Thread: The Future of C/C++

Hi there,

From my understanding, I believe that C++ has been the dominant language for the development of commercial software such as operating systems, windows applications and "office" like applications.

I am currently learning C++ from the beginning, and with the release of .NET, my mind has been stuffed with fear. These days, I see excellent C++ jobs offering big salaries and I am wondering if this will remain the same for the next decade.

I am currently 17, and I am worried that C++ will be out of the scene soon with languages such as VB.NET, C++.NET, C# and Java taking over.

Can someone please advise weather I should keep my mind focused on C/C++ programming or shall I stop now and starting looking into another programming language that will help my future propects.

Thanks,

Visual Developer

The same question has been on mind lately. I'm interested in game development and for the last 10 years, or more, the dominant language in the industry has been C/C++. So I wonder too, how will .NET and C# or even managed C++ affect this?

The best solution I can come up with is to just wait and see. Most good API's and programming languages share a lot of the same syntax and logic, so it won't hurt to learn one because you can always apply your knowledge to a new one if the need arises. Professionals in the industry already have to do the same thing. Although, it would be nice to have some inside information on their immediate plans concerning these languages.

To put things in perspective C has been around for a very long time (especially by technology standards). Many modern operating systems are written in C (some with bits of C++). C give a great deal of flexibility because it's a lower level language. Most of the new .NET languages (not to mention they're only MS products) are higher level languages to help develop applications quickly. Languages are like tools, the more you have the better.
As you will learn and other experienced developers will agree with me I'm sure, once you learn to program in general (with a language like C++), picking up the syntax of another language is not a difficult task. Many languages have very similar syntax. Someone familiar to C++ shouldn't have a tough time reading Java and if you look at C# code you'll notice an incredible resemblence to Java.
To reiterate what Shiro said, the language you'll use mostly will depend on what you're going to be doing. If you're going to be programming games or operating systems you won't be using VB or something like that. I'd say learn C++ and Java for now and you should be fine later on.

I am in the same boat as most of you guys, I am 15 and want to become maybe a programmer or something close to one. I am going to learn C++ and then move on to Java. I think C++ will stay for a little while longer.

heh i wanted the same thing at 15, unfortunately 4 pot filled years later im finally buckling down and learning lol.

good luck to u though, to each their own!

btw taylor, where is that quote from? i think it might be a song, but i'm not too sure.

Joe Walsh - Life's Been Good

well im in my last year university as a Software Developer, and we do C/C++ as our primary language, on Unix and Win32 Systems.

Now C# is not exactly a jump off into no where's land.. its not like going from VB to C++. if you have very good core C++ skills you can learn pretty much any other language with ease.

So if you are going to be serious about programming, i suggest you learn C++ first. the .NET extensions are a big part of the business applications, for technical applications or lets say video games, C++ will continue to be the primary.

C++ .NET is not a jump, if you read the technical articles, C++ has almost no make overs, except a few compiler cosmetic things and some "MANAGE" and "NON MANAGED" code, they are the new essentials in C++. Since when you are using C++ in the .NET framwork, your code must interact withing a container.

So knowing this you can pretty much say to yourself safly to stay with C++, and if you need to learn something else, you can do so at any time.

Ive done 3 years of Visual Basic, before i started on my C/C++ track, but you dont have to.