C Programing Language: Archaic, Astounding, and Amazing Applications!

At the Thayer School of Engineering, Engineering Sciences: 20- Introduction to Scientific Computing is a required course for those pursuing a Bachelors of Arts(BA) and/or a Bachelor's of Engineering(BE). This foundational course is meant to introduce students to the power of programming. As the world progresses more and more technologically, it is crucial to have some understanding in regards to how programming languages impact our lives. If you take a moment and look at the world around you, you will undoubtedly see that the C Programming Language is used throughout.

First and foremost, operating systems are an application of C. C allows for the efficient scripting of the UNIX operating system. C is a language that is known for its efficiency and as such, its speed rivals that of the Assembly language. To put it simply, the closer the programming language is to the hardware, the faster it will run. If we were to envision this on a spectrum ranging from low-level languages like Assembly, C, and Fortran to higher-level languages like Java and Python, Assembly would be ranked lower than C. Although Assembly offers lightening fast speed, C is more versatile in its benefits. For example, if you are reading this article on an android phone, then its operating systems has most likely been scripted in C. So if you ever want to become an Android Developer, it is pertinent that you know your C!

Have I convinced you yet that the C Programming Language is extremely useful? What if I told you that C++, C#, JavaScript, Perl, PHP, and wait for it, PYTHON have had their development influenced in some capacity(whether directly or indirectly) by C. In Python, C is used for building standard libraries while other languages like C++ have structures that are based upon C. Thus, at the Thayer School of Engineering, students are introduced to C as their first language because it not only ingrains in a programmer the idea of appreciating and accounting for memory(No shots at Java's Garbage Collector), but it also allows the transition of learning other languages to be very smooth. There are certain memory restrictions in C that other languages bypass but that is another story for another time.

Furthermore, do you remember how I mentioned that the Thayer School of Engineering requires all students in Introduction to Scientific Computing to take Engineering Sciences 20? Well, Matlab is also taught in this course. In short, C is used in applications that need higher degrees of calculations. So if you've ever used Matlab or Mathematica just remember that C is in the background implementing its algorithms and data structures which in turn, allows for quicker and more complex computations.

Additionally, Embedded Systems is all C as well. If you find you like working at the intersection of Hardware and Software, then knowing C will be extremely crucial. This is because C allows for the direct communication to machine level hardware API's, the presence of C compilers, and dynamic memory allocation. Some examples of embedded systems include but are not limited to: the Digital Camera, a Home Security System, an Automatic Washing Machine, Industrial Robots, Automated Teller Machines, Calculators, Elevators, and so much more. I once met someone who said that an Embedded Systems Engineer has C down pat like their ABC's. I guess you really can't know your ABC's without knowing C.

Likewise, another application of C is that it used in game development. You've probably just told yourself "Hold up, this can't possibly be right?" "Where do all of my graphics come into play?" Well, you see, C++ is used to overcome the intricacies of 3D games by optimizing resource management and facilitating multiplayer through networking. Don't believe me, take a look at a game such as Doom 3. Through the combination of C++ and the Unreal Engine(Tools for Game Development), this game was able to be executed very well. Now you probably want more proof? Well, for those of you who are familiar with Autodesk Maya also commonly referred to as Maya, must know that it is coded in C++. Maya has been used for famous movies such as: Finding Nemo, Ice-Age, Avatar, Transformers Frozen, and a plethora of others.

In summation, the programming language C is an immensely powerful language and will still be in use for many years to come. It's a language for Software Design and Implementation but beyond more than that, it's a language that impacts are life greatly. In short, without C to set the foundation, many aspects of technology that we have would frankly not be exist. Having C as the foundational language set the path in a non-linear trajectory upwards that allowed its descendant languages to optimize and efficiently build upon it. Consequently, any programming language can be the foundation to learn but personally, I prefer C. What about you?

Sources:

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