Assignment

C Programming about pointer and dynamic memory allocation.

This project will require you to use a structure to hold a record of any kind of data, i.e. address book, library of books as with chapter 14, etc. These records will be used through dynamic memory allocation (malloc) to create and destroy (free) memory. Do not use linked lists for this assignment, we are using dynamic memory allocation to hold records, not using linked lists. The structures will act as a database for your records (structures), and you will need to create enough memory to hold all of your records, but also when you remove records, you will need to allocate new memory, move the data over to that memory space, and free the old memory (instead of using a static size array). No use of arrays is allowed for your structures, but you can use arrays in other places in your program. Your program will prompt for information that will be added to a new structure that will be added when you call the add function. Delete is as simple as just taking the last record out of your database. Your program will also need to hold a static duration memory type that will serve as the counter for how many times the database has changed. Along with the amount of times the database has changed, you will also need to have a variable to hold the number of records in your database, functions to calculate size (records multiplied by sizeof struct), and functions to add, print, and delete records. You will not be required to use lookup functions, print is just the entire database.

To manage your in-memory database, you will need to use some pointers to hold locations of your data. Please take some time to write down examples of where you will need to have pointers. You will need to have at least a pointer to the beginning of your database memory, another to show which record you are on, but think about the need for other pointers when you think about functions that will delete a record, add a record, etc.

You will need a menu to prompt users for the above requirements that may look like:

MENU
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1. Print all records
2. Print number of records
3. Print size of database
4. Add record
5. Delete record
6. Print number of accesses to database
7. Exit

Once you have gathered the appropriate information you will need to manipulate the data to hold the data correctly, but we are not using File I/O to maintain state on the data (would require too much time). Your database is a memory only database, so once your program ends, your database is gone. Being this is the case, it will be important to create a header file that has some data in it (5-7 records), so you will not need to enter all the records every time.

You will need to create a design doc as you did with project #1 that describes the reason for the program, the data type and how it will be used (also note the static type for number of accesses to your database) as well as testing criteria.

For this assignment you will need to use "script" to capture you testing your test cases while using your program. Script is a program that will capture everything you do on your screen until you exit the script program. To enter the script program simply type in :

$ script myProject2.out

This will start copying everything you type (stdin) as well as everything that goes to the screen until you type in exit at the $ prompt (you are actually in a new shell, so you won't get logged out)..

Please submit all source/text/script files via the Project #2 Assignment in Moodle.

Please also use the forum for project #2 for Q&A and discussion)