how relevant is C today?

[John Zenger]

Martin v. Löwis wrote:

> As for *learning* the languages: never learn a language without a
> specific inducement. If you know you are going to write a Python
> extension, an Apache module, or a Linux kernel module in the
> near future, start learning C today. If you don't know what you
> want to use it for, learning it might be a waste of time, as
> you won't know what to look for if you don't have a specific project
> in mind.

Your message makes me sad, as if I heard someone say "never read a book 
without a specific inducement; if you know someone is going to ask you 
about the book, start reading it today, but if you don't know what you 
are going to use the book for, reading it will be a waste of time."

Programming languages are intellectual achievements and you can learn a 
lot every time you study a new one (provided it is different enough from 
the ones you already know.)  Even if you don't have an immediate project 
in mind, learning a new programming language can mean learning a new 
style of programming, or at least a new way of looking at computer 
science.  That is worthwhile even if you get no immediate use from the 
new language.