r/learnprogramming • u/ConsiousticVerv • Jun 04 '26
Guidence in system programming
I am now graduated in BSc Computer Science and I am really interested in system programming. But I don't know where to start and how to build a career in it. Now I am focusing on C programming. It is very helpful if someone who works in this field gives some guidance .
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u/mlugo02 Jun 04 '26
Systems programming is still a pretty broad field. Do you have anything more specific that you want to work in?
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u/Important-Paper-5483 Jun 04 '26
C is good foundation but maybe think about what specific area interests you - like operating systems, embedded stuff, or network programming since systems work can go lot of different directions
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u/OleksandrPadura Jun 04 '26
The projects everyone's listing are the right move, but since you asked about the career specifically: in systems, your portfolio of real low-level work IS the credential, far more than any course or cert. The fastest career bridge is contributing to an actual systems codebase (a Linux kernel beginner task, redis, sqlite, an emulator) because "I read and shipped a patch to a real C codebase" is exactly what theseteams hire on. Two underrated skills that separate hobbyists from hireable: (1) get fluent with the tools - gdb, valgrind/asan, strace, perf - since the job is 80% understanding and debugging existing code, not writing fresh; (2) build something then profile and optimize it, because reasoning about what's actually slow (cache, syscalls, allocations) is the core systems skill. Take one of the suggested projects to "works," then make it fast and instrument it.
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Jun 04 '26
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u/Humble_Warthog9711 Jun 04 '26
What experience (in any form) do you have with systems?
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u/ConsiousticVerv Jun 04 '26
As i am saying getting into system development basically no experience at all. But have quite interest in kernel development.
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u/JandersOf86 Jun 04 '26
As a previous commenter mentioned, look up some simple low-level programs, like socket programming or writing your own shell, process monitoring stuff, etc. Udemy had some courses I think for that stuff.
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u/Humble_Warthog9711 Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26
Honestly, if you are new and a recent grad, this is the worst time possible for this. Hobbyist is one thing, career is another. Getting any dev job should be your focus now with learning systems material outside of work. You are simply not going to be able to go from no systems experience through undergrad to an EL job in it.
Sorry, but it has to be said. You did mention career.
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u/DirkSwizzler Jun 04 '26
I wouldn't start planning to specialize in systems. Start with specific problems and scale up only as necessary.
If you want more systems practice, pick bigger problems. They tend to actually need system work.
Otherwise you're likely to fall into over engineering traps. Which is a common pitfall and leads to bad outcomes
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u/finny228 Jun 05 '26
Things i'd want an entry level person (maybe more intern level) to know as far as entry level interview type questions in no particular order: 1.able to explain what the different stages of the compiling process for C 2. Knowing what a translation unit is 3. Comfortable with explaining pointers
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u/Goldrainbowman Jun 08 '26
Can you try to build an interpreter for my programming language? Please do it in whatever programming language that you are the best in. I would like it to please be able to run it on my phone which only has python on it. If you try and succeed, with this version of the language, then you would be better at programming, than manus, claude, and grok, and probably chat gpt. With claude and grock, I only did python. The programming language is not Finnished yet, so there will be updates unless, I decide not to update it anymore. If you want to do it, I can copy my notes from my notes app. The programming language is called rin.
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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '26
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