How Did C Get Its Name?
C’s name is a nod to its predecessor, the B language, which itself was influenced by BCPL (Basic Combined Programming Language). The progression from CPL to BCPL to B and finally to C reflects the evolution and refinement of ideas in programming language design. Fun fact: After C, C++ emerged in the 1980s, marking the next leap—hence the “++”, which in C means “increment”!
Quick Timeline: The Evolution of C
- 1960: ALGOL introduces structured programming concepts.
- 1967: BCPL developed by Martin Richards.
- 1970: B language created by Ken Thompson at Bell Labs.
- 1972: Dennis Ritchie develops C at Bell Labs, initially to rewrite UNIX.
- 1978: Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie publish “The C Programming Language” (K&R C).
- 1989: ANSI standardizes C (ANSI C or C89).
- 1990: ISO adopts the ANSI C standard (C90).
- 1999: C99 standard introduces new features like inline functions and variable-length arrays.
- 2011: C11 standard adds multi-threading and Unicode support.
- 2024: C23 brings the latest updates, ensuring C remains modern and relevant.
Key Milestones and Contributors
| Language / Standard | Year | Key Contributor(s) |
|---|---|---|
| ALGOL | 1960 | International Group |
| BCPL | 1967 | Martin Richards |
| B | 1970 | Ken Thompson |
| Traditional C | 1972 | Dennis Ritchie |
| K&R C | 1978 | Brian Kernighan, Dennis Ritchie |
| ANSI C (C89) | 1989 | ANSI Committee |
| ISO C (C90) | 1990 | ISO Committee |
| C99 | 1999 | ISO Committee |
| C11 | 2011 | ISO Committee |
| C23 | 2024 | ISO Committee |
Summary at a Glance
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Developed at | AT&T Bell Laboratories, USA |
| Creator | Dennis Ritchie |
| Year of Birth | 1972 |
| Main Purpose | Development of the UNIX operating system |
| Predecessors | B (Ken Thompson), BCPL (Martin Richards), ALGOL |
Unique Facts & Lasting Impact
- C is everywhere: From operating systems to microcontrollers, C code runs on billions of devices worldwide.
- UNIX and beyond: UNIX, written in C, inspired Linux, macOS, and even parts of Windows.
- Legacy: C’s syntax and principles shaped languages like C++, C#, Java, Objective-C, and even influenced scripting languages like PHP and JavaScript.
- Portability: C was among the first languages to allow code to be compiled on different machines with minimal changes.
- Still taught first: Many universities and coding bootcamps begin their programming curriculum with C, thanks to its clarity and foundational concepts.
Did You Know?
- The original UNIX operating system was rewritten in C in 1973, making it one of the first operating systems to be written in a high-level language.
- The famous book “The C Programming Language” by Kernighan and Ritchie is often called the “K&R Bible” of C programmers.
- C’s influence is so deep that even Python’s interpreter (CPython) is written in C!