C was originally created as a "high-level" language, being more abstract (aka high-level) than the other languages at the time. But now it's basically considered very slightly more abstract than machine code when compared to the much higher level high-level languages we have today.

[–] Corbin@programming.dev 26 points 5 months ago

Other way around, actually; C was one of several languages proposed to model UNIX without having to write assembly on every line, and has steadily increased in abstraction. Today, C is specified relative to a high-level abstract machine and doesn't really resemble any modern processing units' capabilities.

Incidentally, coming to understand this is precisely what the OP meme is about.

[–] Ziglin@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago

I'd say much more highly abstracted than necessarily better (I know plenty of people who despise js and wouldn't call it better).