Exploring C Libraries

Course details

External libraries expand the C language's capabilities, allowing developers to build programs that can do all manner of amazing things. In this course, learn how to tap into the power of external libraries to access complex data, interact with the web, play with graphics, and more. Instructor Dan Gookin covers a variety of C libraries—from libcurl to ncurses—explaining how to install and test each one. Dan highlights libraries that allow you to manipulate JSON; save and send web data; work with text; read, write, and manipulate image data; and more. Along the way, he provides sample code and demonstrations to help make these concepts stick.

Learning objectives
Finding, installing, and linking libraries
Accessing and generating XML data
Working with JSON
Working with the libcurl library
Text programming
Reading, writing, and manipulating JPEG images
Working with PNG images

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Expand on what C can do with C Libraries
02 - Using the exercise files
03 - Working with the code

1. Setup and Configuration

04 - Understanding libraries
05 - Finding a C library
06 - Installing a library
07 - Linking a library - Command prompt
08 - Liking a library - IDE

2. Data Structures

09 - Understanding XML
10 - Testing the libxml2 installation
11 - Accessing XML data
12 - Generating XML data
13 - Working with JSON
14 - Testing the json-c installation
15 - Accessing JSON data
16 - Reading JSON data
17 - Creating JSON output
18 - Challenge - Converting data formats
19 - Solution - Converting data formats

3. Web Access

20 - Testing libcurl
21 - Fetching a web page
22 - Saving web data
23 - Sending data
24 - Challenge - Read and save a web page
25 - Solution - Read and save a web page

4. Text Programming

26 - Working with wide characters
27 - Building an ncurses program
28 - Controlling the text screen
29 - Making color text
30 - Exploring ncurses input
31 - Challenge - Fill the screen
32 - Solution - Fill the screen

5. Computer Graphics

33 - Accessing a JPEG
34 - Reading and writing JPEG images
35 - Manipulating JPEG images
36 - Working with PNG images
37 - Modifying a PNG image
38 - Challenge - A blue square
39 - Solution - A blue square

Conclusion

40 - Writing your own library
41 - Next steps