Whither C++
Dr. Bjarne Stroustrup, creator of C++, recently gave a speech discussing the
future of his seminal programming language and what the next version will look
like. You can view the hour-long session
here.
Called C++0x, the new version aims to push the ball forward in a wide range
of areas. Support for multithreading and parallel execution, for instance, are
both being added to tap the power of multi-core processors and parallel-aware
OSes. Also getting updated is support for generic programming, which enables
the use of abstracted concepts in developing code.
Stroustrup makes clear that the drive to improve C++ faces a lot of challenges.
Not least among them is the challenge to maintain full compatibility with existing
code, while still respecting calls from the community to try to streamline what
is already a very large language. One solution is to introduce new features
via the standard library, rather than through extensions to the core language
itself.
Have you watched Dr. Stroustrup's presentation? What do you think of the direction
he proposes? What would you like to see done to improve C++? E-mail me at [email protected].
Posted by Michael Desmond on 08/22/2007