C Programming Language

C Programming Language: Introduction

Let's begin a brief introduction to programming language C and then move on to discuss the origin of the popular language. One of the key features of C is its closeness to the operating system, which allows for easy access to system-level resources such as low-level memory access and also high-level memory mechanisms, making it an efficient middle-level programming language. C's closeness to the hardware also makes it ideal for low-level development, such as operating system development, kernel development, embedded systems, etc. It proves to be an excellent choice for complex data manipulation software, such as database development or 3d animation.

Other essential features to language including its flexibility, portability, and structured approach, along with extensive library functions that enhance basic functions, make C a reliable programming language that has stood the test of time without an expiry date.

While many programming languages today are better suited for specific tasks, C a structured programming language remains unparalleled when it comes to performance. It is a general-purpose and procedural-oriented programming language with countless applications in areas such as operating systems, language compilers, network drivers, language interpreters, and system utilities.

Even today, companies like Meta (formerly Facebook) continue to use C and C++ in their applications because of their lower disk space usage and better performance. And we all know that C++ is an extension of C, developed by Bjarne Stroustrup at the AT&T Bell Laboratory. C-powered devices are playing a vital role in all the sectors such as manufacturing, information technology, and healthcare, and it is likely to continue doing so for many years to come. C programming language remains a powerful and highly adaptable tool for software developers across a wide variety of applications. All in all, despite the unfolding of new programming languages, C continues to rule the world.

The History Of C Language

Here is a brief history of C language that also showcases the hierarchy of programming languages before C came into existence:

• The development of the C programming language can be traced back to its parent node, ALGOL 60 (algorithmic language), which was introduced in 1960 as the first computer programming language to use a block structure.
• From ALGOL, Martin Richards developed a typeless language called BCPL (Basic Combined Programming Language). This was also a high-level computer language
• In 1970, Ken Thompson created a language using BCPL called B, which was also typeless.
• Then, Dennis Ritchie at AT&T Bell Labs took the development of C into his hands. Using the foundations laid down by previous languages BCPL and B, he developed the C programming language in 1972.
• C was initially used to re-implement the Unix operating system, which was rewritten in C from assembly language, and it quickly gained popularity for its portability and efficiency. So, the development of the Unix operating system started in 1969. And in the year 1972, its code was rewritten in the C programming language.
• In 1985, windows 1.0 was released, and while its source code is not publicly available, it has been stated that its kernel is mostly written in K programming language.
• Linux, a popular operating system, started its development in 1991 using C programming language and Lisp. After almost a year of development, it was released under the GNU license and was used as part of the GNU operating system.
• Oracle, the most widely used relational database management system (RDBMS), began its development in 1977. In 1983, its code was rewritten from assembly language to C programming language.

The C language was designed as a general-purpose programming language that helps in system programming as well as application programming.

C Basic Commands:

Some basic commands are required to write a C programme. But, before we get into the basic C commands, let's have a look at a simple C program.

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    
    printf("Welcome to the C programming Blogger");
    
    return 0;
}

Welcome to  the C programming Blogger

Below are a few basic commands of C.

Command/ Syntax	Description
#include <stdio.h>	This is the preprocessor directive to include a header file.
int main()	This marks the first function where the program execution begins. It calls on to all other programs.
{	These are common to almost all programming languages and indicate the beginning of a function or a method.
/*comments*/	The text or information written inside the (/**/) command is not a part of the execution program but rather comments the programmer leaves for reasons like explaining the code, etc.
}	This command is again common for all languages, and it indicates the end of a method or function.

Compilers In C Language

Some popular compilers that are closely associated with C are as follows:

PCC: The Portable C Compiler (PCC or PCCM) is one of the early/ initial C compilers which was written by Stephen C. Johnson in the mid-1970s, at the Bell Laboratories. 

GCC (GNU Compiler Collection): While the PCC was popular in its day, it was replaced by the GNU C Compiler, which carried on the compilation process with greater efficiency in comparison. The GCC is a widely used compiler in C programming and is available for various operating systems. Another GNU compiler used for C was the MinGW compiler (formerly known as MinGW 32). It stands for the Minimalist GNU Windows compiler, which is an open-source/ free environment to create Windows applications. All in all,  GNU is a collection of compilers for several programming languages, including C.

Clang: Clang is another popular C compiler that is part of the LLVM project. It is known for its fast compilation speed, good diagnostics, and support for modern C++ features.

Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler: This C compiler is provided by Microsoft and is the default compiler for their Visual Studio development environment on Windows.

Turbo C/C++: Turbo C/C++ is a legacy compiler that was popular in the early days of C programming. It was developed by Borland and was known for its fast compilation speed and ease of use.