Lesson 1 / 38

C Introduction

Learn what C is, why it still powers operating systems and embedded devices, and how source code becomes a running binary.

What is C?

C is a general-purpose, procedural language created by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs in 1972 to build Unix. Decades later it still powers operating systems, databases and language runtimes like Python.

Close to the metal

If Python is driving an automatic car, C is driving a manual with the hood open. You manage memory yourself — more effort, but you learn how the machine really works.

Compile, then run

Unlike interpreted languages, C source is compiled ahead of time into a standalone executable.

gcc hello.c -o hello   # source -> executable
./hello                # run it

Output:

Hello, World!