Why does Harvard's foundational computer science course prioritize the C programming language?

This episode of the CS50 podcast examines the pedagogical reasoning behind teaching C as a core language. It clarifies why instructors choose this specific tool for students beginning their journey into software development and computational problem-solving.

The discussion centers on the educational strategy at Harvard University, specifically why C remains the primary language for the introductory CS50 curriculum. By focusing on C, the course aims to ground students in the fundamental mechanics of how computers process information, rather than abstracting those details away.

The episode also addresses common inquiries regarding the evolution of the course's language stack, including the transition from PHP to Python. It explores the technical relationships between these languages, comparing their proximity to the low-level operations characteristic of C.

Source: Why C? - CS50 Podcast, Ep. 7