Why does printf not flush after the call unless a newline is in the format string?

The stdout stream is line buffered by default, 
	so will only display what's in the buffer 
		after it reaches a newline 
		(or when it's told to). 

You have a few options to print immediately:
	Print to stderr instead using fprintf (stderr is unbuffered by default):
		fprintf(stderr, "I will be printed immediately");

	Flush stdout whenever you need it to using fflush:
		printf("Buffered, will be flushed");
		fflush(stdout); // Will now print everything in the stdout buffer
		
	Disable buffering on stdout by using setbuf:
		setbuf(stdout, NULL);