C vs. Java vs. OCaml vs. Zig Comparison Chart

C is a programming language created in 1972 which remains very important and widely used today. C is a general-purpose, imperative, procedural language. The C language can be used to develop a wide variety of different software and applications including operating systems, software applications, code compilers, databases, and more.

OCaml is a general-purpose, industrial-strength programming language with an emphasis on expressiveness and safety. OCaml’s powerful type system means more bugs are caught at compile time, and large, complex codebases are easier to maintain. This makes it a good language for running critical code. At the same time, sophisticated inference makes the type system unobtrusive, creating a smooth developer experience. One is a bytecode compiler which generates small, portable executables and is very fast. The other is a native code compiler that produces more efficient machine code; its performance matches the highest standards of modern compilers. OCaml has great support for the most popular editors. VS Code is recommended for beginners, and for power users there is deep integration with Vim and Emacs. OCaml has a rich and dynamic community and best-in-class tooling.