> C... is in absolutely no sense of the term a high level language.
One problem with the term "high level language," is that it was coined many, many decades ago. C is a "high level language" like FORTRAN is one. Remember, when C was invented, programming via punch cards was still a routine activity in many shops.
This is why the assertion that, "C is a fantastic high level language," or even that it's a high level language at all is so controversial: It exploits a term which is so old, changing expectations have tectonically shifted the programming field into a place where there is an opportunity for surprise and controversy.
There are "high level languages" which are minimal, and those which are not. There are "high level languages" which offer a large amount of abstraction and those which offer less. Right there are two spectra which can be used to classify languages, and C is stuck near the extreme lower left corner. (A minimal language which offers less abstraction.) Then you have languages like Lisp and Smalltalk which are even more minimal, but which offer higher degrees of abstraction. When one says, "high level language," one is talking about a very broad category.
It's not actually controversial, it's just arguing about the definition. Change the phrasing to "C is fantastic abstraction over the machine, but it's not in the same high level like, say, Erlang" and everyone agrees.
The article uses an old standard as a little trick to try to put C in a category it doesn't belong.
One problem with the term "high level language," is that it was coined many, many decades ago. C is a "high level language" like FORTRAN is one. Remember, when C was invented, programming via punch cards was still a routine activity in many shops.
This is why the assertion that, "C is a fantastic high level language," or even that it's a high level language at all is so controversial: It exploits a term which is so old, changing expectations have tectonically shifted the programming field into a place where there is an opportunity for surprise and controversy.
There are "high level languages" which are minimal, and those which are not. There are "high level languages" which offer a large amount of abstraction and those which offer less. Right there are two spectra which can be used to classify languages, and C is stuck near the extreme lower left corner. (A minimal language which offers less abstraction.) Then you have languages like Lisp and Smalltalk which are even more minimal, but which offer higher degrees of abstraction. When one says, "high level language," one is talking about a very broad category.
Which is why you can do this: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5037315