Why do we still need C?

For 2023 (and 2024 ...) - we are now fully retired from IT training.
We have made many, many friends over 25 years of teaching about Python, Tcl, Perl, PHP, Lua, Java, C and C++ - and MySQL, Linux and Solaris/SunOS too. Our training notes are now very much out of date, but due to upward compatability most of our examples remain operational and even relevant ad you are welcome to make us if them "as seen" and at your own risk.

Lisa and I (Graham) now live in what was our training centre in Melksham - happy to meet with former delegates here - but do check ahead before coming round. We are far from inactive - rather, enjoying the times that we are retired but still healthy enough in mind and body to be active!

I am also active in many other area and still look after a lot of web sites - you can find an index ((here))

The C language is the bedrock of modern computing. So why is it that a company like Well House Consultants, who specialise in niche training, are running a C course? It's because the bedrock is something that, whilst it's there and vital, most people don't need to understand. I expect that most of you couldn't tell me very much about your home's foundations - how deep are they, what are they made of, what material do they lie on. And in the same way, C is vital to us all, but only a few of us need to learn it.

C is not an "object oriented" language (and if you've not come across "OO" and what it implies, that's a subject for another day). If you require the bedrock of C and also the extra facilities offered by OO, you can select C++ which offers compatability with C, and also the extra facilities. But note that they ARE offered at a price, and that price is a complexity that is not necessary for most people, and not necessary if the underlying C compatability can be foregone. That's why you have languages such as Java (from Sun) and C# (from MicroSoft) which are developed using the approach of C, and the power of object orientation, but without the C compatability and so without much of the low level coding that C's been so successful with.

Perhaps you're looking at a PHP script, or a piece of Python and saying "C isn't important to me". Actually, it is important. Your PHP and your Python are witten in C (Jython is written in Java and THAT has the underlying C level). Your web server is written in C. Your operating system is written in C. Don't undererestimate C - it is VITAL to you. It's just that it may not vital for you to undertand it.
(written 2006-10-03)

Associated topics are indexed as below, or enter http://melksh.am/nnnn for individual articles

C101 - C and C based languages - Introduction to C
  [304] Training courses in the C language - (2005-05-07)
  [317] Programming languages - a comparison - (2005-05-20)
  [318] Choosing a theme - (2005-05-20)
  [336] Targetted Advertising - (2005-06-05)
  [1933] Learning to Program in C - (2008-12-10)
  [2842] Staring a C course with Hello World - why? - (2010-06-30)

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Some other Articles

Opening approaches!
Turning C from source to a running program
HTML tables - telling whats wrong from the display
Signs of Leek
Why do we still need C?
Drive time
Age discrimination law
Rocks, hard places, trains and funerals.
Coming together.
Celebration circles

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This is a page archived from The Horse's Mouth at http://www.wellho.net/horse/ - the diary and writings of Graham Ellis. Every attempt was made to provide current information at the time the page was written, but things do move forward in our business - new software releases, price changes, new techniques. Please check back via our main site for current courses, prices, versions, etc - any mention of a price in "The Horse's Mouth" cannot be taken as an offer to supply at that price.

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