C++ for software development? In 2020? Are you kidding? If that was your first reaction after reading the title of this blog, you should read the entire blog. And trust me, by the end your perspective will have changed! With the enormous advancements that the world of computers and technology has made, and with a number of programming languages having emerged, one might be compelled to ask: C++, even in this age? The world’s going crazy about developments like machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, high-graphics powered computer games, virtual reality, etc. The big question that emerges is: is C++ still relevant? Surprisingly (or not), the answer is YES!
C++, to be honest, is decades old. It was developed by Danish computer scientist Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Labs in 1979. However, you will be surprised to know that it is still relevant, much more than ever! Although several, very powerful programming languages have emerged, such as Java, Python, etc., C++ still happens to be a hot choice for developing and working on complex software that need faster real-time interactions with the hardware. We are talking about software systems such as finance, databases, big data processing, video games, academic research, 3D graphics, etc. C++ often emerges as the first choice for high-performance systems. Let's explore why this is true and why choosing C++ for your first project could be a great idea!
It is Decades Old!
No, don’t read it like, “Alas! It’s decades old”. Read it like, “Wow! It’s decades old”. Contrary to what many people might believe, the fact that C++ is older than most programming languages existing today only adds to its relevance. Several programming languages have been developed over the years; but ask yourself, “How many of them survived”? The truth is, for a programming language to become popular, after having been developed, a huge number of people and communities need to be familiar with it. Software needs to have been written on it, and people need to have developed best programming practices in it. C++ has been around for quite some time. It would not be an exaggeration to say that billions of code lines written in C++ exist today. In fact, many people make a living off writing C++ codes. Several industry challenges have been solved using C++.
It’s fast and efficient!
C++, despite being a high-level programming language, is very close to the machine. It is almost assembler like. C++ allows low-level manipulation of data. Embedded systems and compilers are created with the help of C++. You can write close-to-hardware code that is capable of running as fast as the CPU! This works in favor of applications where complex calculations might be required, such as performing scientific calculations.
It’s updated, always!
Since the time it was developed, C++ has been constantly upgraded to keep with the latest times. Over the years, five major versions of the language have been released:
- C++98 (ISO/IEC 14882:1998) is the first edition.
- C++03 (ISO/IEC 14882:2003) is the second edition.
- C++11 is the third edition.
- C++14 is the fourth edition.
- C++17 is the fifth edition
The latest version, C++20, is expected to follow C++17. It was recently finalized in February 2020 and is expected to be officially published in May 2020. The great thing about C++ is that there are no signs of it getting outdated anytime soon! You can be sure about having made a secure investment by choosing C++ for developing your project!
It’s relevant, even today!
Because of the several features it offers, C++ is hugely popular even today. C++ provides great control over memory allocation. The C++ development companies around the world uses C++ for the terrific performance it provides. One of the reasons why C++ still enjoys popularity is that it’s a surviving low-level language that has somehow managed to accommodate new, modern programming paradigms. Another reason why C++ is so popular even today is that it allows the programmer control on intimate hardware details without dropping to the assembly-language-level detail.
It’s the standard for cross-platform mobile app development
With the increasing popularity of mobiles and the emergence of multiple mobiles operating environments, first came the apps and then apps for multiple platforms. Apps are something most developers are switching to. People and businesses are investing more and more now in portable technologies rather than desktop or computer applications. You will be surprised to know that even in these emerging times, for the new mobile technologies, C++ remains a star among programming languages. With features such as speed, memory management, versatility, C++ is a popular choice for cross-platform mobile app development. In addition, what has added to the productivity and choice of C++ for modern app development is the recent introduction of developer tools that enable visual design for clients, middleware, and server-side apps.
Some popular software and apps built on C++
You will be surprised to know that many of the very popular apps you use or have heard about, are built on C++.
A popular imaging and designing editor, which has been on the market since 1988, Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator is written on C++. The language and the app itself are extremely fast and can perform very well even when a lot of data is to be managed.
One of the most popular video-sharing apps, YouTube was written in a few different languages of which C++ is one too. For the most important and core function of this app, i.e. video processing, C++ is used. C++ allows easily handling the huge amounts of data that the app collected and generated on the app.
The world’s biggest online ‘shop’, Amazon.com, founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos was primarily written in C++. Over the years, like many other businesses that grew, Amazon went on to include more programming languages into their domain. Although their architecture has evolved from the time since the company was floored to include many more programming languages, C++ is still used for many things, such as processing requests.
Surprised?! Don’t be! Windows, the most popular operating system on the globe, uses a combination of C and C++. Not just windows, but other operating systems, such as Linux and Mac OS also extensively use C++. This should paint a pretty good picture of how powerful and relevant C++ is.
Another very popular product, Microsoft Office, which probably powers most offices and organizations around the world, has been written using a combination of C and C++.
Although primarily written in Java and Python, Google search has evolved to make some major changes and include C and C++ to the collection of languages they use. The Google Chrome browser has also been written in C++, Assembly, and Python. Obviously I don’t need to remind you how chrome is one of the most popular browsers around the world with almost 60 to 70% usage share. Many of the tools that Google provides are based on C++ (for example, Google Earth).
C++ for Gaming
Modern gaming engines, such as Unity, work on multiple layers while developing a game. These layers could be rendering, physics, AI, gameplay, high-level scripting, and the backend. However, in layers such as physics simulation, low-level implementation becomes important, and C++ plays a major role there. Because these functions need to be called on constantly and quickly over and over again and involve a lot of complex calculation and calls to specialized hardware.
C++ Development with Evon
Evon Technologies stands strong with C++ development. We believe in the power and capability the language offers and develop solutions customized just for you. Though instrumental in developing projects based on other, multiple platforms, we always have a team dedicated to C++-based software development, because we know better than anyone else that C++ is here to stay! Get in touch with us to hire C++ developer and know how we can help you develop your “first software development project”.
