Programs using files

Learn various C library functions

to trasfer data
between

Files and
program’s memory(i.e. variables, malloced memory,
etc.)
 How files get managed?
● What we see is a logical abstraction as a tree
● Is that how files are stored?
● Files are stored on hard drive
● Every file is essentially some bit sequence (or byte sequence) stored on
the hard drive
● The hard drive is a mechanical device, using magnetic physics to store
data
● A software called Disk device driver knows how to store data on
the hard drive
● In general, user programs (like yours) are not permitted to access
any hardware (mouse, keyboard, memory, disk, etc.)
● Do you know any C language feature which allows you to access them?
 System Calls
● The only way a user program can interact with a
hardware device is by requesting the OS to do the
desired task
● The OS provides functions for this
● These functions are called “System Calls”
● Your C library has wrapper functions for these system
calls
– E.g. printf() ! --> It accesses the screen!
●
 Layered Design
int main() {
int x, y, z; User programs/
scanf(“%d%d”, &x, &y); application/
z = x + y; libraries
User Program
printf(“%d\n”, z);
return 0;
}

int scanf(char *str, void *a, void *b, ...) {

/* do something with str */
x = read(0, a, ...) ;
} C Librarry
int read(int fd, ... ) {
sys_read(fd, a,...);
...
} system call interface
int sys_read(int fd, char *buf ) {
ask the disk/keyboard driver to read the data
send data back into buf; Operating system
}
Device_driver() { talks to hardware and back }
 Operating System and Files
● All I/O devices are under the control of Operating
System (OS)
● OS provides “system calls” to do I/O
● C library has wrapper functions over these system
calls
● For example: getchar(), printf(), scanf(), open(), fopen(),
read(), close(), fclose(), fopen() etc.
 Some key concepts and misconceptions
about files
Remember:
You always need a program to open a file. The
program requests the OS to do I/O operations (open,
read, write, etc) on the file.
A file never opens itself. “YOU” don't open a file.
Some program opens a file.
We create files using programs. We access, modify,
delete files using programs.
 Opening and accessing a file with a
program
#include <stdio.h>
#include <fcntl.h> C Library
int main() { Functions for
FILE *fp; Accessing
char data[1024]; Files. They
request the OS
fp = fopen("/etc/passwd", "r"); to carry out the
fscanf(fp, "%s", data); specific tasks
printf("%s\n", data);
fclose(fp);
return 0; Accessing files using a program: Steps
} 1. Request the OS to “open” the file:
requesting access, getting a token for
access
2. Request the OS to “read/write/seek”, etc.
In the file. Transfer data from hard disk to
your variables in the code and vice-versa
 Your use of files so far ..
● You click on a file and the file opens itself!
● Wrong !
● What does exactly happen when you “click” on a file?
1. Your click on a file is read by a program (e.g. your ‘File
Browser’).
2. File Browser figures out the appropriate program for opening
your file (e.g. gedit for a .c file or vlc for a .mp3 file)
3. File Browser requests the OS to run the appropriate program
with the file name in argv[ ]
4. The appropriate program opens the file (using fopen( )/open( ))
and shows to you (using fread( )/ read( ), etc. )