MIT's Practical Programming in C (6.087) is a free course on MIT OpenCourseWare teaching C programming fundamentals: pointers, memory management, data structures, and systems programming. C is the language closest to the hardware, used in operating systems, embedded systems, and any code where performance and control matter. After finishing, you can write C programs and understand memory management. The main limitation: C is unforgiving. Memory bugs (buffer overflows, null pointer dereferences) are easy to make and hard to debug. Modern C development uses tools like Valgrind.
C remains one of the top 3 programming languages globally and is the primary language for Linux kernel development and embedded systems (source: TIOBE Programming Community Index).
About This Course
MIT's hands-on introduction to programming in C. Covers syntax, pointers, memory management, data structures, and the C standard library. Includes lecture notes, problem sets, and exams. The classic free C course from MIT OpenCourseWare.
Course Details
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MIT's C course free?
Yes, free on MIT OpenCourseWare.
Should I learn C before C++ or Rust?
C gives you a foundation, but you can learn C++/Rust directly. Many people learn C for the mental model, not because they'll write C.
Why do people still use C?
C runs everywhere (Linux kernel, firmware, embedded). Nothing else gives the same control.
What are pointers?
Variables that hold memory addresses rather than values. Pointers are C's most powerful (and error-prone) feature.
After C, what's next?
C++ for more features, Rust for safety, or Systems Programming (operating systems, compilers, networking).