UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

hey programmers!

1-why won't gcc accept [getc()] as an argument? i tried the recommendations on the man page of getch(),..etc. nothing worked.

2-why it won't see <iostream> && <fstream> even if i implemented the function as follow
std::cout<<"..etc"<<endl;

3-after i type this code in it gives me a cast Error. Why?

Code:

        struct something{
                      struct something *left;
                      struct something *right;
                      char data;
        };
        .
        .
        .
 int main(char *argv[], int argc){
            struct something *head=malloc(sizeof(struct something));
            printf("Data\n");
            getc(head->data);        //here is where the error occurs
            .
            .
            .
}

can anyone help.......... Thanks!

added code tags for readability --oombera

1) What do you exactly mean by passing getc() as an argument? Please post a minimum code example.

2) Are you sure you are using g++, NOT gcc? gcc is a C compiler and cout is a C++ object.

3) Please read the getc() man page. The argument is a FILE* pointer to the stream from which to get the character byte, which is not a char.

thanks for the replay.

the second question is actually a C++ question, i should have mentioned that before, the compiler i am using is gcc, not g++(which i use for q2 or C++ programs). and when i pass it as an argument i mean==>
if (.......){ while (getc(.....)!=NULL){ do something; } }

P.S: what about <fstream> isn't it a C standard library?

and thanx in advance.

You should use g++, not gcc to compile C++ programs. fstream is standard C++ library header. C programs use stdio.h for input/output instead.

getc() should work. And as I mentioned, the argument is a FILE* file descriptor from which to read a single character.

thanks alot!
i will follow your advice, but what do i use in stdio to replace ifstream & ofstream in c++ standard library.

getc() is an example of a function available in stdio.h. For example, you may use printf() to output character string to the terminal (standard output). To write to file you may use fprintf(). To read a line from terminal or file you may use fgets() etc.

Basically, use either the <stdio.h> set of functions (C/C++) or the iostream objects (C++). Mix-n-match them in a single program isn't a good practice. I prefer stdio.h functions myself, but if you write C++ you do have a choice.

There are other stdio functions you may use also. I think any good C programming books or online tutorials should give you a good introduction to these functions.

you have been a great help tonight, thanks again.
i think i should focus on c || c++ "at-a-time" instead of trying out both at the sametime, and confuse myself and others.

once again, i appreciate your help.