This month’s task was to create code that translates spelling from a single word into the corresponding NATO phonetic alphabet words. For input such as hello the output would be something like:
Hotel Echo Lima Lima Oscar
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All of the code I’ve written in my books as well as demonstrated on this blog has been single-tasking: The program runs as one process, does one thing, in order, and then terminates. With this Lesson, that streak ends.
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The spelling alphabet is a tool used by the military, police, and other professionals. It helps them to sound cool when they spell names. You’ve probably attempted to spell that way yourself, even if you didn’t know any official spelling alphabet. Lots of people say, “N as in Nancy.” That’s how the spelling alphabet works.
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Program. Software. Application. Process. These are all terms that describe different aspects of a similar thing.
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To launch and run another program from within your code, use the system() function. When your code must examine or save that program’s output, use the popen() function.
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The system() function allows you to run one program from within another. If it’s your desire to launch another program and have your program quit, you can immediately follow system() with an exit() function. Or you can go out of your way and use the oddball execl() function.
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To make the conversion between simulating a single frame of bowling and an entire game isn’t that simple, which is mostly due to calculating the dreaded 10th Frame.
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Suppose that you’re testing code and need to run a program six times in a row. You could keep repeating the program, running it multiple times, but why not write a utility that does the same thing? That would be a good and practical way to put the system() function to work.
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In last month’s Exercise, the assignment was to craft a single frame in a game of bowling. This time, you need to stitch together 10 frames to simulate bowling an entire game.
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One thing that continues to puzzle me about learning the C language is how frequently beginners use the system() function. Is it a crutch? Is it a necessity? What’s the allure of this function that makes it show up in beginner code?
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