C++ Introduction
In this tutorial, we will learn about Introduction, History, features & key-points, Applications and Compilers of C++.
C++ Introduction
- C++ is object-oriented programming language. It is an extension to C programming.
- C++ is a general purpose, case-sensitive programming language.
- It is portable and can be used to develop applications that can be adapted to multiple platforms.
- C++ is close to C# and java, it makes easier for programmers to switch to C++ or vice versa.
C++ History
- It is created by Bjarne Stroustrup and his team at Bell Laboratories in 1979. Forty years later, it is one of the most widely used language in the world.
- The name implies, C++ was derived from the C language; Bjarne's goal was to add object-oriented programming into C.
- A language well-respected for its portability and low-level as well as high-level functionality.
- The language was updated 3 major times in 2011, 2014, and 2017 to C++11, C++14, and C++17.
C++ Features and Key-points
- Simple - It is a simple language in the sense that programs can be broken down into small parts, has a rich liberary support and a variety of data-types.
- Machine Independent but not Platform Dependent - C++ executable is not platform-independent (compiled programs on Linux won't run on Windows), however it is machine independent.
- Middle-level Language - It is a Middle-level language, as we can do both systems-programming (drivers, kernels, networkinf etc.) and build large-scale user applications(Photoshop, Game Engines, Media Players etc.).
- Compiled Language - C++ is a compiled language, contributing to its speed.
- Faster execution - C++ programs excel in execution speed. Since, it is a compiled language, and also higely procedural.
Applications of C++
C++ finds varied usage in applications such as:
- Operating Systems & Systems Programming.(e.g. Linux-based OS Ubantu etc.)
- Programming Language Development.(e.g. C#, Java, Perl etc.)
- Browsers. (Chrome & Firefox)
- Database Engines. (MySQL, MongoDB, Redis etc.)
- Graphics & Game Engines. (Unreal-Engine, Blender, Photoshop etc.)
- Cloud/Distributed Systems.
C++ Compilers
There ara many C++ compilers available which you can use to compile and run :
- Apple C++. Xcode (Only supported by Apple OS.)
- Bloodshed Dev-C++
- Turbo C++
- MINGW - "Minimalist GNU for Windows"
- Code::Blocks
- Notepad++
Next Tutorial
We hope that this tutorial helped you develop better understanding of the concept of Introduction of C++.
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