eli5: How is C still the fastest mainstream language?

Question

I’ve heard that lots of languages come close, but how has a faster language not been created for over 50 years?

Excluding assembly.

In: 2072

Answer 1

C code is really close to what the CPU is doing, plus there are no validity checks on what you are doing. Use a string as a memory pointer? No problem. Have a function return a pointer to another function but use it as an integer? No problem.

A long time ago I explained to a friend that C doesn’t just let you shoot yourself in the foot, it loads the gun, loosens the trigger, cocks the gun, puts it in your hand pointed at your foot, then shouts “BANG!”