Ask HN: How many communities HN it devs in C language? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: How many communities HN it devs in C language?

7 pointsFerkiHN17 comments

I looked at a lot of posts, but I didn't see anyone mentioning the C programming language, I hope I'm the only one here?

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> I didn't see anyone mentioning the C programming language

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29591993

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43632645

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38632970

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16967675

and many more ...

C is boring technology. Occasion to make the news are rare. I hack things in C when some tools I use crash or is missing features. Or to learn how somethings work.

Just like if you want some basic HTML form attached to a database that's guaranteed to run everywhere, you write in PHP, if you want a simple Linux (and BSD) cli app, you write it in C. Both are dangerous tech (as in no guardrails), but you'll be set for decades with minimal maintenance.

The C programming language, on the contrary, is interesting if you have experience. I always create new things that have different uniquenesses. I recently created a notes program for Windows with GUI in C language, 67kb in size.

The C language offers many features that even surpass modern languages.

That’s not because of the “C language”. That’s because of the Windows API.

BTW, wait until you really start digging into the Windiws API and realize that there are 8 or 9 ways to define a “string” based on which API you’re calling and you have to convert back and forth….

Totally fair point — Windows API is definitely a big part of what makes these small apps possible. But still, C gives you a kind of “raw access” to the system that higher-level languages often abstract away. That’s exactly what I enjoy: You write code — and it’s exactly what gets compiled. No magic layers.

I agree that Windows API has its “quirks” (especially around strings — TCHARs, WCHARs, LPWSTRs… I’ve seen them all ), but that’s where C teaches you to be explicit and careful.

So while the power partly comes from the platform (like WinAPI), I’d still say it’s C that gives you the control to use that power effectively.

And hey — C might be old, but it still builds tools that last decades. That’s something I respect.

C is no more a raw access to the system and the APIs than calling the APIs from Perl was back in the day using the Win32 module.

I started programming in assembly in the mid 80s, C is a different level of abstraction

https://jvns.ca/blog/2013/11/29/what-happens-when-you-run-a-...

Many people still use C, I do for sure

Are you using it for embedded systems or regular software?

Regular software: a lisp implementation (https://savannah.nongnu.org/p/alisp) and a little online game (https://github.com/andreamonaco/zombieland)

Wow bro, that's cool, I especially liked the game, it's cool, and I'm currently developing a utility for viewing photos right in the terminal.

https://github.com/Ferki-git-creator/phono-in-terminal-image...

It's not ready yet, but can you please support it with a star like I did for you?

C is 50 years old, and deliberately kept smalm as a KISS language (unlike the almost-as-old nowadays-bloated C++).

There's simply not a lot happening to it - apart from being part of the root causes to 50% of all security vulnerabilities.

Although Gcc and the Linux kernel do have some 50 MLoC, noone would nowadays embark on writing such a large system using C from scratch.

Today, Java, C# or Rust would be much better choices for any large system. Heck, even C++ (with proper use of a selected sub-set of its features) would be a step up.

Dont get me wrong; I've been doing embedded development using C and C++ for a living for the last 25+ years. But, I'm learning Rust, and I love it, hoping it will take C's place and being a serious contender to Java, C# and even python for the use-cases where it would make sense.

Surely, getting a program through the compiler is much harder, but afterwards, it just works. I would suggest all seasoned C developers to give Rust a serious shot.

I agree with several points you made — Rust is indeed a powerful language, and I also use it in my projects. Its safety guarantees and modern tooling make it an excellent choice for many use cases.

That said, I think C still has a unique value, especially when you need full control over memory, binaries, and platform-specific behavior. It's minimal, with no hidden abstractions or magic — what you write is what you get. And that simplicity can be a feature, not a flaw.

C isn't always the right choice for large modern systems anymore, sure — but for certain domains like embedded, retro-style tooling, or bare-metal performance, it still shines. Plus, it's a great language to understand how things really work under the hood.

I see C and Rust not as enemies, but as tools with overlapping goals and different trade-offs. I use both — C when I want ultimate control, Rust when I want safety with fewer footguns.

"being part of the root causes to 50% of all security vulnerabilities."

Truly an exaggeration. People really overestimate the danger of C.

"no one would nowadays embark on writing such a large system using C from scratch."

Come on, C is fast. C is not complicated. C has proven that it is reliable in recent 50 years. People don't like C because they can't do anything without their sweet language's garbage collector.

Absolutely agree, bro. Thanks for standing up for C — it's refreshing to see someone else defending it without falling into hype or trends.

You're right: C is simple, is fast, and has stood the test of time. It's not about nostalgia — it's about having the right tool for the job. People often forget how powerful simplicity and full control can be.

Glad to see another dev who appreciates the raw power of C. Respect

> apart from being part of the root causes to 50% of all security vulnerabilities.

I would think more than 50% of the low level code running every day is written in C. If that’s true, 50% on that metic would be a good result for C.

I still do. Without C, I'll be dead.

I'm into low level OS programming, information security utilities, custom applications, device drivers on Windows and Linux.

Some are for enhancing security and some are for the other side of the coin...

Wow, bro, we're similar, I have a pretty similar mindset to you.

Respect to you bro!

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