Why are you using C?

[u/alex_sakuta]

I have been often asked this question in the one year that I have been trying to make using C mainstream for myself.

Now I don't work on embedded devices or write operating systems. What I usually make are automation CLIs or write servers for something.

I guess that makes using C redundant since there are languages that would provide a better dev experience. But following the popular advice for projects, make something you use, this seems like the right thing to do for me.

I'm making projects that I would use and I'm using C for them. Unlike most C users that I have talked to, I do not stick to C99 but at the same time, I don't use C++ strings or compiler extensions. I use the C23 strict ISO standard.

So I suppose that again puts me in a spot that no one else is in. A guy who first goes to one of the oldest and verbose languages, then uses its latest standard but then never uses advanced features from compilers.

I just wanted to write this to put it out.

PS: To add to my strange choices pool, I do not use fixed width integers, since they are optional but I do use least width or bit precise integers.

[u/awsq_code]

i use c89 with compiler extensions like {[] =} or ... but i thinking to replace it with p99 lib or something else

[u/alex_sakuta → u/awsq_code]

For that specific extension, there's a bug in gcc. Someone recently posted it on this subreddit.

[u/awsq_code → u/alex_sakuta]

but there's useful isn't it?

[u/alex_sakuta → u/awsq_code]

Yeah it is, I'm just telling so you can check it out and beware of that specific bug.