It's slow and that's really nice. Many people build around the c99 standard rather than 11, or 18 This really helps with resources online. For something like React, I wouldn't trust it if it's more than a few years old. C on the other hand, a book could be 2 decades old and generally reliable. Computer Systems: A programmer's prospective is a good example of this where the 2nd edition is pretty old but still works to learn with. Answer from xmosphere on reddit.com
Reddit
reddit.com › r/c_programming › how fast does the field of c programming change?
r/C_Programming on Reddit: How fast does the field of C programming change?
July 10, 2023 -
Hi all, I am in the process of reinventing myself as a C programmer. I came to the conclusion that I am tired of being a JavaScript developer, after 10 years of working on web apps, however I don't want to leave my career as a programmer just yet. So, I think I need to switch things up and get out of my rut. I have become tired of chasing the next greatest JavaScript framework/library/subset/paradigm and pretend like I care when I really just want to enjoy vanilla JavaScript and a sprinkle of Node.js. This has led to me having a salty/skeptical attitude and slowed job prospects because I refuse to jump on the next bandwagon (jQuery > ActionScript > CoffeeScript > React > Vue > TypeScript > etc, whatever is trendy next). The expectation of continuous learning and continuously being a beginner in some new JavaScript paradigm is leading to exhaustion and I'm starting to see the full-circle-ness of some of these trends. I think it would be really more interesting to me if I could work on things that are more grounded in reality (browsers, web servers, database engines, os's, physical devices) and less ephemeral ("it's like airbnb, but for dogs"), and where I can go deeper in one niche.
My specific questions are, what is the continuous learning effort like as a C programmer? What are other ancillary skills a C programmer must keep learning in addition to C? How fast do things change? What is the level of effort in staying current? Thank you for your thoughts.
Top answer 1 of 22
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It's slow and that's really nice. Many people build around the c99 standard rather than 11, or 18 This really helps with resources online. For something like React, I wouldn't trust it if it's more than a few years old. C on the other hand, a book could be 2 decades old and generally reliable. Computer Systems: A programmer's prospective is a good example of this where the 2nd edition is pretty old but still works to learn with.
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Its slow, you won't be left behind trying to keep up with the latest standards or anything. The latest working draft for the C standard is 761 pages. https://open-std.org/JTC1/SC22/WG14/www/docs/n3096.pdf The latest working draft for the C++ standard is 2134 pages. https://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/docs/papers/2023/n4950.pdf It's actually somewhat feasible to read and memorize most of the C standard.
Medium
medium.com › @yusufeminirki › is-c-still-relevant-in-2025-the-timeless-power-of-the-c-programming-language-7dde54c5b3cc
Is C Still Relevant In 2025? 🧱 The Timeless Power Of The C Programming Language ⚡ | by Yusuf Emin IRKI | Medium
May 6, 2025 - Harder To Maintain Large Codebases ... The Metal, Then C Is Not Just Useful — It’s Essential 🧠🔩. In 2025 And Beyond, C Remains A Titan Of Technology 💪🚀...
Is C still alive?
Yes, C is very much alive. It's heavily used in lower level software. More on reddit.com
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September 23, 2023Is C still worth learning in 2024?
I think in universities C is given as a first language to teach the fundamental ideas of programming. In embedded systems, I don't know how can one survive without the C language, structures, pointers, énumération, arrays, data structures\algorithms, they are mostly taught using the C language. There are many threads in reddit that tackle on this issue. On the software developers side, which I am not, I think python is the language of choice for 1st time programming lessons. If one is doing embedded systems, 70% of the global embedded systems products are made using the C language so it is pretty much relèvent in 2024 and will continue to be in the foreseeable future. More on reddit.com
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September 8, 2024Is C the most loved programming language?
To sum up C-programmers relation ship with the C language we best refer to Robert C Seacord's "Effective C": Language I dislike: C Language I begrudgingly respect: C Language I think is overrated: C Language I think is underrated: C Language I like: C More on reddit.com
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October 11, 2025How fast does the field of C programming change?
It's slow and that's really nice. Many people build around the c99 standard rather than 11, or 18 This really helps with resources online. For something like React, I wouldn't trust it if it's more than a few years old. C on the other hand, a book could be 2 decades old and generally reliable. Computer Systems: A programmer's prospective is a good example of this where the 2nd edition is pretty old but still works to learn with. More on reddit.com
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July 10, 2023What is the future of programming?
The future of c programming holds thrilling potential. By 2050, breakthroughs in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and innovative programming languages could transform how we create and engage with code.
jaroeducation.com
jaroeducation.com › home › blog › future of c programming
C Language in Programming: A Ticket for a Brighter Future
What is the importance of C programming?
C language in programming is a powerful language that helps developers to build complex software systems. Known for its speed and efficiency, C is also user-friendly, making it a favoured option for a wide range of applications. Additionally, C’s portability allows programs written in it to be seamlessly adapted to different platforms.
jaroeducation.com
jaroeducation.com › home › blog › future of c programming
C Language in Programming: A Ticket for a Brighter Future
Should I learn C or Python?
Python might be a good choice if you want to learn a simple and efficient language and are interested in tasks requiring low-level access to hardware or system functions. But if you want to learn a language that is more flexible and easy to use, and you are interested in tasks that require rapid development and high-level abstractions, C language in programming might be a better choice.
jaroeducation.com
jaroeducation.com › home › blog › future of c programming
C Language in Programming: A Ticket for a Brighter Future
Videos
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Sololearn
sololearn.com › en › Discuss › 1653697 › is-it-possible-for-c-to-be-replace-in-the-future
Is it possible for C to be replace in the future? | Sololearn: Learn to code for FREE!
B and BCPL evolved into C. Now ... new problems in computer science. Who knows in the future, C may evolve into D, but it will be a gradual process not a death. Other computer languages such as pearl or Python are heavily ...
Embedded
embedded.com › home › is it time to retire c?
Is it time to retire C? - Embedded
June 14, 2022 - I see companies trying Rust but ... on your perspective, fortunately, this means that C will continue to remain a dominant language indefinitely into the future....
Jaro Education
jaroeducation.com › home › blog › future of c programming
C Language in Programming: A Ticket for a Brighter Future
April 24, 2025 - Not only does it help build and manage applications and websites, but it also serves as a foundation for understanding complex algorithms and data structures, which are crucial for problem-solving in today’s tech landscape. And to be honest, there are a plethora of reasons to believe that this language is not going anywhere.
Ucsc-extension
blog.ucsc-extension.edu › 2020 › 02 › 05 › the-bright-future-of-c-programming
The bright future of C programming | UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Blog | From the Silicon Valley Campus
March 1, 2022 - Glassdoor lists thousands of jobs in the areas of embedded systems, performance testing, firmware engineering and related fields that require C programming skills. “Programmers who understand sophisticated problem-solving techniques and can write efficient and secure code continue to be in high demand,” Grover says. And, the language continues to evolve.
Quora
quora.com › What-is-the-future-of-the-C-language-in-2023
What is the future of the 'C' language in 2023? - Quora
1 person wants answers to this question. Be the first to answer.
Medium
medium.com › @khimaja3127 › the-future-of-system-level-programming-with-c-and-ai-tools-90159cf4b6ef
The Future of System-Level Programming with C and AI Tools | by k Himaja | Medium
November 25, 2024 - C’s unique features, such as low-level memory manipulation, direct hardware access, and portability, make it ideal for developing operating systems, device drivers, embedded systems, and more.
Quora
quora.com › Will-the-C-programming-language-still-be-relevant-in-2025
Will the C programming language still be relevant in 2025? - Quora
Answer (1 of 2): Absolutely, Not only will coding be relevant in 10 years, it will be more relevant than it is today. However, the syntax of coding languages will continue becoming easier.
JunKangWorld
junkangworld.com › blog › the-future-of-c-why-2025-is-a-game-changer-for-coders
The Future of C: Why 2025 is a Game-Changer for Coders | JunKangWorld
August 8, 2025 - Officially published in late 2023, its features are poised for widespread compiler adoption throughout 2024, making 2025 the year these changes truly impact the global community of C developers. This isn't just a minor update; it's a revitalization that brings modern features, improved safety, ...
NCC Group
nccgroup.com › research-blog › past-present-and-future-of-effective-c
Past, Present and Future of Effective C | NCC Group
Such an extension could be valuable ... future evolution of the C language requires maintaining a balance between preserving existing code and the adoption of modern language features that can be beneficially adopted to the C language domain....
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
Why C Programming Still Stands in 2025 - YouTube
C is one of the oldest programming languages still in use — but why hasn’t it gone away? In this video, we explore why C continues to power operating systems...
Published September 21, 2025
Reddit
reddit.com › r/cprogramming › is c still alive?
r/cprogramming on Reddit: Is C still alive?
September 23, 2023 -
I've studied C programming basics in school and college, then there are many languages java python etc etc...
Though I'm not working in coding field... out of curiosity, i want to know IS C STILL ALIVE?... if yes can I fresh start a career with it
Quora
quora.com › Is-C-worth-learning-in-2025
Is C worth learning in 2025? - Quora
Answer: If you need the language for one or more projects, then absolutely yes. If you don’t need it for any projects, then no, unless of course if you’re planning to switch into an area that commonly makes use of this language. My answer would be identical no matter what programming language o...
TechShepherd
techshepherd.org › home › tech-talk › “language of the future?”
“Language of the Future?” -
March 2, 2026 - I was reading through some of my old issues of “Compute!’s Gazette” magazine and came across an article in the October 1985 issue titled, “C: Language Of The Future?” by Charles Brannon. At the time of the writing, C was still a new language as far as home computers were concerned, ...
Quora
cstdspace.quora.com › We-are-in-2023-is-it-still-worth-it-to-learn-C-programming
We are in 2023, is it still worth it to learn C programming? - C Programmers - Quora
Answer (1 of 29): More programming languages you learn, more deep will be your understanding of the concept of “computation”. The next step will be trying to implement them. It does not matter which results you will be able to sort out. Thinking languages “from inside”, instead of from ...
Tripleten
tripleten.com › blog › posts › c-the-programming-language-thats-always-in-demand
C: The Programming Language That’s Always in Demand - tripleten.com/blog
September 23, 2025 - Discover the power of C, the programming language that is always in demand, with this insightful article. Explore the reasons why C continues to be a valuable skill in the tech industry and how it can open doors to exciting career opportunities.
Hacker News
news.ycombinator.com › item
C is undeniably a legendary programming language, but it's time to move beyond t... | Hacker News
February 27, 2025 - It lacks features like lambda calculus, closures, and coroutines—powerful and proven paradigms that are essential in modern programming languages. These limitations make it harder to fully embrace contemporary programming practices · The dominance of C and its descendants has forced our ...
GNU
gnu.org › software › gnuastro › manual › html_node › Why-C.html
Why C (GNU Astronomy Utilities)
Rebuilding all the dependencies of a software in an obsolete language is not easy, or even not possible. Future-proof code (as long as current operating systems will be used) is therefore written in C.
Quora
quora.com › What-is-the-future-of-the-C-language
What is the future of the C language? - Quora
November 19, 2018 - Answer (1 of 17): OS kernels are almost entirely written in C, with some assembly language for interrupt handlers (and not much else). Most cross-language libraries are written in C and the other languages have mechanisms to call these libraries. C is the primary language for embedded systems u...