The C programming language

The C programming language and its direct descendants like C++, C#,
Objective-C, and many other programming languages based on C are by far the
most popular programming languages used in the world today. Most skilled
programmers know how to use C, and usually C is the language that most
programmers are learning it first.
A programming language is a formal builded languaged designed to
communicate instructions to a machine, especially a computer. Programming
languages can be used to express algorithms or to create programs to control the
behavior of a machine.
Until today there are thousands of different programming languages that
have been created, mainly in the computer field, and many more still being
created every year.
The description of a programming language is usually split into two
components: semantics (meaning) and syntax (form). Also, some languages are
defined by a document with specifications (for example, the C language).
In the next lines we will talk about the history of C programming
language.
C was originally developed by Dennis Ritchie between 1969 and 1973 at
AT&T Bell Labs, and used to re-implement the Unix operating system.
C has often been termed as a "Middle level language" by many
programmers. This is not because it is not a very powerfull language, but
because of its capability to access the system's low level functions. In fact C was
invented specifically to implement Unix. C instructions are compiled to
assembly code, therefore, depending on the complexity of the code and on the

compiler optimization capabilities, C code may run as fast as assemby and

because of that C is one of the most fastest languages ever created.
Ken Thompson created the B language in 1969 from Martin Richard's
BCPL (Basic Combined Programming Language). He produce the initial
versions of the UNIX operating system by using assembly language and B.
Dennis Ritchie turned B into C during 1971-73, keeping most of B's syntax
while adding types and many other changes, and writing the first compiler. This
was implemented on DEC's PDP 11 and it was first used as the system's
language for rewriting the UNIX operating system. Later on, UNIX, its tools
and C grew simultaneously.
In 1978, Kernighan and Ritchie wrote a book entitled 'The C
Programming Language' that became the language definition for approximately
10 years. Beginning in 1983, the ANSI X3J11 committee standardized the C
language. The result was ANSI C, a standard which was adopted in 1988. It is
not forced upon any programmer, but since it is so widely accepted, it would be
economically unwise for any programmer or compiler writer not to conform to
the standard.
During the 1980s the use of the C language spread widely, and compilers
became available on nearly every machine architecture and operating system; in
particular it became popular as a programming tool for personal computers, both
for manufacturers of commercial software for these machines, and for end-users
interested in programming.
Here are some features of the C language.
In C, functions can accept parameters and return values and perform
variety of tasks like displaying the information, input from the user, etc.

C is simple and easy to learn and use. It has a small number of main
compenents, like built-in functions, operators and keywords.
In C, errors are checked only at compile time. The compiled code though
have no safety checks for bad type casts, bad array indices, or bad pointers.
C contains the capability of assembly language with the features of high
level language which can be used for creating software packages, system
software etc.
C is highly portable. C programs written on one computer can run on
other computer without making any changes in the program.
Another reason to use C, is the fact that programmers are willing to
forgive C of its bad points because its good points are so outstanding. In fact, a
majority of the problems with C disapear with experience. For example, the
array and pointer confusion for beginners vanishes quickly with experience
because the "accident of syntax" for the indirection operator becomes a natural
oddity for the experienced programmers.
C is a better option when it comes to programming device drivers,
embedded applications and utility programs.
C is a procedure-based programming language. This means the program is
viewed as a means to solve a problem. Various functions modules or code blocks
are thus, written to solve this problem.
Despite some aspects of the language that mystify beginners, C remains a
simple and small language that is easily translatable with simple compilers. The
data types that it supports are well-suited to those provided by real machines,
and for what people use computers for in their work. This makes learning the
language less difficult.

BIBLIOGRAFIE:

http://www.ukessays.com/essays/information-systems/the-c-programminglanguage-and-its-history-information-systems-essay.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_(programming_language)#References
https://www.bell-labs.com/usr/dmr/www/chist.html