+ 11

What is C++ mainly used for currently? Do you think it will be replaced by a higher level language any time soon?

I’ve heard python can do pretty well anything? Is it as powerful and useful for snappy applications like C++? Edit: When I say replace C++ I mean for future applications where C++ may have been the best or go to option previously.

10th Oct 2018, 3:35 AM
Jarred Brown
Jarred Brown - avatar
18 Answers
+ 23
Heres a cool fact, javascript is the most used language these days, but the most popular javascript engine ( interpreter/compiler) V8 is written in C++. so when we execute javascript then the underlying mechanism of parsing, allocation, optimization is all done in C++. same goes for DB like MySQL and MongoDB But programming in C++ is tough if you compare it to modern languages like JS, go, kotlin. Therefore in new projects and startups will prefer these easier languages for development. But as already pointed out by John, and by my example, C++ is already running under the hood for many applications, one more good example is telecom and communication sectors from where we get our data plans uses c++ a lot. Heres a cool list of influential C++ applications compiled by Bjarnes stroustrup himself. http://www.stroustrup.com/applications.html (Note: this page was last updated on aug 2014)
10th Oct 2018, 5:39 AM
Morpheus
Morpheus - avatar
+ 18
There really isn't a reason to replace C++ with any existing language. Even after a higher level language gets created that could replace all existing languages, it would be cost prohibited to do so. The amount of recoding and retesting would cost billions. That is why there are massive systems written in the 50's to 80's that are still being used today.
10th Oct 2018, 5:25 AM
John Wells
John Wells - avatar
+ 10
Those Python fans forget that it can never be as fast as C++ as each Python statement must be interpreted (i.e. looked at, figured out, and simulated every time it is needed by the underlaying C program), while C++ just executes code the compiler generated.
11th Oct 2018, 10:11 AM
John Wells
John Wells - avatar
+ 9
Pyhton is a popular language but not as powerful as C++.
10th Oct 2018, 3:41 AM
Calviղ
Calviղ - avatar
+ 6
How could Python replace C, Python built from C.
11th Oct 2018, 1:53 AM
Calviղ
Calviղ - avatar
+ 6
The problem is that even generating machine codes won't get a huge speed improvement as the data can't be optimized. Until you get to a usage and can detect what you are dealing with, you must assume it can be anything. https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/243269
11th Oct 2018, 1:54 PM
John Wells
John Wells - avatar
+ 5
Morpheus that is really cool! I had no idea about all these current applications. However, it does make a lot of sense considering how closely C++ runs with the hardware in comparison to Java and other higher level languages.
10th Oct 2018, 6:05 AM
Jarred Brown
Jarred Brown - avatar
10th Oct 2018, 2:25 PM
Hatsy Rei
Hatsy Rei - avatar
+ 4
Python is powerful, though C++ is also powerful am i getting off track😆? C++ is mainly used for game applications, though you can use it for other things. C++ is also very powerful, But not as powerful and clean as python, python is powerful, with Python I reccomend Numpy Note(py is a pythons file name when placing a file in code editor), for C++ Unreal engine it is "Unrealy" insane engine it is known for alot of games.
11th Oct 2018, 1:47 AM
Potato Hacker
Potato Hacker - avatar
+ 3
Искандер they are good but the this answer is not good with nice details the person needs to know
11th Oct 2018, 2:51 AM
Potato Hacker
Potato Hacker - avatar
+ 3
C++ is used A TON in microchips and IOT. your microwave??? Runs on C++. your alarm clock? Runs on C++. your dishwasher? Runs on C++!!!
11th Oct 2018, 3:32 AM
Daniel N
Daniel N - avatar
+ 2
higher level language: -easy to code(less time needed) -easy to understand(for beginners) -less worry about syntax error -fewer function names to remember -the language tries to understand what the human wants -which means lesser control and lesser performance for the programmer low level language: -require extra line of code to perform the same task in HLL -code can be complex and hard to understand(especially big projects) -errors can happen much readily due to syntax or wrong usage of functions -lots of function names and keywords -the human makes the language understand what he wants very clearly -which means more control over your code and more performance compared to HLL
12th Oct 2018, 12:27 AM
Kuyondo
Kuyondo - avatar
+ 1
Python is supportive for IoT, an emerging technology. So future of python is Bright!
11th Oct 2018, 4:52 AM
Ubaid Siddiqui
Ubaid Siddiqui - avatar
+ 1
John Wells What if someone uses Cython? Python gets compiled that way. And I have read there is a project of using Python for implementing Python (PyPy), don't know its current status! 😥 Nice thing is that efforts are being made to improve pythons performance 🙌
11th Oct 2018, 1:46 PM
OR!ON 🛡️
OR!ON 🛡️ - avatar
+ 1
for some microchips, there isn't enough storage to even install python
11th Oct 2018, 2:20 PM
Daniel N
Daniel N - avatar
0
Python can do away with it
11th Oct 2018, 8:37 AM
Vincent Baguma
Vincent Baguma - avatar
0
python won't replace C++ anytime soon
11th Oct 2018, 2:20 PM
Daniel N
Daniel N - avatar
- 4
C++ and Puthon is very goob programs languages ( и C++ и Puthon хорошие языки программирования)
10th Oct 2018, 8:45 PM
Искандер
Искандер - avatar