Interactive Demo
The Macro Expansion Engine
The Macro Expansion Engine is a free, interactive learning demo from the Systems Programming in C and Unix Environments course on Lykke. It helps you build intuition for Preprocessor Directives (#include, #define), Macro Pitfalls, Conditional Compilation, Header Files vs. Source Files. Play with it directly in your browser — it features interactive elements you can explore. This demo lives in the “The C Preprocessor and Build Systems” section of the course.
How to use this demo
- Experiment freely — there's nothing to break, and every change is reversible.
What you'll explore
- Preprocessor Directives (#include, #define)
- Macro Pitfalls
- Conditional Compilation
- Header Files vs. Source Files
- Makefiles
Frequently asked questions
What does the The Macro Expansion Engine demo do?
Exploration of source-to-source transformation using the preprocessor and automating compilation with Make. The Macro Expansion Engine turns that idea into something you can manipulate directly and watch respond.
What Systems Programming in C and Unix Environments concept does The Macro Expansion Engine teach?
Exploration of source-to-source transformation using the preprocessor and automating compilation with Make. It focuses on Preprocessor Directives (#include, #define), Macro Pitfalls, Conditional Compilation, Header Files vs. Source Files, Makefiles from the “The C Preprocessor and Build Systems” section.
How does The Macro Expansion Engine fit into the Systems Programming in C and Unix Environments course?
This course provides a comprehensive exploration of the interface between software and hardware, focusing on the C programming language and the Unix/POSIX operating system model. Students learn to manage low-level memor… This demo is the interactive piece for the “The C Preprocessor and Build Systems” section. Open the full Systems Programming in C and Unix Environments course wiki at https://www.getlykke.com/explore/public/systems-programming-in-c-and-unix-6e77335e-38a0-4d8f-91d6-77ac878ffc1b for notes, flashcards, quizzes and the other demos.
What will I understand better after using The Macro Expansion Engine?
You'll build intuition for Preprocessor Directives (#include, #define), Macro Pitfalls, Conditional Compilation, Header Files vs. Source Files, Makefiles — and, crucially, see how they behave when you change the inputs, which is hard to get from a textbook or lecture on Systems Programming in C and Unix Environments alone.
From the Systems Programming in C and Unix Environments course
This interactive demo is part of the The C Preprocessor and Build Systems section. Explore the full Systems Programming in C and Unix Environments course wiki on Lykke — with notes, flashcards, quizzes and more interactive demos.
Open the Systems Programming in C and Unix Environments course →