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Ask HN: Am I right there's no place for C++ developers in the startup world?

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Re: Ask HN: Am I right there's no place for C++ developers in the startup world?

#21
post #3

C++ is dead there (and in many other places). The closest thing is Golang and Swift (and perhaps Rust). That doesn't mean there are no C++ jobs, but you'd need to look for them elsewhere. Why is that surprising?

I don't see why C++ should be dead in startup world. With the emerging of AI, machine learning and fintech, you would think there's plenty of opportunity for using C++. I know there are plenty of C++ jobs in google/facebook, banks(i work there), but still, 0 startup on AngelList is surprising, I was thinking it's at least as (un)popular as java and C#. I even found a Haskell shop there.

C++ might be used. By calling it from Python or Java or Haskell, which will allow you to iterate 10 times faster than using it directly. Startups are trying to prove that their business idea works. This idea usually involves using existing technology to solve some business problems, rarely it requires development of lower layers of the stack. This may come later - or may come never. You can easily use machine learning without knowing what C++ is.

Re: Ask HN: Am I right there's no place for C++ developers in the startup world?

#24

We use C++ heavily in the startups I am CTO for. Recommended.

Yep, I am the CTO for 3 very successful startups. This has been my experience as well.

Can I ask what's the name of your company/product?

Re: Ask HN: Am I right there's no place for C++ developers in the startup world?

#25
post #4

nowadays C/C++ is mostly something for: * low-level infrastructure like databases * desktop applications * some embedded work The vast majority of startups isn't doing anything like that, then you have to subtract those that do it using other technologies and there is not much left. And in many cases it's going to be part of a role, not a pure C++ position. Once they grow more and more companies go into low-level thi…

Aren't most games made with C/C++ as well?

Re: Ask HN: Am I right there's no place for C++ developers in the startup world?

#26
post #3

C++ is dead there (and in many other places). The closest thing is Golang and Swift (and perhaps Rust). That doesn't mean there are no C++ jobs, but you'd need to look for them elsewhere. Why is that surprising?

I don't see why C++ should be dead in startup world. With the emerging of AI, machine learning and fintech, you would think there's plenty of opportunity for using C++. I know there are plenty of C++ jobs in google/facebook, banks(i work there), but still, 0 startup on AngelList is surprising, I was thinking it's at least as (un)popular as java and C#. I even found a Haskell shop there.

I don't know anything about AngelList, but I signed on with a machine-learning startup yesterday where I'll be using C++.

Re: Ask HN: Am I right there's no place for C++ developers in the startup world?

#27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep, I am the CTO for 3 very successful startups. This has been my experience as well.

Can I ask what's the name of your company/product?

Uh, he's trolling...

Re: Ask HN: Am I right there's no place for C++ developers in the startup world?

#28
post #25
post #4

nowadays C/C++ is mostly something for: * low-level infrastructure like databases * desktop applications * some embedded work The vast majority of startups isn't doing anything like that, then you have to subtract those that do it using other technologies and there is not much left. And in many cases it's going to be part of a role, not a pure C++ position. Once they grow more and more companies go into low-level thi…

Aren't most games made with C/C++ as well?

Yes, C++ is the language of video games. Often they use a different language for game scripting (game logic and a lot of AI), but it's mostly C++ as far as the core parts go; engine systems, renderer, etc. While most tend to use third party libraries for sound and physics, they too are mostly written in C++.

Re: Ask HN: Am I right there's no place for C++ developers in the startup world?

#29

Is C++ the only language you code in?

No, but I want to code in C++

Most experienced C++ programmers just put up with it, they really want to be using something else, but have lacked, and continue to lack options.

If you are experienced, however, it's not difficult to find work. Video games. Space, aerospace, automotive, and military industry. IoT. Wherever you can imagine heavily constrained embedded systems. Or in the case of games, where you have 16.67 milliseconds to render a frame.

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