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Carbon Language: An experimental successor to C++

github.com

41–50 of 521 posts

Re: Carbon Language: An experimental successor to C++

#41

All these C++ "successors" that do nothing but change the syntax sugar and find ways to operate with C++ are really tiring to read about. I seem to be the only one on the planet that doesn't think the language needs to be replaced.

I'm as tired as you by these cosmetic successors. But for my part I think C++ has already been replaced, and to great benefits. I couldn't thank the people building Rust enough.

Re: Carbon Language: An experimental successor to C++

#42
post #9

It's not immediately obvious from this page and GitHub org, but this is a Google led project. It's led by Chandler and the c++ toolchain team. I have no idea of it's endgoals or how open to non-Google ideas it will be.

No good can result from the interaction between the most complex and powerful programming language and the corporation who created the programming language for dummies.

Re: Carbon Language: An experimental successor to C++

#43
Interesting. It will obviously take off _because Google_ but since they're heavily influcened by the Rust syntax, why not just learn Rust instead.

They'll need to get it into Compiler Explorer so people can really look at codegen rather than porting small programs.

Re: Carbon Language: An experimental successor to C++

#44
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Java: ArrayList Zig: ArrayList GLib: GArray Objective-C: NSMutableArray

FWIW, ArrayList is a List, backed by Arrays. So List would have been the more Java/Zig way to name it (also Python, etc.)

> FWIW, ArrayList is a List, backed by Arrays.

You probably know that, but just to clarify: it's backed by a single array, reallocated repeatedly, just like std::vector in C++ (although growth factors are different, I think).

Just "List" probably risks that some people will jump to the conclusion that it's a linked list. I'd probably prefer the full "ArrayList". Although personally I'd use something like "DynArray"/"DynamicArray".

Re: Carbon Language: An experimental successor to C++

#45
post #10
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's std::vector that was weirdly named. In plenty of codebases "Vector", particularly gamedev and scientific, will mean the mathematical object with that name. Other languages don't need to replicate this mistake.

And yet it is the name used in C++ code for a variable length container of contiguously stored data.

This is intended to be a different language, is it not?

Re: Carbon Language: An experimental successor to C++

#46
post #9

It's not immediately obvious from this page and GitHub org, but this is a Google led project. It's led by Chandler and the c++ toolchain team. I have no idea of it's endgoals or how open to non-Google ideas it will be.

> A key example of this is the committee's struggle to converge on a clear set of high-level and long-term goals and priorities aligned with ours [https://wg21.link/p2137].

I was frankly shocked by that goals and priorities document. The non-goals section reads like an open declaration of war against anyone whose use cases for C++ differ from GOOG and NVDA. My interpretation of Carbon is that since GOOG failed to take over the standard in favor of its narrow use cases, that they are building a new language optimized specifically for them.

> I have no idea ... how open to non-Google ideas it will be.

The most-generous attitude to take is that it will be managed similarly to Go. If your use cases and priorities are well-aligned with theirs, then feel free to use it. But while they may listen to third-party feedback, it will be their own use cases and opinions which dominate the language's development.

Re: Carbon Language: An experimental successor to C++

#47
> Interoperate with your existing C++ code, from inheritance to templates

Very important. A C++ alternative and successor needs to be compatible with C++.

The rest of these so called C++ alternatives are either rewriting everything in their own language and causing chaos with their own incompatibilities with their language features and realising that it wasn't a good idea after all to do such rewrites after being sold vacuous promises and language feature snake oil, but only to show pretty syntax sugar.

Unfortunately, the hype squads will just attempt to drown out other alternatives like this one; even if it works with the existing C++ ecosystem.

Re: Carbon Language: An experimental successor to C++

#48
post #42
post #9

It's not immediately obvious from this page and GitHub org, but this is a Google led project. It's led by Chandler and the c++ toolchain team. I have no idea of it's endgoals or how open to non-Google ideas it will be.

No good can result from the interaction between the most complex and powerful programming language and the corporation who created the programming language for dummies.

They also created Dart, which is a joy to write.

Re: Carbon Language: An experimental successor to C++

#49

All these C++ "successors" that do nothing but change the syntax sugar and find ways to operate with C++ are really tiring to read about. I seem to be the only one on the planet that doesn't think the language needs to be replaced.

I'm as tired as you by these cosmetic successors. But for my part I think C++ has already been replaced, and to great benefits. I couldn't thank the people building Rust enough.

I still haven't seen a cross-platform production level GUI app written in Rust.

All the time, it is C++ these companies use for these apps, especially having millions of users and generating multi-millions or hundreds of millions of dollars.

Re: Carbon Language: An experimental successor to C++

#50
Why use Rust syntax (fn, x:Type, ...)? Syntax is one thing that is not so well-designed in Rust (in my opinion). Also, with the stated goals, it seems a bit unnecessary to overhaul C++ syntax, but then I found no explanation why syntax was changed. So what's wrong with C++ syntax if your goal is a successor of C++?

This now looks to me like a Rust-- instead of a C++++, which is a picture they might not want to give rise to. Because then I'd rather use Rust instead, which then feels like the real thing(tm).

[EDIT: If you think about downvoting, maybe answer instead as I am genuinely interested in this syntax question. I am not trying to be negative, it was just an observation and a question.]

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