Learn C Programming

C is a powerful general-purpose programming language. It is fast, portable and available in all platforms.
If you are new to programming, C is a good choice to start your programming journey.
This is a comprehensive guide on how to get started in C programming language, why you should learn it and how you can learn it.

What is C (Programming Language)? - The Basics

 

Before getting started with C programming, lets get familiarized with the language first.
C is a general-purpose programming language used for wide range of applications from Operating systems like Windows and iOS to software that is used for creating 3D movies.
C programming is highly efficient. That’s the main reason why it’s very popular despite being more than 40 years old.
Standard C programs are portable. The source code written in one system works in another operating system without any change.
As mentioned, it’s a good language to start learning programming. If you know C programming, you will not just understand how your program works, but will also be able to create a mental picture on how a computer works.

Should you learn C programming? 

 

If only it were possible to answer this question with a simple “yes” or “no”. Unfortunately, it’s not an easy question to answer and varies from person to person.
Personally speaking, I love C programming. It is a good language to start your programming journey if you are a newbie. Even if you are an experienced programmer, I recommend you to learn it at some point; it will certainly help.

 

What will you gain if you learn C?

If you don’t know C, you don’t know what you are doing as a programmer. Sure, your application works fine and all. But, if you can’t say why while (*s++ = *p++); copies a string, you’re programming on a superstition. ( Joel Spolsky’s words, not mine ).

1. You will understand how a computer works.
   
   If you know C, you will not only know how your program works but, you will be able to create a mental model on how a computer works (including memory management and allocation). You will learn to appreciate the freedom that C provides unlike Python and Java.
   
   Understanding C allows you to write programs that you never thought were possible before (or at the very least, you will have a broader understanding of computer architecture and programming as a whole).
2. C is the lingua franca of programming.
   
   Almost all high-level programming languages like Java, Python, JavaScript etc. can interface with C programming. Also, it’s a good language to express common ideas in programming. Doesn’t matter if the person you are talking with doesn’t know C, you can still convey your idea in a way they can understand.
3. Opportunity to work on open source projects that impact millions of people.
   
   At first, you may overlook the fact that C is an important language. If you need to develop a mobile app, you need Java (for Android), Swift and Objective C (for iOS). And there are dozens of languages like C#, PHP, ASP.net, Ruby, Python for building web application. Then, where is C programming?
   
   Python is used for making wide range for applications. And, C is used for making Python. If you want to contribute to Python, you need to know C programming to work on Python interpreter that impacts millions of Python programmers. This is just one example. A large number of software's that you use today is powered by C.
   
   Some of the larger open source projects where C programming is used are Linux Kernel, Python Interpreter, Sq Lite Database.
   
   Another language that’s commonly used for large open source project is C++. If you know C and C++, you can contribute to large open source projects that impacts hundreds of millions of people.
4. You will write better programs.
   
   To be honest, this statement may not be true all the time. However, knowing how computer works and manage memory gives you insight on how to write efficient code in other programming languages.
5. You will find it much easier to learn other programming languages.
   
   A lot of popular programming languages are based on C (and C++, considered superset of C programming with OOP features). If you know C, you will get a head start learning C++.
   
   Languages like C# and Java are related to C and C++. Also, the syntax of JavaScript and PHP is similar to C.
   
   If you know C and C++ programming, you will not have any problem switching to another language.

Reasons not to learn C programming

You can create awesome softwares without knowing C programming at all. Jeff Atwood, one of the creators of Stackoverflow.com, apparently doesn’t know C and Stack Overflow is a really good web application.
If you are busy and don’t want to invest time on something that doesn’t have direct effect on your day-to-day work, C programming is not for you.
Also, if you are a newbie and want to start learning programming with an easier language (C is not the easiest of language to learn), you can start with Python.

Verdict on whether to learn C programming or not

For newbie:
For many, C programming is the best language to start learning programming. However, if you want to start with an easier language which is clean and easier to grasp, go for Python.
For experienced programmers:
It’s not absolutely essential but there are perks of learning C programming.
Don’t leave your current project immediately (I know you won’t) to learn C. You can learn it when you have free time and want to expand your programming skills.
I believe, it’s not necessary to learn C immediately. However, you should learn C eventually.