According to Tiobe C++ surpasses C for the first time in history, The Streisand Effect works :)

In the world of programming languages, C++ has long been a staple, valued for its power and performance. However, it’s also been the subject of significant criticism over the years. Interestingly, these criticisms often have an unintended consequence, making C++ even more popular—a phenomenon known as the Streisand Effect.

Recently, C++ faced widespread criticism, with even the White House advising against its use. Ironically, this led to an increase in its popularity. According to TIOBE, C++ has surpassed C in popularity for the first time in history.

Continue reading “According to Tiobe C++ surpasses C for the first time in history, The Streisand Effect works :)”

The new C++ standards must anticipate the coming AI tsunami.

The significant and rapid transformation driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology promise a very big AI tsunami that will change our life as developers. While the exact nature of these changes can vary depending on context and perspective, there are several broad trends and potential impacts that might be expected following such a transformative event:

Continue reading “The new C++ standards must anticipate the coming AI tsunami.”

C++ creator rebuts White House warning, but there’s no smoke without fire :)

In a March 15 response to an inquiry from InfoWorld, Stroustrup pointed out strengths of C++. “I find it surprising that the writers of those government documents seem oblivious of the strengths of contemporary C++ and the efforts to provide strong safety guarantees,” Stroustrup said. 

And Stroustrup cited a fact about the origin of the issue :

There are two problems related to safety. Of the billions of lines of C++, few completely follow modern guidelines, and peoples’ notions of which aspects of safety are important differ.

This highlights a significant problem with C++. When any programming language permits the execution of potentially harmful actions, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a considerable portion of developers may misuse it.

And when confronted about writing bad code, developers may offer various arguments to justify their actions, though these are often excuses rather than valid reasons:

Continue reading “C++ creator rebuts White House warning, but there’s no smoke without fire :)”

What attempts have been made to bring memory safety to C++?

C++ is a powerful and widely used programming language known for its flexibility and performance. However, one of its historical drawbacks has been the lack of built-in memory safety features, which can lead to various types of memory-related bugs such as buffer overflows, dangling pointers, and memory leaks.

This is a known issue that has persisted for decades, and numerous attempts have been made to find a solution. Unfortunately, none have succeeded.

What has been done in the past to enhance memory safety within the language?

Continue reading “What attempts have been made to bring memory safety to C++?”

What about our emotional relationship with a specific programming language? C++ as example.

The emotional relationship between a developer and a programming language can be quite profound and personal, like to the relationship between a musician and his instrument. This relationship is shaped by various factors and experiences, leading to a complex mix of feelings and attachments.

Developers often feel a sense of comfort and familiarity with a programming language they have been using for a long time. They develop an intimate understanding of its syntax, semantics, and quirks, which can create a feeling of being “at home” when writing code. Emotional attachment to a programming language can fuel passion and motivation in developers. However, it can introduce some risks, like :

Continue reading “What about our emotional relationship with a specific programming language? C++ as example.”

Are C++ and Java similar?

C++ and Java are two of the most popular programming languages in the world. Both are widely used for developing a variety of applications, ranging from desktop software to mobile applications, and from enterprise systems to gaming engines. Due to their popularity, many developers often wonder if C++ and Java are similar. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at these two languages and compare their similarities and differences.

Continue reading “Are C++ and Java similar?”