C Developers Hiring Guide

A “Grandfather” Programming Language

One of the oldest programming languages still in use today, C currently ranks as the 12th most popular language among developers, according to the 2021 Stack Overflow survey. Developed by Dennis Ritchie, the programming language was released in 1978 to support the newest version of Unix at that time. The language quickly grew in popularity.

Despite its relatively old age, C still remains widely used. It’s a general-purpose language that has many different applications and is still considered a powerful solution. Many top companies around the world continue to use it, along with other languages in the C family, such as C++ and C#.

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Job Description

What is C?

A procedural programming language combining features of high- and low-level languages, C was originally developed to be used within UNIX operating systems. Today, this general-purpose language is applied to operating systems like Windows, along with additional programs, software, and systems.

At its time of release, C quickly became extremely popular, ultimately replacing other language standards that are no longer in use today, such as ALGOL.

Some benefits of C include:

Flexibility
Simplicity
Machine independence
Low-level memory access
Simple keywords
Memory allocation
Portability
Access to a large community and huge libraries

C is also the basis of several other languages, including those in the so-called “C family,” like C++ and C#. Software developers who know C can easily grasp its offspring languages and will have the building blocks for additional languages.

Is C popular?

Although C isn’t as popular as it once was, it’s still widely used for the creation of a number of products. And because it is the basis of several other programming languages, many software developers continue to have it in their arsenals. In fact, it’s generally assumed that a seasoned developer will know C.

As of 2019, C and C++ had around 6.3 million users. Meanwhile, C# was slightly more popular, with 6.7 million users. C# is the newest iteration of the 3 and has been steadily gaining widespread use.

What are the main benefits of using C?

C offers a number of advantages as a programming language. For example:

It’s the basis for many other languages, which makes those additional languages easier to learn.
It has an abundance of applications.
It’s structured.
It has a simple testing process.
It’s a medium-level language.
It’s very simple.
It’s portable.
It’s efficient.
It comes with many built-in functions.
It’s open source.
It’s modifiable.
It offers a huge library.
It has dynamic memory allocation.
It’s relatively easy to learn.
It’s secure.

For what types of software is C best used?

C is used for a wide variety of programs, systems, and applications. It’s often the language behind:

Operating systems
Desktop applications
Mobile applications
Browsers and their extensions
Debuggers
Databases
Enterprise applications
Embedded systems
Graphics
Games
IoT applications
Compilers

These are just some of the ways C is used. There are many additional applications.

What do we mean by the C family of languages?

As a relatively old language — a “grandfather” or “godfather” language, according to some — C is the basis of several other languages. Some of these, like C++ and C#, belong to what is known as the “C family.” While C is in many ways the originator of other important languages, the C family shares certain characteristics and commonalities that aren’t found in these other languages.

What are basic data types in C?

C has 4 types of data: basic, derived, enumeration, and void. Variables within C each have a data type, requiring different amounts of memory.

Basic data types include:

Char
Double
Float
Int

We are currently looking for a highly skilled software developer who will work primarily with C, along with other languages, to build a variety of programs, systems, and applications. They will work closely with other developers and colleagues in additional departments to design, build, and test these solutions, as well as document their efforts and provide guidelines.

Responsibilities

Write programs and systems, primarily in C
Unit test and debug all software
Meet with stakeholders to gather, review, and research requirements
Communicate and work closely with other team members to ensure quality
Thoroughly document programming efforts
Ensure high standards, while completing projects in a timely manner
Improve existing software
Identify and implement ways to improve existing procedures

Skills and Qualifications

At least 6 years of experience working with C
Knowledge of additional languages, including Python, Java, PHP, Go, C++, and C#, and associated libraries and frameworks like .NET
At least 8 years of software development experience
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
Strong communication, interpersonal, time-management, and problem-solving skills
Experience working with data structures
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software development, information technology, or a related field