Why You Should Learn C or Rust in 2025
Welcome to YDC! Today, we’re diving into why learning a low-level language like C or Rust can give you a serious edge as a developer.
What Are Low-Level Languages?
Low-level languages, like C and Rust, operate closer to the hardware, allowing developers direct control over system resources. Unlike high-level languages that handle memory management automatically, low-level languages require you to manage these details, making you more aware of how your code interacts with the computer.
Unlike interpreted languages such as Python or JavaScript, low-level languages compile directly to machine code, making them significantly faster. They form the backbone of modern computing and power everything from operating systems to embedded devices, making them an essential tool for serious developers.
Why Should You Learn C or Rust?
1. Unmatched Performance & Efficiency
C and Rust offer fine-grained control over system resources, leading to optimized execution speeds. This makes them ideal for performance-critical applications like operating systems, embedded systems, and game engines. Many industry benchmarks demonstrate that C and Rust perform significantly better than high-level languages when handling large-scale computations or real-time processing tasks.
2. Develop Stronger Debugging & Problem-Solving Skills
Working with memory management in C or ownership rules in Rust forces you to develop deeper debugging skills, improving your ability to analyse and resolve complex issues in any programming language. Unlike languages that handle garbage collection for you, C and Rust require a meticulous approach to memory allocation and deallocation, fostering discipline and precision in programming.
3. Gain a Deeper Understanding of System Architecture
Learning how memory allocation, CPU registers, and stack/heap interactions work enhances your knowledge of how computers execute code, making you a better programmer overall. With a low-level language, you gain insights into concepts such as pointers, memory alignment, and concurrency, which are crucial for high-performance applications.
4. High Demand in the Industry
Many tech companies require developers skilled in C and Rust for building system software, cybersecurity applications, and real-time computing systems. Mastering these languages opens up lucrative career opportunities. C has been the industry standard for decades, while Rust is gaining traction due to its safety features and performance capabilities. Companies like Mozilla, Microsoft, and even the Linux kernel community are investing heavily in Rust, making it a valuable skill for the future.
5. More Reliable & Safer Code (Especially with Rust)
Rust’s unique ownership model eliminates common memory issues such as buffer overflows and null pointer dereferences, making it a safer alternative to C while maintaining performance. This leads to fewer crashes, fewer security vulnerabilities, and more predictable behaviour in software development. As security concerns become a growing priority in tech, Rust’s memory safety features make it an attractive choice for modern development.
How to Get Started?
For C: The C Programming Language by Kernighan & Ritchie is an excellent starting point. Supplement your learning with online courses and coding challenges that focus on system programming and data structures in C.
For Rust: The Rust Programming Language (available for free at doc.rust-lang.org/book) is a great beginner resource. Rust’s official documentation also offers an interactive learning experience.
Projects to Try: Build small projects like a memory allocator in C or a command-line tool in Rust to solidify your understanding. Contributing to open-source projects written in C or Rust is another excellent way to gain hands-on experience.
Mastering a low-level language isn’t just about writing faster code—it’s about becoming a more versatile and knowledgeable programmer. Whether you're aiming for systems programming, game development, or cybersecurity, learning C or Rust is a powerful investment in your future.
Stay curious, stay coding.