Thread: For someone New to C should I learn C or C++ ?

Originally Posted by cyberfish

For MCUs, I would stick with C.

Some MCU development environments have some support for C++, but almost none supports the standard library, which is arguably 80% of what C++ is all about, and what makes C++ "nice".

None of the standard containers will work (including std::string), for example, since MCUs don't typically have a heap to begin with (heap management doesn't make sense when you have <1KB RAM).

With that kind of resources constraint, you don't really want C++ overheads anyways.

I've never seen anyone doing OOP on MCUs. OOP is designed to make large programs easier to design/maintain, but has limited use when you just want to blink a few LEDs.

This is all assuming you are talking about 8-bit/16-bit MCUs. If you are talking about bigger 32-bit MCUs like those ARM based ones... I've never actually programmed one, but people have run Linux on them, so I'm assuming they are more similar to PCs in terms of typical program complexity.

While it's true that a lot of them are C, I would once again urge the OP to take a look at what kind of embedded controllers he/she wants to program for. Wouldn't it be a waste to learn C when the embedded controller fully supports C++?
C++ isn't just all about OOP and the standard library either. It's also about type safety. Though I don't suppose most microcontrollers support templates.

Originally Posted by happyclown

I wanted to program, so I learnt C for 9 months. C is a beautiful language. I loved it. But I could only use it for console and text-based programs. What I really wanted was to be able to create GUI programs that I could use in Windows. So I switched to Visual Basic, and that was the best move I ever made, programming wise.

I had learnt C on and off for about 20 years, but each time I was couldn't get past the usability hurdle. For people who require C as part of their job or studies, they have motivation to persist with it. I am only a hobby programmer, so unless I could program what I want, in the environment that I want(Windows), there was no motivation.

Once I master VB, I will get back into C. It can do low level stuff easily, which is not so easy in VB.

Good luck.

First of all, C can indeed do Windows programming. Yes, it's difficult, but that's what you get for using such a low-level language.
And secondly, since you obviously are targeting desktops and want to go with C, I'd instead recommend C++. There are nice frameworks out there that reduce the hurdle of Windows programming, as well.
And, if you are unsure, again, the advice of trying both languages is not a bad advice at all.

Yes, but C++ is a special case. It's backwards compatible with C, so even if you need to do low-level stuff, C++ is still relevant. What changes these languages is the type system and the availability. Not every platform has a C++ compiler, for example.
Furthermore, C++ enhances C in every aspect by adding new features and improving on others, so basically it is C++, and extended version of C. So using C++ everywhere it is possible I would say is recommended. But then it's the issue of what people like. Do you like a strict type system? If so, then C++ is better than C. But if you don't like a strict type system, then C is more likely your pick of language.

I hope you see the point.

Originally Posted by Elysia

So using C++ everywhere it is possible I would say is recommended.

As long as you can afford the additional mem usage, which is not insignificant.

It depends on how you use it. Naturally one must choose the approach that is appropriate for the goals.

Originally Posted by Elysia

It depends on how you use it. Naturally one must choose the approach that is appropriate for the goals.

So probably more C, less ++.

If it meets your requirements, sure. But you would be loosing out on all the features that help coding and spanning up bigger systems. So it's a trade-off.