3 ms·
This doesn't make sense in my point of view, since C is itself an abstraction. Why not do everything in assembler? Most of the early C compilers featured inline
by _the_inflator 4y ago
This doesn't make sense in my point of view, since C is itself an abstraction. Why not do everything in assembler? Most of the early C compilers featured inline assembly.
Do you learn how to fly when you book a flight? Do you learn how to build cars when you get your driving license? Do you learn how water is cleaned when you drink? There is infinite regress.
In the end it is about trust and abstractions. Most algorithms have nothing to do with C. They are implemented in C.
C is a great language, but as someone said here, there is only so much time.
- tmtvl 4y agoLearning to program in C taught me to appreciate how amazingly powerful modern computers are, even off-the-shelf commodity hardware. It helped me realise that if I code something and it isn't blindingly fast, I'm probably doing something wrong. And how many people who can't even be bothered to learn C will dive even deeper into assembly? And yes, I would think anyone who books flights/drives/drinks water for a living would be well served by learning something of the tools of their trade.
- delusional 4y agoWe are not booking flights or taking driving lessons. We are (hopefully) engineers and scientists. I find it perfectly acceptable that you chose to accept the abstraction of the machine. You may benefit from knowing electrical engineering, but I believe the benefit is slight. Knowing the history of the field is non negotiable however. You don't need to know how to heel-toe to drive to the market, but pretending that it's not a useful skill to master driving is ridiculous. Are you driving to the market, or are you a serious professional?