[vvanders]

As Ex-Gamedev I don't buy that #2 is too bloated for C++, you just have to be smart about what features you pick.

Really though for what he wants to do you want a flexible framework(scripting language) backed by a fast engine(native). Jai sounds pretty interesting but I don't know if Blow has the interest in building an ecosystem around it or just using it for his own projects.

FWIW my ideal use case is Lua + Rust. I've done it on a few projects so far and really love the combo of flex + stability.

[raverbashing]

Agreed

The only case I see for "C++ is too bloated" is for embedded apps on limited hardware and even then

But then of course people make something that's 10 inheritance levels deep and (ab)uses templates and then suddenly "C++ is slow". Write better code

[AnimalMuppet]

C++ has done a pretty good job of maintaining the ideal that "you don't pay for what you don't use". Your C++ is too slow? Think carefully about which features you're using.

If you choose features appropriately (given that speed is your top concern), and you still find that another language is faster, I'd be quite surprised.