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by throwaway894345 1365 days ago
Where is C++ the only choice? Gamedev seems like the closest—as far as I know, most AAA games aren’t using C, but I think maybe many are using C# via Unity (I’m not familiar with the gamedev space)? In the embedded world, C still reigns supreme. Maybe in the world of high frequency trading? But these seem to be fewer and fewer and Rust seems increasingly likely to be a contender in these domains.
2 comments
cyber_kinetist 1365 days ago
Game engines are one example, there isn't a robust-enough language other than C++ that has the ability to build some powerful abstractions while also giving you the tools to manage hardware more directly. Note that Unity uses C# as a scripting language, but under the hood the core engine is all in C++.
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pjmlp 1365 days ago
Under the hood some of that C++ code is now the C# subset used by the Burst compiler.
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spookie 1365 days ago
Drivers, data driven system that have higher performance standards, medical imagery, military components heavily employ Ada mixed with C++ interfaces.
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throwaway894345 1365 days ago
I agree that these things all use C++, but the parent’s claim was that there are areas (industries?) where C++ has no alternatives. Drivers and high performance systems can all make use of C, Rust, Ada, etc as well as C++ depending on requirements.
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spookie 1365 days ago
I'm sorry, but Rust still has ways to go before established industries believe on it enough to drop C/C++. I use C/C++ interchangeably, since extending an existing C codebase won't be a problem. Most aren't willing to go as far as Ada either, the reason why that even in military endeavors, C/C++ is used as a more familiar "face".

I think it's pretty easy to forget the foothold these languages have, and their flexibility. We all have seen the perseverance of COBOL.

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throwaway894345 1365 days ago
My original comment specifically said that older languages have staying power, and that Rust will have to mature a bit to become the language of choice for new projects in these niches. But even still, I wasn’t talking about dropping C++ for Rust—I only mentioned Rust as an alternate option.
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spookie 1365 days ago
No problem, I just don't consider it as an alternative for the aforementioned concerns. Nonetheless, I wasn't trying to point fingers at Rust, more of a pragmatic approach to modernizing a code infrastructure.

I hope Rust does well.

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