*This project has been created as part of the 42 curriculum by gvoelkne.*

# ft_printf

## Description

Reimplementation of the C standard library's `printf` function. This project implements formatted output to stdout, supporting the following format specifiers:

- `%c` - single character
- `%s` - string
- `%d`, `%i` - signed decimal integer
- `%u` - unsigned decimal integer
- `%x` - unsigned hexadecimal (lowercase)
- `%X` - unsigned hexadecimal (uppercase)
- `%p` - pointer address
- `%%` - literal percent sign

## Instructions

```bash
# Build the static library
make

# Clean object files
make clean

# Clean object files and library
make fclean

# Rebuild from scratch
make re
```

To use in another project, compile with the library:
```bash
cc your_file.c -L. -lftprintf -o your_program
```

## Algorithm and Data Structures

The implementation uses a modular approach:

1. **Main loop** (`ft_printf`): Parses the format string, identifies format specifiers, and dispatches to appropriate handlers.

2. **Variadic arguments** (`va_list`): Uses `stdarg.h` to access variable arguments passed to the function.

3. **Type-specific handlers**:
   - Character and string output handled directly via `write()` syscalls
   - Integer types converted to strings using `ft_ntoa` (signed) and `ft_untoa` (unsigned)
   - Pointers formatted as hexadecimal with `0x` prefix via `ft_putptr`

4. **Helper functions**: Memory-safe utilities (e.g. `ft_calloc`, `ft_strdup`) and string manipulation (e.g. `ft_strlen`, `ft_strlower`) support the core functionality.

The design prioritizes clarity and correctness over performance, with each format specifier delegated to a dedicated function.

## Resources

- [printf(3) man page](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man3/printf.3.html)
- [stdarg.h documentation](https://en.cppreference.com/w/c/variadic)
- 42 School subject materials on variadic functions
- Mistral AI as a mental sparring partner.