: Always provide paired functions for allocation and deallocation (e.g., _init() and _destroy() ). This ensures the user is responsible for the lifetime of objects they create.
Creating a high-quality API for C requires balancing the language's low-level power with the need for safety, readability, and long-term stability. Unlike C++, C lacks built-in features like classes and namespaces, so designers must rely on disciplined conventions and patterns to provide a clean interface. Core Principles of C API Design API Design for C
: Avoid global variables within your library. Instead, pass a "context" or "handle" pointer to every function that needs to maintain state, which also helps with thread safety. Recommended Resources for Deep Dives : Always provide paired functions for allocation and