s Performance enhancers
s Real-time executives
As C grew in popularity, many programmers began to use it to program all tasks
because of its portability and efficiency--and because they liked it! At the time of its
creation, C was a much longed-for, dramatic improvement in programming languages.
Of course, C++ has carried on this tradition.
With the advent of C++, some thought that C as a distinct language would die
out. Such has not been the case. First, not all programs require the application of the
object-oriented programming features provided by C++. For example, applications
such as embedded systems are still typically programmed in C. Second, much of the
world still runs on C code, and those programs will continue to be enhanced and
maintained. While C's greatest legacy is as the foundation for C++, it will continue to
be a vibrant, widely used language for many years to come.
The Form of a C Program
Table 1-2 lists the 32 keywords that, combined with the formal C syntax, form the C
programming language. Of these, 27 were defined by the original version of C. These
five were added by the ANSI C committee: enum, const, signed, void, and volatile.
All are, of course, part of the C++ language.
C h a p t e r 1 :
A n O v e r v i e w o f C
9
auto
double
int
struct
break
else
long
switch
case
enum
register
typedef
char
extern
return
union
const
float
short
unsigned
continue
for
signed
void
default
goto
sizeof
volatile
do
if
static
while
Table 1-2.