C++ is back in the game (literally)

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August 24, 2009 12:00 AM PDT


Recently I've been reading up on the new C++ drafts and supposed inclusions to the next final standard of The C++ Programming Language.

There is no doubt that C++ is gaining popularity, and will keep it's status as the preferred language for game programming, multimedia, and other CPU/GPU intensive OOP based programming tasks.

Obviously we will get a solid foundation with the new STL components, and finally a solution for a mainstream standard, for areas like parallel programming, without having to depend on third party libraries.

But when it comes to the tools for getting most out of this new, I dare to call it paradigm, the choices of tools is in bloom, and the question again rises; "What is the best product to use for project X?".

I've been trialling different products from Intel, and Embarcadero/CodeGear (the company that purchased the C++ Builder from the now Java centric Borland).

The 2010 line of products from CodeGear looks really promising, with built in support for the upcoming Windows 7 OS, with the touch based components, and other new components from their VCL/RTL and .Net departments.

One of the most interesting feature for me (I also program .Net solutions) is the new Delphi Prism product.
It is a VS 2008 extension, that allows developers to refactor their managed or unmanaged code (C#/C++) code into .Net CIL that is cross platform compatible, making it possible to develop solutions for both Windows, Linux and Mac OS X, with the inclution of Mono components in the Prism product.

The new C++ Builder also has support for using both native C++ concurrency with thread based debugging and the Boost Libraries and Dinkumware components.

The Intel Parallel Studio is still the product I found to integrate best in VS 2008. I suppose the VS 2009 will be even better, and IPS will also be able to use both the native MS C++ environment in addition to OpenMP, ITB etc.

So. The tool of choice will as always depend on the project at hand, and most Windows developers are not going to give up on Visual Studio. But, as mentioned the rise of new solutions for solving different problems, like the mentioned cross platform compatibility of GUI applications is on a rise.

This is a good thing, as competition produces innovation as a side effect.

That's it for now.

Chris