History Of Cpp | Introduction To C

Introduction

C++ is a general-purpose programming language created by Bjarne Stroustrup as an extension of the C programming language. It has imperative, object-oriented, and generic programming features. The language was designed with a bias towards system programming and embedded, resource-constrained software and large systems, with performance, efficiency, and flexibility of use as its design highlights.

Origins of C++

The development of C++ started in 1979, four years after the creation of C. Bjarne Stroustrup, a Danish computer scientist, began working on C with Classes, which was the initial version of C++. The main goal was to add object-oriented features to the C language to provide better structure and reusability of code.

From C with Classes to C++

By the mid-1980s, C with Classes evolved into C++. The language incorporated features such as classes, inheritance, and strong type checking. The name C++ was coined by Rick Mascitti in 1983. The "++" is a reference to the increment operator in C, symbolizing the evolution of the language.

Standardization and Evolution

In 1990, The Annotated C++ Reference Manual was published, serving as the basis for the future standardization of C++. The language underwent rigorous improvements and was standardized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1998. This standard was known as C++98. Subsequent revisions include C++03, C++11, C++14, C++17, and C++20, each introducing new features and improvements.

Key Features Introduced Over Time

Here are some key features introduced in different versions of C++:

C++98: Standard Template Library (STL), namespaces, exceptions
C++11: Auto keyword, lambda expressions, nullptr, smart pointers
C++14: Binary literals, generic lambdas, return type deduction
C++17: std::optional, std::variant, if constexpr, structured bindings
C++20: Concepts, ranges, coroutines, modules

Example of C++ Code

Here is a simple example of a C++ program:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    cout << "Hello, World!" << endl;
    return 0;
}

Output:

Hello, World!

Conclusion

C++ has a rich history and has evolved significantly since its inception. It remains one of the most widely used programming languages due to its versatility and efficiency. Understanding its history helps appreciate the features and design philosophies that make C++ a powerful tool for software development.

History of C++ Language