Social AlphaIs Learning C Still Useful in 2025? Short answer: yes — often more than you might expect. In fact, C still underpins core software like operating-system kernels and firmware, and it remains the lingua franca in many embedded and performance-critical domains. Therefore, if you aim for low-level systems, device firmware, or certain kinds of high-performance code, learning C will repay you many times over. Moreover, the skills you pick up in C — manual memory management, pointer thinking, and close-to-hardware debugging — transfer to other languages and to better engineering judgment overall.
Quick overview: where C still shows up
First, C is the primary language for the Linux kernel and many operating-system internals. The kernel documentation explicitly states that most kernel code is written in C (with GNU extensions), and the toolchain and community expect C fluency. Kernel.org
Second, C ranks consistently high on popularity indexes and continues to appear in industry surveys tied to real-world usage. Industry trackers place C among the top programming languages, indicating steady, practical demand. TIOBE
Third, industry hiring and acquisitions that focus on embedded, automotive, and safety-oriented software underscore a continuing need for C expertise. Automotive chipmakers and vendors that build safety middleware still rely heavily on C for low-level components. Reuters+1
Finally, major employers list kernel, driver, and firmware roles that explicitly require C knowledge. For example, recent senior kernel/driver job postings call for strong C experience. General Motors Careers
Why learn C in 2025 — practical reasons
Systems programming and kernels
C remains the dominant language for kernel development and low-level systems. Because the kernel interacts directly with hardware and requires deterministic behavior, developers use C for its predictability and minimal runtime. Thus, learning C is the most direct path to understanding operating systems, device drivers, and system libraries. Kernel.org
Embedded systems, IoT, and firmware
Embedded devices still use microcontrollers with constrained RAM and flash. Consequently, manufacturers prefer C (or C++) to squeeze performance and to meet tight timing and memory budgets. If you want to write firmware, understand microcontroller toolchains, or work in robotics and IoT, C is frequently non-negotiable. weltec.in+1
Performance and predictability
When latency or deterministic timing matters, a thin runtime helps. C’s low-level control lets you manage memory layout and CPU instructions precisely. Therefore, for high-performance libraries, graphics engines, and real-time systems, C still often outperforms higher-level languages.
Portability and tooling
C compilers exist for nearly every CPU and microcontroller. As a result, code written in C can often be compiled across platforms with small adjustments. That portability gives C long-term staying power for cross-platform system utilities and device software. TIOBE
When you might skip deep C training (and what to learn instead)
If your career targets web front-end, data science, or rapid app development, you can be productive without deep C skills. For example, JavaScript, Python, or higher-level managed languages dominate those spaces. Still, even in those roles, a basic understanding of C concepts (memory, pointers, stack vs heap) sharpens debugging and architecture decisions. Stack Overflow and community surveys show heavy usage of languages like JavaScript and Python among many developers, reflecting these domain differences. stackoverflow.blog+1
C vs Rust vs Python: short comparison table
| Area / Property | C | Rust | Python |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-level systems & kernels | Excellent, entrenched | Growing, safe alternative | Not suitable |
| Memory safety | Manual (unsafe if misused) | Strong safety guarantees | Managed (garbage-collected) |
| Performance | High, minimal runtime | High, modern optimizer | Lower, interpreted/VM |
| Ecosystem for embedded | Broad, mature | Maturing (embedded support improving) | Limited for microcontrollers |
| Learning curve for OS concepts | Direct, instructive | Safe but complex concepts | Indirect, less low-level insight |
(Comparison: practical, not exhaustive; choose based on domain and project risk.)
Career paths and market signals
Jobs that still list C regularly
Roles in kernel development, device drivers, firmware engineering, and certain real-time systems still ask for C as a core skill. Large companies and automotive groups hire engineers who can work in C to support safety-critical systems. Recent listings for senior kernel and driver roles explicitly require C proficiency. General Motors Careers
Market indicators
Popularity indices like TIOBE show C as a top-tier language, which reflects ongoing usage across many industries. Moreover, survey data from developer communities reveals that while newer languages gain admiration, established languages like C persist in “used-in-production” lists. TIOBE+1
How learning C helps even if you never write production C
- You will think in memory and pointers, which improves debugging across languages.
- You will better understand performance trade-offs, making you a stronger systems thinker.
- You will read and contribute to existing C codebases (libraries, kernels, drivers).
These payoffs matter even for higher-level developers, especially when diagnosing performance hotspots or interacting with native libraries.
Practical advice: how to learn C in 2025
- Start with the basics: types, pointers, arrays, and memory management. Keep exercises small, and test on real hardware or simulators.
- Build a project: write a small bootloader, a simple kernel module, or firmware for a microcontroller board. Hands-on work accelerates understanding.
- Use modern tooling: learn to build with GCC/Clang, cross-compilers, and debuggers like GDB. The Linux kernel documentation is a great reference. Kernel.org
- Read and contribute: read open-source drivers, and when ready, contribute fixes — maintainers value clear, safe code.
- Learn complementary skills: undefined behavior, concurrency, hardware datasheets, and testing frameworks.
(External resource: Linux kernel programming docs — learn more at the Linux Kernel documentation.) Kernel.org
Final verdict — concise answer
Yes. Is Learning C Still Useful in 2025? Absolutely — especially if you plan to work in systems programming, embedded software, firmware, device drivers, or other performance- and hardware-sensitive areas. Even for higher-level careers, C teaches a mode of thinking that improves your engineering judgment. Market signals, job postings, and core infrastructure projects confirm that C remains practically indispensable in many domains. Kernel.org+2TIOBE+2
