The Foundation of Programming: C’s Role in Shaping Today’s
Languages
Rheanne Cate Z. Jamboy
Caraga State University
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
John Binze Escol
August 17, 2025
Abstract
This paper explains the important role of the C programming language in shaping
today’s programming languages. It describes how C started, its role in rewriting Unix, and
how it improved software development by being fast and portable. The paper also shows how
C influenced other languages like C++, Java, and Python. Finally, it explains why learning C
is still useful for students and programmers, since it teaches important lessons about how
computers work and how to write efficient code.
Introduction
The C programming language was created in the early 1970s at Bell Labs by Dennis
Ritchie. It was made to help rewrite the Unix operating system so that it could be used on
different types of computers. Before C, most systems were written in assembly language,
which only worked on one machine. With C, programmers could write code that was close to
the hardware but could also run on different systems. By 1973, most of Unix was already
written in C, showing that a high-level language could be used to build powerful systems
(Ritchie, 1993).
Method
This paper looks at the history and impact of C by reviewing books, technical papers,
and documents written by experts and the creators of programming languages.
Results
Two major events helped C spread around the world. The first was the release of the
book The C Programming Language by Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie. It became one
of the most famous programming books and taught many people how to use C (Kernighan &
Ritchie, 1988). The second was the creation of the ANSI C standard in the 1980s, which
made sure C worked the same way on different computers. These two steps helped make C a
common and trusted programming language.
Discussion
C changed software development in many ways. It proved that operating systems
could be written in a high-level language instead of only assembly. It also gave programmers
tools and libraries to make coding easier. Because it was both fast and portable, C became
popular for building operating systems, compilers, databases, and even programs for small
devices (Ritchie, 1993; Kernighan & Ritchie, 1988).
Many modern languages came from C. C++ was built directly on C, adding features
like classes and objects (Stroustrup, 1994). Java borrowed much of its design from C and
C++, but removed risky features to make it safer (Oracle, 2014; Oracle, 2018). Python, even
though it looks very different, still relies on C. The main version of Python is written in C,
and C is used to make Python programs faster (Python Software Foundation, 2025). This
shows how deep C’s influence still is today.
For students, learning C is very helpful. It teaches how computers store memory,
handle data, and connect with hardware. Once you understand these basics, it is easier to
learn other programming languages. Knowing C also helps when writing in higher-level
languages like Java or Python because it makes you think about performance, memory, and
efficiency. C requires careful coding since it gives programmers a lot of control but less
safety, which helps students learn discipline and accuracy.
Conclusion
C is not just an old programming language. It changed the history of computing,
influenced many of today’s languages, and still teaches important lessons. Learning C gives a
strong foundation for becoming a good programmer because it shows both the power and
responsibility that come with controlling the computer closely.
References
Kernighan, B. W., & Ritchie, D. M. (1988). The C programming language (2nd ed.).
Prentice Hall.
Oracle. (2014). The Java® Language Specification (Java SE 8 Edition).
https://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se8/
Oracle. (2018). The Java® Virtual Machine Specification (Java SE 10 Edition).
https://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jvms/se10/
Python Software Foundation. (2025). Python/C API reference manual.
https://docs.python.org/3/c-api/
Ritchie, D. M. (1993). The development of the C language. In Proceedings of the
Second History of Programming Languages Conference.
Stroustrup, B. (1994). The design and evolution of C++. Addison-Wesley.
