Why is C the safest language? [pdf]

quelsolaar.com

34 points·quelsolaar··5 comments

Operating Systems: Almost every modern OS, including Linux, Windows, macOS, and even microkernel systems, has its kernel written predominantly in C.

Compilers: The compilers for many higher-level languages (e.g., GCC, Clang) are either written in C or C++ (itself derived from C).

Network Stacks: C dominates the implementation of networking protocols. Browser engines, routers, and switches heavily rely on C for their performance-critical network stacks.

Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all have engines written in C or C++ (e.g., Blink, Gecko, WebKit). These engines drive the rendering of the web.

Database Systems: Many databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL) rely on C for their core implementations due to its speed and fine-grained control over resources.

If you think this paper is pro-C++, read it again:

> many languages like C++ or Java are now old enough that if they would have > offered significant advantage over C, they should have supplanted C by now, > this clearly hasn’t happened.

I don't agree with all the points though and the rhetoric is pretty weak IMO, like the point about cars being safe for pedestrians.

But I agree with the points about C being simple and having great tooling (thanks to being simple).

SWE version of Flat Earth theory.

If you squint hard enough he's got a point (just not the way he thinks)

There are more cups made out of paper in the world that any other material [0]. Ergo, paper makes the strongest, longest lasting cups.

He's a member of ISO C WG14. I'm hoping it's satire.

[0] I made that up. I hope it's true. The AI's agree it's likely true.

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