Here’s a list of popular applications and software categories, along with an estimate of the
percentage of code written in C used in their development. While exact figures may vary
depending on versions or specific modules, these estimates reflect the general importance of C in
their codebases.
1. Operating Systems
Linux Kernel: ~95% C
(Core of the operating system is entirely in C, with some assembly for low-level
operations.)
Windows OS: ~40–60% C
(Key components, kernel, and drivers are in C; higher-level components use C++ and
C#.)
UNIX: ~85–90% C
(Originally written in C; modern variants retain a significant amount of C code.)
2. Web Browsers
Google Chrome: ~30–50% C
(Core rendering engine parts use C, with other languages for the UI and additional
features.)
Mozilla Firefox: ~40% C
(Uses C for the rendering engine and C++ for higher-level abstractions.)
3. Embedded Systems
IoT Devices: ~80–90% C
(Microcontroller firmware and device drivers rely heavily on C.)
Consumer Electronics: ~85–90% C
(Firmware in devices like TVs, washing machines, etc., is typically written in C.)
4. Database Management Systems
MySQL: ~60–70% C
(Core functionality is written in C; some parts in C++.)
PostgreSQL: ~70–80% C
(Majority of the database engine and performance-critical code is in C.)
Oracle Database: ~50–60% C
(Core components rely on C; other parts use Java and PL/SQL.)
5. Graphics and Multimedia Software
VLC Media Player: ~50–60% C
(Core media processing modules are in C; UI in C++ and other languages.)
OpenGL: ~95% C
(Rendering library is almost entirely written in C.)
6. Compilers and Programming Tools
GCC: ~90–95% C
(Core compiler implementation is in C; some newer components in C++.)
Clang/LLVM: ~30–40% C
(Relies more on C++ but has foundational C elements.)
7. Networking and Communication
OpenSSL: ~85–90% C
(Core libraries for cryptographic protocols are in C.)
Wireshark: ~70% C
(Packet analysis core is in C; GUI in C++.)
8. Office Software
Microsoft Office (Core): ~20–30% C
(Low-level functionalities and performance-critical libraries are in C.)
LibreOffice: ~30–40% C
(Some components use C, with others in C++ and Python.)
9. Games and Game Engines
Doom (1993): ~95% C
(One of the most iconic games written almost entirely in C.)
Unreal Engine: ~10–15% C
(Core systems rely on C, but the majority of the engine is in C++.)
Unity Engine: ~5–10% C
(Performance-critical components and bindings use C.)
10. Real-Time Systems
Medical Devices: ~90% C
(Firmware for devices like heart monitors and insulin pumps relies on C.)
Automotive Systems: ~80–90% C
(Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and engine control units rely on C for safety and real-
time response.)
11. Mobile Platforms
Android OS Core: ~60–70% C
(The Linux kernel and performance-critical libraries are in C.)
iOS Core (Darwin): ~40–50% C
(Core systems like the kernel and low-level APIs use C.)
12. Cloud and Web Servers
Apache HTTP Server: ~70–80% C
(Core server functionality is in C.)
NGINX: ~85% C
(Efficient web server built almost entirely in C.)
13. File Systems
ext4 (Linux File System): ~90% C
(Entirely implemented in C.)
NTFS (Windows File System): ~85–90% C
(Core file system operations use C.)
14. Version Control
Git: ~95% C
(The core of Git, including storage and performance-critical operations, is in C.)
15. Cybersecurity Tools
Nmap: ~85–90% C
(Network scanning core relies heavily on C.)
Metasploit Framework (Core): ~50% C
(Core exploitation libraries use C; other components in Ruby and Python.)
Why the Variation in Percentage?
The percentage of C usage depends on the nature of the software:
High-performance, low-level software (e.g., operating systems, databases) tends to use
more C.
Applications requiring UI or high-level abstractions (e.g., browsers, games) use less
C, supplementing it with C++/Java/etc.
Would you like more detailed insights on any specific category or software?
