Why C is Still the Go-To Language for Programmers

‘C‘ is a general-purpose programming language developed by Dennis Ritchie at AT&T Bell Labs in the early 1970s. It was designed to be a structured programming language.

The ‘C‘ programming language evolved from the B programming language, which itself was based on BCPL (Basic Combined Programming Language).

While initially created to design the UNIX operating system, ‘C‘ quickly gained popularity due to its efficiency and flexibility, allowing programmers to write various types of software.

‘C‘ is considered a middle-level language, as it combines elements of both high-level and low-level programming languages. It provides access to low-level memory manipulation, but its syntax and structure are similar to high-level languages, making it versatile and efficient.

Why Choose ‘C’ Over Other High-Level Languages?

In today’s world, where languages like Perl, PHP, Java, and others dominate, you may wonder why ‘C‘ is still widely used.

The reasons include:

• Robust: C provides a strong foundation for creating efficient and reliable programs.
• Rich Set of Built-in Functions: C offers a vast library of functions for various operations, making coding easier.
• Supports Low-level Programming: Despite being high-level in syntax, C allows for low-level memory manipulation, making it suitable for system programming.
• Versatile for All Types of Software: C is used to write system software, application software, business applications, and more.
• Efficient and Fast: Programs written in C tend to run quickly, thanks to its powerful operators and a variety of data types.
• Portability: C programs are highly portable, meaning they can run on different machines with minimal changes.
• Extensible and Simple: The language’s simplicity allows developers to easily extend and modify programs. The C standard library provides a rich set of functions to support developers.
• Influential: Many modern programming languages, such as C#, Java, JavaScript, Perl, PHP, and Python, have been influenced by C.

Why Do Most Programming Courses Start with ‘C’?

‘C‘ is often the first programming language taught in computer science courses due to its simplicity, efficiency, and the ability to teach fundamental programming concepts like memory management and the use of pointers.

These skills are transferable to other programming languages, making ‘C‘ a crucial language for anyone pursuing software development.

‘C’ in the Real World

Did you know that 90% of the world’s supercomputers run Linux? Linux, which forms the backbone of many servers, smartphones, and even space exploration systems, is primarily written in C. The Linux 3.2 kernel alone had over 15 million lines of code, showcasing the power and relevance of C in modern software.

A single ounce of practice is worth more than tons of theory. The best way to learn to program is by writing your own code. Don’t just copy-paste code – practice by creating your own programs and learning from your mistakes.

Anatomy of a C Program

Let’s break down a simple C program:

The #include directive tells the compiler where to find external code files, usually header files (.h) containing function prototypes. The content of these files is copied into your program during compilation.

• #include <file>: System-defined header files.
• #include "file": User-defined header files.

Every C program must have a main() function, which is the entry point of the program. It is where the execution begins. There can only be one main() function in a program.

int main(void) {
    // Your code here
    return 0;
}

In the following program, a, b, c, and add are variables used to store integer values.

Example 1: Adding Three Numbers

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int a, b, c, add;

    printf("Enter the first number: ");
    scanf("%d", &a);

    printf("Enter the second number: ");
    scanf("%d", &b);

    printf("Enter the third number: ");
    scanf("%d", &c);

    add = a + b + c;

    printf("%d + %d + %d = %d\n", a, b, c, add);

    return 0;
}

To compile and run the program:

• Save the program as first_prog.c
• Compile with the command: gcc -o first_prog first_prog.c
• Run with: ./first_prog

Note: C is not case-sensitive, meaning main() is equivalent to Main().

Example 2: Calculating Powers of 2

#include <stdio.h>

#define N 16

int main(void) {
    int n;
    int val = 1;

    printf("\t n \t 2^n\n");
    printf("\t================\n");

    for (n = 0; n <= N; n++) {
        printf("\t%3d \t %6d\n", n, val);
        val = 2 * val;
    }

    return 0;
}

Example 3: Finding Factors of a Number

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void) {
    int n, lcv, flag;

    printf("Enter value of N > ");
    scanf("%d", &n);

    for (lcv = 2, flag = 1; lcv <= (n / 2); lcv++) {
        if ((n % lcv) == 0) {
            if (flag) {
                printf("The non-trivial factors of %d are: \n", n);
                flag = 0;
            }
            printf("\t%d\n", lcv);
        }
    }

    if (flag) {
        printf("%d is prime\n", n);
    }

    return 0;
}

Example 4: Fibonacci Series

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void) {
    int n, i, current, next, twoaway;

    printf("How many Fibonacci numbers do you want to compute? ");
    scanf("%d", &n);

    if (n <= 0) {
        printf("The number should be positive.\n");
    } else {
        printf("\n\n\tI \t Fibonacci(I) \n\t=====================\n");
        next = current = 1;

        for (i = 1; i <= n; i++) {
            printf("\t%d \t %d\n", i, current);
            twoaway = current + next;
            current = next;
            next = twoaway;
        }
    }

    return 0;
}

What if ‘C’ Never Existed?

Imagine a world without C. There would be no Linux, no macOS, no Windows, no smartphones, no microprocessors, and possibly no computers as we know them. ‘C‘ has had a profound impact on modern computing, influencing many other languages and technologies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, to truly master programming, practice is key. Write your own code, tackle problems, and experiment with ideas. If you run into trouble, don’t hesitate to seek help or consult resources like Tecmint for up-to-date information.

Remember, learning ‘C‘ is a stepping stone to understanding many other programming languages, and its influence on the software we use every day is undeniable.