C Is Not a Low-level Language (2018)
Something about this constantly appearing trope bugs me.I began programming C and assembler on the VAX and the original PC. At that time, C was a reasonable approximation of the assembly code level. We didn't get into expanding C to assembly that much but the translation was reasonably clear.As far as I know, what's changed that mid-80s world and now is that a number of levels below ordinary assembler have been added. These naturally are somewhat confusing but they aim to emulate the C/assembler model that existed way back then. These levels involve memory protection, task switching, caches and all things involved with having the current zillion-element Intel CPU behave approximately like the 16-register CPU of yore but much-much faster.I get the "there's more on heaven and earth than your flat memory model, Horatio" (apologies to Shakespeare).BUT, I still don't see any of that making these "Your Ceeee ain't low-level no more sucker" headlines enlightening. A clearer way to say it would "now the plumbing is much more complicated and even c programmers have to think about it".Because... adding levels below C and conventional assembler still leaves C exactly as many levels below "high level" language as it was before and if there's a "true low level language" for today I'd like to hear about it. And the same sorts of programmers use C as when it was a low level language and the declaration doesn't even give any context, doesn't even bother to say "anymore" and yeah, I'm sick of it.Edit: plus this particular actual article is primarily a rant about processor design with C just pulled into the fight as a stand-in for how people normally program and modern processors treat that.