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The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

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Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#161

Post by kilgnad »

switchbak wrote: post #86
teeray wrote: post #22

C++ is the only language I know where you can think you’ve learned it, then stumble upon a completely alien codebase. The decades-long history of the language has spawned all kinds of dialects and template-powered Lovecraftian horrors.

My dream is to have an AI that automatically unwraps and de-clever's a codebase to something super simple. Completely unrealistic, but even a semi-manual tool I can use on complex chunks would be amazing.

This can happen. But when it happens, AI at that point has already replaced us.

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#163

Post by jerf »

jahnu wrote: post #103
tw1984 wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

C++ is legacy. You can't just ignore the fundamentals.

Just spent two years writing a medium size fresh c++ codebase in modern style with all the warnings turned to max and nearly every static analysis tool we could throw at it from day 1. It’s been an utter pleasure with no pain that can be blamed on c++ alone. It can be done :)

I personally consider C or C++ written with the best-of-breed static analysis deployed on it, preferably from day one, to essentially be a different language. Most of the criticisms of C or C++ are eliminated under this setup. You get different ones; the resulting language is even more complex than the base languages, and requires an even deeper understanding of what's going on, but at least you have the requisite support to learn it, so in the end it's probably a net positive even in terms of the ability to learn it.

This is, obviously, a very opinionated opinion.

If I was going to be forced to do it, this is how I'd want to do it.

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#164

Post by dtdimond »

klaussilveira wrote: post #19

Heh. I'm pretty proficient in modern C++, and it is my favorite tool for a lot of things, but my PHP job pays way more than any C++ position available. Did an interview once for Senior C++ Engineer, embedded software in the medical device space. All went good, until the offer: $100k. Articles like this are nothing more than a desperate attempt at getting younger generations to learn said topic, so companies can pay t…

If you were to look into trading companies, mostly located in Chicago/NY, you would find positions paying competitively (or better) with FAANG salaries.

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#166

Post by snarfy »

klaussilveira wrote: post #19

Heh. I'm pretty proficient in modern C++, and it is my favorite tool for a lot of things, but my PHP job pays way more than any C++ position available. Did an interview once for Senior C++ Engineer, embedded software in the medical device space. All went good, until the offer: $100k. Articles like this are nothing more than a desperate attempt at getting younger generations to learn said topic, so companies can pay t…

Yep, I'm in the same boat. C++ jobs always pay like shit, so I sling web apis together with C# and make 3x as much. It's way easier and less stressful. I'll only use C++ for hobby projects now, and then only if it's the right tool for that job.

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#167

Post by mixmastamyk »

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #52
fwsgonzo wrote: post #2

I guarantee that higher quality pay will give you access to a higher quality talent pool.

C++ quant jobs were already some of the highest-paying jobs in the technology market. A step above FAANG in many cases. There's more to the story than just comp. Even increasing comp wouldn't immediately generate new developers, as it takes a very long time for the increased comp to incentivize new students and junior engineers to move in that direction in their career. High performance C++ takes a lot of time and ef…

"Already" doesn't mean it couldn't be raised further. Have you seen C-suite salaries?

Also you don't have to only incentivize grads. Getting experienced devs to jump ship is the primary goal. Which a $100k+ raise would certainly incentivize.

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#168

Post by habibur »

markbnj wrote: post #59

I wrote a ton of C++ back in the early 90's. Should I dust off my chops and spend the last few years of my career consulting like the Cobol and Fortran people? [Only half kidding]

Guess the 90s C++ vs 20s are completely different. When someone says they are looking for C++ developers I wonder which one are the looking for.

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#169

Post by bitL »

teeray wrote: post #22

C++ is the only language I know where you can think you’ve learned it, then stumble upon a completely alien codebase. The decades-long history of the language has spawned all kinds of dialects and template-powered Lovecraftian horrors.

Scala is worse, people tend to invent their own DSLs in it and you end up with two libraries unable to work with each other without wrappers, like in the old days of C++...

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#170

Post by dehrmann »

whywhywhydude wrote: post #25

Unless you are doing latency sensitive high frequency trading, why would you use C++? Wouldn’t Go or Java suffice?

Java's gotten a lot better with latency with new GCs. Some codebases use statically-allocated memory in Java and do it very carefully. Sometimes shops will just shut off the GC. Graal also gives you AOT options now.

One thing I read is that memory allocation can be faster in Java because malloc can result in system calls. Deallocation is what's slower.

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