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C is 50 years old, and deliberately kept smalm as a KISS language (unlike the almost-as-old nowadays-bloated C++). There's simply not a lot happening to it - a

C is 50 years old, and deliberately kept smalm as a KISS language (unlike the almost-as-old nowadays-bloated C++). There's simply not a lot happening to it - apart from being part of the root causes to 50% of all security vulnerabilities. Although Gcc and the Linux kernel do have some 50 MLoC, noone would nowadays embark on writing such a large system using C from scratch. Today, Java, C# or Rust would be much better choices for any large system. Heck, even C++ (with proper use of a selected sub-set of its features) would be a step up. Dont get me wrong; I've been doing embedded development using C and C++ for a living for the last 25+ years. But, I'm learning Rust, and I love it, hoping it will take C's place and being a serious contender to Java, C# and even python for the use-cases where it would make sense. Surely, getting a program through the compiler is much harder, but afterwards, it just works. I would suggest all seasoned C developers to give Rust a serious shot.

FerkiHN 1y ago
I agree with several points you made — Rust is indeed a powerful language, and I also use it in my projects. Its safety guarantees and modern tooling make it an excellent choice for many use cases. That said, I think C still has a unique value, especially when you need full control over memory, binaries, and platform-specific behavior. It's minimal, with no hidden abstractions or magic — what you write is what you get. And that simplicity can be a feature, not a flaw. C isn't always the right choice for large modern systems anymore, sure — but for certain domains like embedded, retro-style tooling, or bare-metal performance, it still shines. Plus, it's a great language to understand how things really work under the hood. I see C and Rust not as enemies, but as tools with overlapping goals and different trade-offs. I use both — C when I want ultimate control, Rust when I want safety with fewer footguns.
ThePatientTiger 1y ago
"being part of the root causes to 50% of all security vulnerabilities." Truly an exaggeration. People really overestimate the danger of C. "no one would nowadays embark on writing such a large system using C from scratch." Come on, C is fast. C is not complicated. C has proven that it is reliable in recent 50 years. People don't like C because they can't do anything without their sweet language's garbage collector.
- FerkiHN 1y ago
  Absolutely agree, bro. Thanks for standing up for C — it's refreshing to see someone else defending it without falling into hype or trends. You're right: C is simple, is fast, and has stood the test of time. It's not about nostalgia — it's about having the right tool for the job. People often forget how powerful simplicity and full control can be. Glad to see another dev who appreciates the raw power of C. Respect
Someone 1y ago
> apart from being part of the root causes to 50% of all security vulnerabilities. I would think more than 50% of the low level code running every day is written in C. If that’s true, 50% on that metic would be a good result for C.

FerkiHN 1y ago

I agree with several points you made — Rust is indeed a powerful language, and I also use it in my projects. Its safety guarantees and modern tooling make it an excellent choice for many use cases. That said, I think C still has a unique value, especially when you need full control over memory, binaries, and platform-specific behavior. It's minimal, with no hidden abstractions or magic — what you write is what you get. And that simplicity can be a feature, not a flaw. C isn't always the right choice for large modern systems anymore, sure — but for certain domains like embedded, retro-style tooling, or bare-metal performance, it still shines. Plus, it's a great language to understand how things really work under the hood. I see C and Rust not as enemies, but as tools with overlapping goals and different trade-offs. I use both — C when I want ultimate control, Rust when I want safety with fewer footguns.

ThePatientTiger 1y ago

"being part of the root causes to 50% of all security vulnerabilities." Truly an exaggeration. People really overestimate the danger of C. "no one would nowadays embark on writing such a large system using C from scratch." Come on, C is fast. C is not complicated. C has proven that it is reliable in recent 50 years. People don't like C because they can't do anything without their sweet language's garbage collector.

FerkiHN 1y ago
Absolutely agree, bro. Thanks for standing up for C — it's refreshing to see someone else defending it without falling into hype or trends. You're right: C is simple, is fast, and has stood the test of time. It's not about nostalgia — it's about having the right tool for the job. People often forget how powerful simplicity and full control can be. Glad to see another dev who appreciates the raw power of C. Respect

Someone 1y ago

> apart from being part of the root causes to 50% of all security vulnerabilities. I would think more than 50% of the low level code running every day is written in C. If that’s true, 50% on that metic would be a good result for C.