Why does C assign values to arrays like this?

**FromJavatoC** · 08-12-2011

Hi all,
I am a java programmer learning C and was quite shocked when I wrote this simple array assignment program. C seems to assign values to arrays???

Program:

Code:

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void) {
 
 int values[10];
 int index;
 
 values[0] = 197;
 values[1] = 0;
 values[2] = -100;
 values[5] = 350;
 values[3] = values[0] + values[5];
 values[9] =
 values[5] / 10;
 --values[2];
 
 for (index = 0; index < 10; ++index)
printf ("values[%i] = %i\n" , index , values[index]);

 getch();
 return 0;   
    
    
    
}

Output:

values[0] = 197
values[1] = 0
values[2] = -101
values[3] = 547
values[4] = 0
values[5] = 350
values[6] = 2293616
values[7] = 212
values[8] = 204
values[9] = 35

I am using DevShed as IDE.

Thanks for any feedback.

/Can

**laserlight** · 08-12-2011

Originally Posted by FromJavatoC

I am a java programmer learning C and was quite shocked when I wrote this simple array assignment program. C seems to assign values to arrays???

What made you conclude that? Also, what does "assign values to arrays" actually mean to you?

**FromJavatoC** · 08-12-2011

Actually I figured it out. You shouldn't assume any value for uninitialized arrays.
Assign value = initialize.

**laserlight** · 08-12-2011

Originally Posted by FromJavatoC

You shouldn't assume any value for uninitialized arrays.

Ah, yes. In general, you should not access the value of a variable until the variable has been given an initial value.

Originally Posted by FromJavatoC

Assign value = initialize.

Not quite. Array initialisation syntax would be something like:

Code:

int values[10] = {197, 0, -100};

The remaining elements would be zero initialised.

**FromJavatoC** · 08-12-2011

Yes , I think I get it now.

thanks.

/Can

**~~CommonTater~~** · 08-12-2011

Originally Posted by FromJavatoC

Yes , I think I get it now.

thanks.

/Can

What you were seeing in your original test run were the junk values in the memory where the array was created ( in this case on your program's stack).

C is not Java... it does not babysit... there are no initializers, there is no garbage collector, there is no memory management, there is no type checking or bounds checking. If you want these things you have to do them yourself.

One thing I can promise you is that C will make you into a very careful programmer... a skill seldom learned in managed code environments.

**grumpy** · 08-12-2011

Originally Posted by CommonTater

C is not Java... it does not babysit... there are no initializers,

C does initialise in some circumstances but not in others. Apart from that, you are correct. It is generally better to assume any variable you have not initialised needs to be initialised before you use it.

Originally Posted by CommonTater

One thing I can promise you is that C will make you into a very careful programmer... a skill seldom learned in managed code environments.

I wish that was true.

I would suggest the majority of C programmers I have seen are careless. There are also too many programmers who program to one particular compiler and have kittens when their code doesn't work with another compiler.

**~~CommonTater~~** · 08-12-2011

Originally Posted by grumpy

C does initialise in some circumstances but not in others. Apart from that, you are correct. It is generally better to assume any variable you have not initialised needs to be initialised before you use it.

That's kind of like assuming the gun is empty.... I always intialize everything...

I would suggest the majority of C programmers I have seen are careless. There are also too many programmers who program to one particular compiler and have kittens when their code doesn't work with another compiler.

If you take a look at the Pelles C forums, you'll recognize one of the authors of addins and libraries... But I don't ever assume my stuff will work anywhere but on Pelles C...

Portability is not generally an issue for me... If you've got source code for one of my bigger projects, then you're the thief who broke into my house and raided my safe... (i.e. I am no fan of "open source")

**quzah** · 08-12-2011

Originally Posted by CommonTater

That's kind of like assuming the gun is empty.... I always intialize everything...

I assume all guns are loaded, but with unknown ammunition. It may be too big to fit through the barrel, and blow up in my hand. I'd better check it myself.

Quzah.

**quzah** · 08-12-2011

Originally Posted by FromJavatoC

I am a java programmer learning C and was quite shocked when I wrote this simple array assignment program

Java: Oh hai guyz!
C#: OMG HI DUDE!
C++: Hi kids.
C: All of you get off my lawn!

Quzah.

**~~CommonTater~~** · 08-12-2011

Java: Oh hai guyz!
C#: OMG HI DUDE!
C++: Hi kids.
Pascal: Iligitimi non carborundum!
C: All of you get off my lawn!

**quzah** · 08-12-2011

I was going to reply with something ASM said, but there were two dialects, neither of which I could understand.

Quzah.

**~~CommonTater~~** · 08-12-2011

Originally Posted by quzah

I was going to reply with something ASM said, but there were two dialects, neither of which I could understand.
Quzah.

Java: Oh hai guyz!

C#: OMG HI DUDE!

C++: Hi kids.

Pascal: Iligitimi non carborundum!

ASM : Well, first I became aware of a secondary presence within my field of concern, then I incremented my attention pointer to achieve a value just short of bit level overflow, noticing that my accumulator was xor ed with my stack pointer as the experience mounted so I called a long jump to a subroutine designed to initialize my oratory mechanism, next I loaded a string from memory and looped across it causing an audible greeting of some inane kind then finally I settled back initializing my auditory input and preparing to record a timpanic greeting from the being in my newly expanded field of experience.

C: All of you get off my lawn!

Thread: Why does C assign values to arrays like this?

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Display

Why does C assign values to arrays like this?

Similar Threads

Assign values to a set of array of structures

Assign an arrays values to another array

assign values to string arrays

3-d array assign string values

assign values to charechter variables