What is on Your Mind?

C is certainly not always the right tool for the job, but C is the language which creates the right tool for the job.

C is the language to write languages and libraries in. AWK, Perl, Python, PHP, Apache, most SQL implementations, tar, zip, gzip, bzip, lzop, Windows, X11, BASH, KSH, CSH, ZSH, Linux, OSX, Java, Firefox, and beyond -- all C or C++. Libraries and extensions and drivers for all of the above -- generally C/C++ too.

This is because C is fairly unique: A high/low level language so low-level it almost describes basic CPU operations, and compiles to CPU bytecode, and depends on nothing. Lots of languages have one or two of these properties, almost none have all four. C libraries can export to nearly any language, which makes them a good common denominator as well.

In short, C is a living, current language, used for almost everything you do with your computer, and not obsolete by any means. It probably won't be for quite a long time yet.

My comment was directed at pro*c, not C. In case you weren't aware pro*c is Oracle version of C, but it is used to write database stored procedures.

Yes, C is the foundation on which many tools are built, and yes, C code can be compile on most if not all operating systems. But writing business logic in pro*c for an application is overkill and very well might have a high cost of maintenance. Not too mention that it won't necessarily scale better than PL/SQL or other not as close to the hardware tools that you might use.

I read the thread twice to make sure he wasn't referring to pro*c, and didn't see databases mentioned anywhere, so... I think we're both screaming at clouds Good day.