Top 25 C Projects with Source Code in 2025

Here’s a list of 25 interesting C projects with source code that would be great to explore in 2025. These projects span various categories, including system programming, data structures, algorithms, games, and more.

1. Operating System (OS) from Scratch

• Description: Build a simple OS kernel to understand low-level programming and hardware interaction.
• Link: Operating Systems: From Scratch

2. Tiny HTTP Server

• Description: Implement a minimalistic HTTP server to learn about networking and web protocols.
• Link: Tiny HTTP Server

3. Linux Shell

• Description: Create a custom shell to practice system-level programming and command-line interface concepts.
• Link: Linux Shell in C

4. Simple Database Engine

• Description: Design a basic database engine that can handle storing, retrieving, and indexing data.
• Link: Simple Database Engine

5. Memory Allocator

• Description: Implement a memory allocation system (like malloc) from scratch to understand memory management.
• Link: Memory Allocator

6. File Compression Tool

• Description: Build a program that compresses files using algorithms like Huffman or LZ77.
• Link: File Compression

7. Text-based Game (Tic Tac Toe / Hangman)

• Description: Create a simple text-based game in the console to practice algorithms and game design.
• Link: Tic-Tac-Toe Game

8. Library Management System

• Description: Develop a system to manage books, users, and checkouts in a library.
• Link: Library Management System

9. Network Packet Sniffer

• Description: Build a packet sniffer to analyze network traffic and learn about TCP/IP protocols.
• Link: Network Sniffer

10. Basic 2D Game Engine

• Description: Create a simple 2D game engine to handle graphics, physics, and user input.
• Link: 2D Game Engine

11. A Basic Web Browser

• Description: Implement a simple web browser that can fetch and display HTML content.
• Link: Basic Web Browser

12. Sudoku Solver

• Description: Develop a program to solve Sudoku puzzles using backtracking algorithms.
• Link: Sudoku Solver

13. Calculator (Basic and Scientific)

• Description: Build a calculator that supports basic arithmetic and scientific functions.
• Link: Scientific Calculator

14. Command-line Password Manager

• Description: Design a password manager that securely stores and retrieves passwords.
• Link: Password Manager

15. Blockchain in C

• Description: Implement a simple blockchain to understand its structure and the consensus algorithm.
• Link: Blockchain in C

16. Multithreading Library

• Description: Create a custom library for managing threads and synchronization.
• Link: Multithreading Library

17. C Compiler (Simple)

• Description: Build a basic C compiler that can parse, compile, and execute C code.
• Link: Tiny C Compiler

18. Search Engine (Mini)

• Description: Develop a search engine that indexes a set of text documents and retrieves them based on queries.
• Link: Mini Search Engine

19. C To-Do List App

• Description: Create a command-line to-do list application with features like adding, removing, and marking tasks as done.
• Link: To-Do List in C

20. Simple Chat Application

• Description: Develop a basic text-based chat application to practice socket programming and client-server architecture.
• Link: Simple Chat App

21. Simple Web Server

• Description: Implement a simple web server that handles basic HTTP requests and serves static files.
• Link: Web Server in C

22. PDF Generator

• Description: Build a program that generates simple PDF files, focusing on layout and text rendering.
• Link: PDF Generator

23. C Encryption Tool

• Description: Develop an encryption and decryption tool using algorithms like AES or DES.
• Link: C Encryption Tool

24. Mini Shell

• Description: Write a simple shell interpreter that reads commands from a user, executes them, and returns the results.
• Link: Mini Shell

25. HTTP Client

• Description: Create a program to send HTTP requests and handle responses, helping you learn about web protocols.
• Link: HTTP Client in C

These projects will help you hone your C programming skills, as well as give you experience with key areas like systems programming, network programming, data structures, and algorithms.