Does anybody know of a link to an Arduino blink sketch for example, shown right next to a C program to do exactly the same function?
They are very similar. A "standard" C version would be something like this:
#include <avr/io.h>
void setup(void) {
//reset your chip here
}
void loop(void) {
//put your code here
}
int main(void) {
setup();
while (1) {
loop();
}
}
[/quote]
All the arduino ide does is to put your setup() and loop() into a canned main() and compile - you can check the temporary folder to see the recombined code.
For a successful career in embedded programming, you need two things:
1) a good understanding of C: structure and write bug-free code;
2) ability to read and understand datasheets: 90% of programming a mcu is to operate those registers.
The stock C-functions are not that helpful.