory, creativity, imagination, and concentration. Quite a lot, right? And that’s still not all 🙂
Another great advantage is staying up to date with modern technologies. Searching for documentation or workarounds naturally teaches you how to use modern tools and navigate the world of technology with confidence.
Not enough? Then let me expand on what I mentioned earlier. The IT market is growing at an incredible pace, and there’s no sign of it slowing down. People with technical skills—especially specialists in a given field—have no problem finding jobs that offer very good salaries. And is there anything better than combining your hobby with a job you actually enjoy? The answer speaks for itself.
These are probably the most important reasons to start your programming journey, but of course, the list doesn’t end here 🙂
Why C? Are you trying to kill me by making me write code in such a complicated language?!
I have to disagree with that sentence 🙂 C is actually a very enjoyable language to learn, and building moderately complex projects doesn’t require you to spend day and night writing code. The key, of course, is to properly understand the language.
So don’t be afraid – write your first piece of code, and after that, it will get much easier. As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, “Everything is hard before it becomes easy.” So I wish you that writing code becomes both easy and enjoyable 🙂
What development environment will we use?
The goal of this course is to introduce you to fundamental concepts that can be found in every programming language, as well as the syntax and semantics of C. To achieve this, we need to use an environment that allows us to compile C code.
I will be working with Code::Blocks or Visual Studio (depending on which one I happen to notice on my desktop first :P), but you are free to use any environment that you find most comfortable.
Wrapping up this post…
…I hope this course will encourage you to start learning programming and to continue expanding your knowledge on your own. As mentioned earlier, programming is not only about creating useful applications, so I encourage you to follow upcoming posts and I hope this course will significantly help you broaden your knowledge.
Enjoy your reading 🙂