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by pcwalton 2541 days ago
I am very much not saying that C++ is the answer for large-scale productivity software. In fact, I'm saying the opposite.

Let me be clear: Given the choice between Rust or C++ for writing Photoshop, I will pick Rust every time.

2 comments

Yet, although Microsoft security now advises for C#, Rust and constrained C++, they went ahead and are using C++ for React Native and WinUI 3.0, removing the dependecy on .NET Native.

Apparently because that is the only way to sell MFC/ATL holdouts to WinUI, and allow WinUI to be called from classical Win32 without too much overhead, and also because .NET Native ideas will be migrated to .NET 5.

I am not saying that C++ is the answer for large-scale productivity software, but C++ is the answer for the complicated widgets used there. I would prefer Rust for the main framework of photoshop too, but I am not sure whether there is an elegant way writing the canvas widget.