Totally fair point — Windows API is definitely a big part of what makes these small apps possible. But still, C gives you a kind of “raw access” to the system t

Totally fair point — Windows API is definitely a big part of what makes these small apps possible. But still, C gives you a kind of “raw access” to the system that higher-level languages often abstract away. That’s exactly what I enjoy: You write code — and it’s exactly what gets compiled. No magic layers. I agree that Windows API has its “quirks” (especially around strings — TCHARs, WCHARs, LPWSTRs… I’ve seen them all ), but that’s where C teaches you to be explicit and careful. So while the power partly comes from the platform (like WinAPI), I’d still say it’s C that gives you the control to use that power effectively. And hey — C might be old, but it still builds tools that last decades. That’s something I respect.