Jens Gustedt on C in 2026

The podcast reviews recent advancements in the C programming language, particularly focusing on the C23 standard, which marks the first major update to the language since C11. Key features introduced in C23 include the ability to declare variables within control structures, enhanced Unicode support, and improvements to the standard library such as checked integer arithmetic and bit manipulation utilities. The discussion also addresses technical aspects of the standard, such as pointer provenance, the challenges of standardizing new data types like wide integers, and the progress of compiler support for these new features.

In addition to the C23 updates, the podcast explores broader topics related to C, including security considerations and the role of compiler optimizations in identifying issues like aliasing and overflow. It also speculates on the future of the language, mentioning the proposed C2Y standard and ongoing discussions about potential additions such as lambdas and contracts, which are still under consideration by the C standards committee.