C++ ecosystem: For better, for worse
When legacy code is mixed with modern language features and patterns, when the rich heritage of C++ and its compatibility restrictions co-exist with the adoption of best practices from other languages and technologies, some of us C++ developers become lost and need to follow and stick to a more conservative path. Recent independent research studies show that developers are staying with C++11, only slowly moving to C++14 and rarely adopting C++17. They tend to avoid using unit testing frameworks, are barred from throwing exceptions, and often still build packages manually. Alongside the areas where strict limitations are imposed on the subset of the language used, there are others, like game development, that find workarounds to emulate language features not yet accepted to the language standard. What are the real reasons for this state of affairs, what biases might be at play, and what are some of the improvements planned?
In this talk, we will overview the C++ ecosystem based on several independently conducted research studies, identify the common aligning trends across all the sources, and analyze the reasoning behind them.
Importantly, we’ll see how the work of the C++ committee and tooling evolution can help overcome these difficulties and usher in a brighter future for C++. We’ll get a glimpse into some of the most valuable recent proposals and changes to the language, and see how tooling is helping, or can help, move to newer standards faster.
As a C and C++ software developer, Anastasia Kazakova created real-time *nix-based systems and pushed them to production for 8 years. She has a passion for networking algorithms and embedded programming and believes in good tooling. With all her love for C++, she is now the Product Marketing Manager on the JetBrains C++ tools team. Besides, Anastasia runs a C++ user group in Saint-Petersburg, Russia (https://www.meetup.com/St-Petersburg-CPP-User-Group/), and works in the Program Committee of C++ Russia conference.
Anastasia Kazakova
St.Petersburg C++ User Group
