“From today on, study hard and make progress every day”

Repetition is the best method for memory; spend one minute every day to remember the basics of C language.

💻 From Beginner to Abandonment: Why 80% of People Can’t Learn C Language? Now I Understand, No Wonder I Can’t Learn It Either~

“C language is like the Mount Everest of programming—everyone aspires to it, but 80% of people retreat halfway” Today we won’t discuss technical details, just dig into the underlying reasons.

🔍 The Cruel Truth Revealed by Big Data

📊 Data tracked by educational institutions:

• • Among students enrolled in C language courses: ✅ Only 19% can independently complete basic projects ❌ A staggering 63% give up within 3 months 💔 81% still cannot understand pointers after 6 months

🌐 Stack Overflow Survey: In the voting for “the most frustrating language for beginners”: 🥇 C language (47% of votes) 🥈 C++ (32%) 🥉 Assembly (21%)

🧩 Five Deep-rooted Reasons Analyzed

1. Cognitive Overload

C language requires mastery of:

• • Computer architecture principles (memory/registers/bus)
• • Abstract logical thinking (pointers/address operations)
• • Engineering management skills (header files/multi-file compilation)

💡 Neuroscience Research: When processing more than three new concepts simultaneously, the prefrontal cortex of the brain triggers protective inhibition.

2. Education Crisis

Three sins of traditional teaching: 1️⃣ Still using DOS-era teaching methods 2️⃣ Textbook examples are completely disconnected from modern development 3️⃣ Misalignment of assessment focus (e.g., overemphasis on syntax details)

📌 Typical Case:

Some universities still require students to memorize syntax for C language exams, with some not allowing computers, requiring handwritten code, while companies ask “how to implement data structures, algorithms, kernel programming, etc. in C” during interviews.

3. Psychological Threshold Trap

Learning curve is anti-human design:

1 hour
3 days
2 weeks
1 month
3 months
6 months
Hello World
Basic syntax
Control flow
Introduction to pointers
Memory management
Project practice
True understanding

⚠️ Most people collapse at the D→E stage.

4. Toolchain Deterrence

Modern C development requires configuration of:

• • Cross-compilation toolchain
• • Debugger (GDB)
• • Static analysis tools

🛠️ Comparing Reality: Python learners can run code with a button in PyCharm.

C learners may spend 3 days just configuring vscode/gcc/clang.

5. Lack of Feedback Mechanism

Deadly Cycle: Writing code → Compilation error → Modification → Crash on run → Unable to find the reason → Accumulation of frustration → Giving up.

💔 Psychological research shows: After more than 7 consecutive failures, 87% of adults experience learned helplessness.

🧠 Anti-human Cognition

1. Working Memory Limitations

Typical scenarios in C language require:

• • Tracking variable states
• • Anticipating memory changes
• • Simulating pointer jumps

🧠 Brain Limits: The average person’s working memory can only maintain 4±1 chunks of information.

2. Curse of Knowledge Effect

Experienced programmers often overlook:

• • Their internalized foundational knowledge (e.g., stack frame structure)
• • Debugging intuition developed over years of training

👨🏫 Teaching research shows: Expert teachers estimate that “simple concepts” actually require 3-5 times more time for novices to digest.

3. Lack of Metacognition

Most failures exhibit:

• • Inability to accurately assess what they do not understand
• • Misattribution (e.g., treating memory errors as logical errors)
• • Lack of systematic debugging strategies

🚀 Path to Breakthrough (For the 20% Who Persist)

1. Redesign Learning Path

Computer architecture basics
Core C syntax
Debugging skills specialization
Small system programming
Participate in open-source projects

2. Cognitive Load Management

• • Focus on only one new concept per lesson
• • Use visualization tools to aid understanding (e.g., memory visualization plugins)
• • Enforce spaced repetition (refer to Ebbinghaus curve)

3. Establish Positive Feedback

• • Use version control (git) from day one
• • Pair each knowledge point with micro-achievements (e.g., “conquered secondary pointers today”)
• • Join learning communities to combat feelings of isolation

💡 Ultimate Advice

Conditions for persistence check: ✅ Naturally curious about computer workings ✅ Enjoy solving bugs ✅ Willing to invest 1000+ hours

Otherwise:

if it is

if it is

Your goal
Quick employment
Switch to Python/Java
Develop hardware/OS kernel/drivers
Grind through C

Remember: Choosing is more important than effort, but persistence is more precious than choice!

———- End ———-

[Special Statement: This public account article is original or authorized by the author, some content and images are sourced from the internet and AI, please feel free to consume, the views are for learning reference only~~]

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