ALX Africa printf Project

Introduction

This is a description of my journey through the ALX Africa printf project, where I've been tasked with creating a simplified version of the printf function in the C programming language.

Project Overview

The printf function is a fundamental and powerful tool in C that allows us to format and display text and data. Our task is to implement a simplified version of this function, adhering to certain requirements and constraints.

Project Requirements

Create a function named _printf with the following prototype:
```
int _printf(const char *format, ...);
```
The function should return the number of characters printed (excluding the null byte used to end output to strings).
Output should be written to stdout, the standard output stream.
The format is a character string composed of directives, similar to the printf function.
We must handle the conversion specifiers for the following:
- %c: Character
- %s: String
- %%: Literal %
We do not need to handle:
- Flag characters
- Field width
- Precision
- Length modifiers

Development Process

Understanding the Requirements

Before diving into coding, I spent time understanding the project requirements and constraints. This included reading the provided project description and reviewing the expectations for the _printf function.

Coding and Implementation

I started by creating a structure for the project. I organized my code into separate functions and files, adhering to the guidelines provided by ALX Africa. I implemented the core functionality for handling character, string, and literal '%' conversions.

Testing and Debugging

I wrote test cases to ensure that the _printf function was working correctly. I tested various scenarios, including different combinations of conversion specifiers, and checked for edge cases. Debugging was an essential part of this phase to fix any issues that arose during testing.

Documentation and Style

I followed the Betty coding style guide to ensure that my code was well-formatted and easy to read. Proper documentation, including comments and a README.md file, was crucial to provide clear instructions and explanations.

Conclusion

The ALX Africa printf project challenged me to apply my C programming skills to create a fundamental utility. Through a structured development process and rigorous testing, I successfully implemented the _printf function, adhering to the given requirements and constraints.

This project allowed me to strengthen my understanding of C programming and improve my problem-solving skills. It was a valuable learning experience, and I'm proud of the outcome.

codebytunde/printf