ruby is pretty cool also

High level features like what?

High level features C lacks:

* Few facilities for code reuse or abstraction (hard to do abstract data types; no polymorphism). C's static type system can't compete with the more modern static type system of, say, Haskell, which is polymorphic and can work out the type of most functions automatically.
* No namespaces (OK, this isn't especially high-level, but it's very useful).
* No bult in list datatype (this is a real PITA; just about every practical C program I've written has needed a linked list datatype at some point). It's impossible to represent a linked list constant (even in C++ with the STL).
* None of the useful features of functional languages (real higher order functions, closures, currying, optimisation of tail-recursion, etc.)
* No garbage collection. This is a real disadvantage, especially now garbage collectors are getting faster than manual memory management. Lack of GC also makes managing linked lists, etc. even more trouble.

Like I said, I don't think there's anything wrong with C, it's just been overtaken by other languages (e.g. Perl/Python) for writing run-of-the-mill applications, and was never really any good for doing the really tricky stuff (AI, etc.) It still has things going for it (like good performance, lots of libraries available).

Most of these issues have been addressed in C++ in one way or another, but it's a beast of a language.

Alex

Right, and personally i don't see anything wrong with C been overtaken by other languages. Every language is ment to be good at something and it's the programmers choice to pick the language most suited for the task.

But then if you think about it, Perl and such, were built on C, so in it's most basic form it's C with added features that make certain things easier to do (which is the point i think).

Ofcourse at one point or another added you reach the end of the languages capabilities, which is when you start moving to languages that can do it and leave C for what it's best at.

I totally agree. All i was arguing was that C is not usually the best language for writing applications. It's good for other things, like kernels for example.

Hmm, IMHO Perl is very unlike C. It has a lot of the syntax, but other than that it's totally different (no static typing, etc.). It really owes more to Awk and shell scripts than C.

Alex

Yeah Perl isn't the best example of what i am trying to say. You are right, it's very different in form from C, but deep deep deep down it's C (only the interface between the programmer and the inner C, is very different...ie Perl)

Wow. I will never understand the linux/programming community. All this bickering. My language is better than yourś is! ... No itś no!
My distro is better than yourś ......
It seems to me like it doesn't really matter what language/distro. Seems like itś more preference based. You people really need to simma. But I appreciate the all the feedback.

who's bickering? once you've spent some time w/ linux and programming, you'll have your preferences too

Yeah, I'm sure it's pretty strange to watch people get into heated arguments about the relative merits of programming languages when they could be, say, having sex or playing Counterstrike instead, but the odd thing is that it really does matter which programming language you use. Unfortunately the only thing you can do is to try a few and see which one(s) you like. It's definately an advantage to learn more than one, because it helps you to think about solving problems in different ways.

Alex

Also, there's a large difference between bickering and discussion. Respectful discussion is a integral part of the academic process.

more of a discussion than bickering.

seems like a nice peaceful discussion to me...it's pretty much a matter of opinion in many ways....


IMHO games are a waste of time..

Okay. Maybe bickering was the wrong word. And I can understand having your preferences. But why try to convince the person who has been using linux just as long as you and has his (or her) own set of preferences, instead of targeting newbs like me.

And what is IMHO? I see it everywhere.

And just for the record, peeps, inkedmn was harassing me, cuz he and I have a friendly history. (=

IMHO = in my humble opinion