how relevant is C today?

[Lawrence D'Oliveiro]

In article <roy-2E75BD.22050709042006 at reader1.panix.com>,
 Roy Smith <roy at panix.com> wrote:

>I would add to that list PostScript.  Most people think of it as just 
>format for print files, but it's a a real general-purpose programming 
>language, and a cool one at that (with an clear similarity to FORTH). 

Having used both PostScript (a lot) and FORTH (a little), let me say 
that their similarities are more superficial and their differences more 
subtle. FORTH has a definite compilation step prior to interpretation, 
whereas PostScript is very much a purely-interpreted language. A quick 
illustration of some differences:

    FORTH you love if honk then

vs

    PostScript you love {honk} if

>The 
>stack-based paradigm can be a bit mind bending if you're not used to it, 
>but bending your mind is the whole point of learning something new.

Even after you learn it, the stack-based paradigm is very easy to get 
into trouble with. I started putting diagram comments in my PostScript 
code, to remind myself of the state of the stack at various points. 
Unfortunately it didn't have very good local variables, which would have 
helped avoid overuse of the stack.