Thread: Limits of C/C++

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    Limits of C/C++

    Hi everyone. I would like to ask a few questions.
    1. Apart from Assembly, what language has the least limit in fuctionality. I would like if it was good in visual terms, but that's not the main feature I'm looking for. And is Assembly the most limitless language out there (I know it's very low-level).

    2. Which one should I go for: C or C++? I know many ask this question and I've seen the answer, but I'll be more specific. Which one has less limits? Which one has more functionality? I've read a lot of information on the internet, but I still can't make my mind.

    I'd like to point out that I'm doing all this as a hobby, so I don't need to worry much about modifying old programs or any job-related points.

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    1. Apart from Assembly, what language has the least limit in fuctionality. I would like if it was good in visual terms, but that's not the main feature I'm looking for. And is Assembly the most limitless language out there (I know it's very low-level).
    Any programming language that allows one to use inline assembly would be as "limitless" as assembly language. Both C and C++ qualify in this respect.

    2. Which one should I go for: C or C++? I know many ask this question and I've seen the answer, but I'll be more specific. Which one has less limits? Which one has more functionality? I've read a lot of information on the internet, but I still can't make my mind.
    The frequently repeated advice is to use the right tool for the job. As such, what is the job, and how familiar are you with the tools? Anything else would just result in endless discussions of language features/"misfeatures", libraries, programming idioms, etc.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

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    If it's a contest between C or C++, I'd say go for C++ since it can do C just as well as C++, if such is required (and other on the board agrees on this point).
    Knowing C++, you can also "fall back" to C, if such would be required.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.

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    OK thanks for replying. The job is simple, it'll probably be system-specific. I want to "take control". I forgot to mention that I'm writing for windows. So I mean stuff like show in the task bar, hide from the task manager processes, networking, etc.
    I know I'm going for some really advanced stuff, I don't think I'll be there any time soon but I want to go for something that has potential.

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    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    > Apart from Assembly, what language has the least limit in fuctionality.
    Almost all programming languages (even things like INTERCAL) fall into this category.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turing_complete

    The only question is the range of tools/libraries available which make what you're interested in producing a practical proposition.
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
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