The accepted answer is somewhat true but also has some glaring inaccuracies. The fact is that there are/were some very effective C compilers for Z80, none of t

The accepted answer is somewhat true but also has some glaring inaccuracies. The fact is that there are/were some very effective C compilers for Z80, none of them free and far from it. By the time compiler technology advanced through the 80s and 90s the market for a non commercial optimizing compiler for the Z80 and 6502 rapidly diminished. gcc has never in its history been a fantastic 8 or 16 bit compiler. By the time egcs was merged even 68k was rapidly losing relevance. It is totally possible with modern techniques to make a very effective optimizing C compiler for Z80, but who’s going to do it? There are very few hobbyists with both the chops and the time for something with little commercial value. The answer is correct in implying that the PDP was better suited as a CISC target for C when optimization is not done.