Item — HN Reader

Don't jinx it!

If this can get the non-C programmers to learn and understand the usefulness of a simple, minimal and direct language ("modern" languages are just too bloated), it is well worth it.

I have said it before and say it again; C will allow you to program everything from itty-bitty MCUs to honking server machines. It is also the de-facto universal "glue" language and its real-world benefits far outweigh any perceived difficulties.

Bottomline - Every programmer should know C whether you use/like it or not.

1 comments

Glue language aside (which arguably is a lot more true of unices than other platforms), I'd argue Forth might make a better language / minimal environment for learning the low-level parts of a computing system.

It's got interactivity (bundled compiler/interpreter in one system), a large number of implementations (possibly more supported CPUs than C++, but that might be more due to its age), and a Forth system is easier to "pick apart" and learn how its compiler's implemented than a C compiler.

May be true. However, my point was that C is everywhere and you just cannot escape it. Knowledge of this one language allows you to program real-world high-level applications to low-level systems (eg. OS/Compilers etc.) and everything in-between.

Given the proliferation of processors everywhere, it is of immeasurable value to a programmer to become familiar with one "universal" language/runtime/toolchain so that he can program literally anything. It simplifies "incidental complexity" (avoids "tower of babel") which is key to getting things done.