C:
Using an interactive shell (REPL)

How to:

To engage with a C REPL, you might not find as straightforward a path as in languages like Python or JavaScript. However, tools like Cling, a C/C++ interpreter based on Clang and LLVM technology, make it possible. Here’s how to get started:

1. Install Cling: Depending on your OS, you might find Cling in your package manager or need to build from source. For example, on Ubuntu, it could be as simple as sudo apt-get install cling.

2. Launching Cling: Open your terminal and type cling to start the interactive shell.

$ cling

3. Writing Code: Now you can type C code directly into the shell and see immediate results. Here’s a simple example:

[cling]$ #include <stdio.h>
[cling]$ printf("Hello, REPL world!\n");
Hello, REPL world!

4. Sample with Variables and Operations: Experiment with variables and see instant feedback.

[cling]$ int a = 5;
[cling]$ int b = 3;
[cling]$ printf("%d + %d = %d\n", a, b, a+b);
5 + 3 = 8

5. Including Libraries: Cling allows you to include libraries on-the-fly, thus enabling a wide range of C functionalities.

[cling]$ #include <math.h>
[cling]$ printf("Square root of %f is %f\n", 4.0, sqrt(4.0));
Square root of 4.000000 is 2.000000

Deep Dive:

The inception of REPL environments dates back to Lisp in the 1960s, designed to support interactive code evaluation. However, the static and compiled nature of C posed challenges to realizing similar immediacy in code execution adjustments. The development of Cling and other C/C++ interpreters mark significant advances towards integrating dynamic evaluation into statically typed languages.

Notably, using an interpreter like Cling may not perfectly mirror the behavior of compiled C code due to differences in optimization and execution. Also, while highly valuable for educational purposes, rapid prototyping, and debugging, REPLs for C can sometimes be slower and less practical for production-level code development compared to traditional compile-run-debug cycles.

Alternatives for interactive C programming include writing small, self-contained programs and using robust IDEs with integrated debugging tools, which can offer more control and insight into execution, albeit with less immediacy. Despite these alternatives, the advent of REPL environments in C represents an exciting expansion of the language’s versatility, embracing the modern era’s demands for flexibility and speed in development cycles.