File Input/Output: Sequential Access and Configuration

This lecture covers the concepts of file input and output in programming, focusing on sequential access methods. It begins with a review of conversational input/output, emphasizing the similarities between reading from files and standard input. The instructor explains how to open files for reading and writing using C++'s fstream library, detailing the importance of checking for successful file access. The lecture introduces the concept of streams, which facilitate data transfer between programs and files. It discusses the binary mode of file transfer and its limitations, advocating for formatted input/output for better human readability. The instructor illustrates how to read entire lines from files using getline() and process them with string streams. The lecture also addresses the structure of configuration files, which are essential for initializing complex applications. The importance of maintaining a clear format for these files is highlighted, along with pseudocode examples for reading and interpreting their contents. The session concludes with practical examples of file handling and the implications for project work.