Module 11: Network Programming

Overview

Network programming is a critical skill for developing modern applications that communicate over networks. This module covers the fundamentals of network programming in C, from basic concepts to advanced techniques. You’ll learn how to create network applications that can communicate over local networks and the internet.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, you should be able to: - Understand fundamental networking concepts and protocols - Implement client-server applications using sockets - Work with different network protocols (TCP, UDP) - Handle network errors and implement robust communication - Implement advanced networking features like non-blocking I/O - Understand network security considerations

Chapters

  1. Network Fundamentals - Basic networking concepts, OSI model, IP addressing, and network protocols
  2. Socket Programming - Creating sockets, binding, connecting, and basic client-server communication
  3. Advanced Networking - Non-blocking I/O, select/poll, multiplexing, and advanced socket options
  4. Network Protocols - HTTP, FTP, DNS, and other common protocols implementation
  5. Network Security - Secure communication, encryption, and network security best practices

Prerequisites

Before starting this module, you should have a solid understanding of: - C programming fundamentals - Pointers and memory management - File I/O operations - Basic understanding of computer networks

Key Concepts

  • OSI and TCP/IP models
  • IP addressing and subnetting
  • Socket programming fundamentals
  • Client-server architecture
  • TCP and UDP protocols
  • Network error handling
  • Concurrent network programming
  • Network security principles