Every time I read that C is becoming obsolete, another article pops up on how C continues to be one of the most popular, in-demand programming languages—even as it passes its 50th birthday. Disparagement aside, C is the primary language used for system programming, networking, gaming, and coding microcontrollers. Even those trendy languages that the cool kids boast about most likely have their core originally written in C. It’s not going away any time soon.
I often refer to C as the Latin of computer programming languages. Its syntax and even a few keywords are borrowed heavily by other languages. Just as knowing Latin helps you understand and learn French, Italian, Spanish, and other languages, knowing C allows you to easily understand and learn other programming languages. But don’t stop there! Honing your C skills is just as important as exercising a muscle. And what better way to work on and perfect your C programming abilities than to continually write small, useful programs?