C++ Rebooted with Parallel Algorithms and Better Performance
C++ Rebooted with Parallel Algorithms and Better Performance
Posted 08/18/2011 at 7:22am
| by Paul Lilly
15
Comments
Print
Without a major revision in over a decade (13 years, to be exact), it seemed that C++ had become a forgotten programming language among a new generation of developers, or at the very least it has been tremendously overshadowed by JavaScript, Python, and other trendier languages. But look out, because C++ is making a comeback. A new standard called C++11 received unanimous approval from the ISO C++ standards committee and is expected to be published within the year, according to Herb Sutter, the committee's chairman.
According to InfoWorld, C++11 comes at a time when many programmers believe the industry has strayed too far away from native code. C++11 marks a return to native code, but with features that will make life easier for developers to code software for parallel processing platforms, including lambda functions.
"What's already there in the C++98 standard library will immediately become even easier to use," Sutter said.
Sutter points out that C++ and its C subset are present in several areas and are used to build compilers and runtimes for most Web browsers, operating systems, and even competing languages. It's also the primary language used in Google and Facebook, Sutter says.
Other notable additions to C++11 include auto functions for type deductions, decltype functions for developers to get the strong type of any expression, and smart pointers for things like automated memory management.
More like this
15
Comments
Comments are closed on this article
dgrmouse
August 18, 2011 at 2:41pm
The auto keyword is HUGE. Aside from being generally easier to read, there are some fringe cases with templates where things just don't work without it. The declspec stuff is naturally related to auto, and the other stuff has been readily available in third-party libraries forever. I'm not a big fan of moving threading into the standard library, since it's almost as ugly as IO in terms of portability. Different machines handle things like blocking IO differently, and system-specific libraries like POSIX and the Windows API are already in place and extremely effective.
Trooper_One
August 18, 2011 at 1:03pm
It's been awhile but C++ really was the foundation of my programming school days. I don't think it'll disappear anytime soon as it is a solid language with a huge use database, not unlike COBOL and FORTRAN (both of which are old but are still kicking around worldwide in large numbers).
DJSPIN80
August 18, 2011 at 12:38pm
It's about time! I like how the new spec FINALLY includes lambda methods, which makes writing uninterrupted code blocks fun. I like how they finally have a for_each loop and parallelization. Good to see that C++ is still going strong, even if the syntax looks horrid.
dgrmouse
August 18, 2011 at 2:50pm
for_each has existed in the standard for over a decade, along w/ the STL. There's lots of functional-style stuff there - you should give it a look. Unfortunately, the Boost-style lambda expressions are kludgy and inelegant compared with their functional counterparts - largely because of the differing delineations between first-class objects.
QuadraQ
August 18, 2011 at 11:06am
I use C++ at work everyday, so it's far from a dead language. In fact there is probably more code written in C++ than in any other language (with the possible exception of C itself). Learning C and C++ were smart moves because a large selection of languages are supersets (like Objective C and C#) or are syntactically related (like Java and JavaScript).
rayatwork05
August 18, 2011 at 10:57am
C++ has been and will continue to be the most dominant programming language for last 10-15 years...
i do market research in this industry and am surprised to see you write "JavaScript, Python as being trendier"
they def are not. Sadly Fortran runs #2 to C++ because it has such a big/old user base.
C++ & Parallel code ftmfw
stradric
August 18, 2011 at 8:55am
I wouldn't say JavaScript or Python overshadow C++ simply because they are scripting languages. JavaScript is limited pretty much to the web browser (though MS does have jscript, which is very similar and can be evaluated outside of the browser like Python or Perl). Certainly there are features of Python and JavaScript that are more appealing than C++ -- like generic types. So it does seem that C++ is trying to join that party, and I welcome the change. I've always loved C++. It's so rewarding to build applications using it, but it's a hard sell in business when managed code like C# can be used to build applications in less than half the time. In any case, it's nice to see the evolution of such a great language and I look forward to learning and trying out the new features.
dgrmouse
August 18, 2011 at 2:58pm
C++ has had generic types, containers, and algorithms in the standard for over a decade. JavaScript has been available as a standalone language since the 1990s under the name ECMAScript.
AndrewEgel
August 18, 2011 at 8:12am
C++ will always have a special place in my heart. It was the first programming language I learned. Glad to hear its added some features. The smart pointers has me interested.
dgrmouse
August 18, 2011 at 2:52pm
They're just classes with integrated reference counters. Check the Boost implementation, that's what they're based on.
FuriousDre
August 18, 2011 at 8:11am
:O, awesome! I love C++ xD Been self-teaching it tomyself for a few years now.
Andacious
August 18, 2011 at 8:11am
Awesome! So much has happened since 1998, glad they finally updated this.
Connect with MaximumPC
Featured Content
The gang discusses the GTX 690, Trinity, Ivy Bridge, Amazon, big-box stores, MMOs,...
This month's issue
Feature
Build a PC On Any Budget
Feature
Cloud Services Showdown
How-To
Encrypt Your External Drive
Build It
Upgrade an X58 Rig
Most Commented Articles
Latest Max PC Tweets
- maximumpc: Original RickRoll Video Returns to YouTube After 24-Hour Copyright Hiatus http://t.co/MaH9Sxyy1 day 50 min ago
- maximumpc: Corsair has decided not to go forward with its $78 million IPO, citing weak equity market conditions http://t.co/A5a4DAzj1 day 59 min ago
- maximumpc: Want to work at Maximum PC? Our Online Managing Editor, Alex, is moving away, so we need a new one. http://t.co/9Z7JCh0E2 days 22 hours ago
