Is C++ still relevant for jobs?

C++ is known as one of the most famous programming languages, as it is known for its complexity and low-level approach. But what about Jobs?

C++ has been one of the most popular languages in recent decades. However, many people doubt that it can keep up with modern development trends.  

The question that arises is: Is C++ still relevant for jobs?

C++ on Visual Studio Code - Source: vistualstudio.com

In this article, we will try to give you an answer by explaining more details about this programming language, its use and its advantages and disadvantages. Most importantly, we will show you why C++ is still relevant in 2022. As a programmer, you are very suitable for remote jobs. If you are currently looking, this article is for you.

What is C++?

C++, or "C with Classes", is a general programming language developed by Bjarne Stroustrup as an extension of the C language. It is a cross-platform programming language for the development of high-performance applications.

It was developed in the 1980s by the Danish computer scientist Bjarne Stroustrup.  

Simula, which is widely regarded as the first object-oriented programming language, served as an important inspiration for the development of C++. While programming for his doctoral thesis, Stroustrup found Simula to be a convenient language, but too sluggish for practical use.

He therefore wanted to extend C with similar capabilities, resulting in a language that was both fast and high-level for the time. The first commercial use of C++ began in 1985 and has since undergone several changes to keep up with development trends. In particular, with the introduction of modern C++ (version C++11), the language is celebrating a revolution in terms of functionality, security and usability. The international C++ committee (which agrees on new language features) publishes a new language standard every three years. The most recent standard is C++20 and the next will be C++23.

Where is C++ used?

C++ has found many applications in the real world:

Video Games

C++ is quite efficient. It enables simple resource manipulation and procedural programming instead of CPU-intensive routines, which are necessary for the complexity of games.  Graphical user interface (GUI) applications. Applications such as Photoshop and other Adobe products, Microsoft Office, Autocad and others are written in C++.

Operating systems

C++ offers a large number of system-level functions that help in the development of low-level programs. Parts of the Apple operating system and a large part of Microsoft Windows were written in C++.

Browsers

Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are also written in C++.

Embedded systems

C++ is used for the development of many embedded systems where the code needs to be closer to the hardware, such as smartwatches, medical devices, etc. This also means that C++ is suitable for Internet of Things (IoT) systems.  AR/VR. AR/VR applications need to process large amounts of data that must constantly change based on input from camera sensors and human interactions. C++ is an excellent choice for processing all this data and creating an immersive experience.

Advantages of C++

Close to the hardware. It is well suited for embedded devices with limited computing resources.

Abstraction. Although it is possible to work directly on the hardware, C++ still allows building higher levels of abstraction so that implementation details of the hardware, operating system, etc. can be encoded.

Extensive library. Numerous built-in functions in the C++ Standard Template Library (STL) facilitate code creation. Extensive library support allows developers to use built-in containers, hashmaps, heaps and other functions to create more efficient programs.

Scalable. C++ can be used to create resource-intensive applications because programs can be created at both small and large scales.

Large community. C++ is used by a large number of developers who improve it and create open source libraries. You can rely on the work these people have already done when using the language.

High performance. C++ is one of the most efficient and reliable programming languages available, and is only surpassed in this respect by a few other languages.

Disadvantages of C++

High complexity. As C++ is more closely related to C than other high-level languages, the code is quite complex. As a result, it can be difficult to guide developers in larger projects. In addition, writing applications usually requires longer development cycles than Python, Java or C#, for example.

Security issues. The inclusion of pointers, global variables and the like leads to some security-related problems. This means that using an inappropriate type in one part of the memory can undermine the whole system.

Less adaptable. C++ is quite strict when it comes to syntax, and even the slightest inaccuracy can lead to a cascade of problems. It takes much longer to master C++ than any other programming language. It is difficult to create understandable C++ code, which makes the language less user-friendly and customizable for the user. This also leads to slower development times.

Why is C++ still relevant today?

C++ is still in high demand in 2022 due to its exceptional reliability, performance and scalability. Video game development is one of the most notable applications of C++. Unity Engine, PhyreEngine and Unreal are all C++-based engines used by several well-known video game companies.

One of the main reasons for the importance of C++ is its energy efficiency. According to a study published by six Portuguese researchers entitled "Energy Efficiency Across Programming Languages", C++ is the third most energy-efficient programming language. The only languages that consume less energy than C++ are C and Rust.  

Ruby, Python and Perl bring up the rear in this category. In addition, data engineer Naser Tamimi conducted an experiment in which he found that C++ is faster than Python when executing the same algorithm, with a significant difference.  

The TIOBE index also confirms the importance of C++. At the time of writing, C++ is the fourth most popular programming language, followed by Python, C and Java at the top of the list.

Will C++ disappear?

Advantages of C++ - Source: interviewbit.com

C++ is still relevant because many programs still have processing performance bottlenecks, and these problems are not going away anytime soon. Since the language has been around for almost 40 years, open source libraries and frameworks have already overcome most software challenges.

Existing systems written in C++ need to be maintained. With much of the infrastructure software ranging from cars, airplanes and wind turbines to telecommunications and the underlying systems of Facebook and Google (the Google search engine is written in C++), the software will most likely not be replaced anytime soon.

Although the development of smartphones and web applications is attracting the attention of younger programmers starting their careers.

But let's not forget the new and exciting technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. The most important frameworks in this area, such as PyTorch and TensorFlow, are mainly written in C++.

So the answer is: No. C++ will not disappear in the foreseeable future. C++ is one of the most widely used computer languages today with a wide range of applications. Python, Java and web programming are all fascinating career paths, but C++ programmers are often overlooked and mistakenly thought to be dead.

If parts of services like Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, MySQL and Bloomberg are developed in C++, it must be a really useful language.  

In our next article, we'll show you how we at Consulteer work with our clients to solve problems using C++.