I think a chainsaw is a better description. On the surface C gives you very fine control over memory, but it's so full of pitfalls that it takes a lot of skill

I think a chainsaw is a better description. On the surface C gives you very fine control over memory, but it's so full of pitfalls that it takes a lot of skill to actually use it properly. When we put security into the equation, what you usually get in C is developers cutting limbs apart. There is no sugarcoating it - C is the top reason for security vulnerabilities.