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Ask HN: Best way to learn modern C++?

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Re: Ask HN: Best way to learn modern C++?

#61

Post by steveklabnik »

carlmr wrote: post #43
JepZ wrote: post #42

Do you mind asking 'Why C++'? I know that doesn't answer your question and to be honest, I am curious about the resources which come up here too, but C++ can be so painful to learn that I wanted to know what drives you into that direction. I mean, there are alternatives like Rust. Do you have a specific project in mind, need it to fulfill some résumé requirements or something completely different?

Not OP, but good question. I find Rust is a much better language, but there are very few mature libraries right now if you do something outside the scope of what Mozilla is doing. Also very few companies that are working in Rust (AFAIK, if you know some let me know) looking for devs. If you want to work in a company that is doing any kind of low level code you will either need C or C++ as a foundation. At least to un…

> if you know some let me know

“This Week in Rust” lists explicit job postings. One of the latest companies looking for Rust programmers is a little company you may have heard of: Facebook.

That said, many places are hiring good programmers and putting them on Rust projects, rather than hiring Rust programmers explicitly. There aren’t many pure Rust shops yet, so they need a broader skill set.

Re: Ask HN: Best way to learn modern C++?

#63

Post by pjmlp »

hsivonen wrote: post #47
pjmlp wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In certain industries, specially where human lives are at stake you can only use certified compilers, where the kind of code they generate is validated against specific safety standards. For example, https://www.iar.com/iar-embedded-workbench/certified-tools-f...

As a programmer using the compiler, how does the IAR compiler quality feel in practice compared to GCC or clang?

I never used IAR, given my focus on writing safe software I try to be up to date to these areas, and ways to somehow write secure software in C and C++. like MISRA and Frama-C.

Maybe someone else can jump in.

However, I can tell you that in general proprietary compilers for embedded devices make Visual C++ feel state of the art, let alone when compared with gcc or clang.

Many of them are stuck in partial support for C99 or C++98 (e.g. TI), with no clear roadmap of future improvements.

Re: Ask HN: Best way to learn modern C++?

#64

Post by steveklabnik »

I’m on my phone so I don’t have links, but the last few CPPCons have had talks by very prominent C++ luminaries talking about how to properly teach C++. They may be of interest.

The biggest message seems to be “don’t treat C++ as C with extra stuff, it’s its own language.”

Re: Ask HN: Best way to learn modern C++?

#65

Post by blub »

rb808 wrote: post #60

If you haven't already I'd suggest learning a functional language first, then coming back to modern C++, because much of the new features are borrowed from other languages. Personally I started doing this then never went back. Seems most of the jobs out there for C++ really aren't that interesting.

Similarly to how one should learn Italian or Latin if they want to learn French. It will be impossible for them to communicate.

Re: Ask HN: Best way to learn modern C++?

#66

Post by strkek »

carlmr wrote: post #43
JepZ wrote: post #42

Do you mind asking 'Why C++'? I know that doesn't answer your question and to be honest, I am curious about the resources which come up here too, but C++ can be so painful to learn that I wanted to know what drives you into that direction. I mean, there are alternatives like Rust. Do you have a specific project in mind, need it to fulfill some résumé requirements or something completely different?

Not OP, but good question. I find Rust is a much better language, but there are very few mature libraries right now if you do something outside the scope of what Mozilla is doing. Also very few companies that are working in Rust (AFAIK, if you know some let me know) looking for devs. If you want to work in a company that is doing any kind of low level code you will either need C or C++ as a foundation. At least to un…

Indeed.

I still haven't grasped Rust as much as I'd like, but I have to admit that at least it feels like every part of the language fits nicely together with the others, as opposed to the "messy spaghetti" feel I get from C++ (though this is of course my subjective impression).

There are things I'd like they do, like removing the Python 2 dependency for building from source, or actually writing a spec. But I guess that'll come with time.

Re: Ask HN: Best way to learn modern C++?

#68

Post by CyberDildonics »

JepZ wrote: post #42

Do you mind asking 'Why C++'? I know that doesn't answer your question and to be honest, I am curious about the resources which come up here too, but C++ can be so painful to learn that I wanted to know what drives you into that direction. I mean, there are alternatives like Rust. Do you have a specific project in mind, need it to fulfill some résumé requirements or something completely different?

Why C++ over Rust? Rust is still in very early stages. The compiler, tools, ide and library support is world's away from where rust is at the moment. Language design is one part of many that helps with software creation.
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