Ask HN: What is C++ for you?

[jblecanard]

Hello guys

I will soon give a talk about C++ and C++11 particularly, and I would like to focus on what most people/geeks/developers think of C++11, whatever it is true or not. I am not looking for long arguments about proving who has the truth. I want you personal feeling about C++. Dont mix up your though too much to look trustworthy, just tell it as it is, if you would be so kind. If you dont know enough about C++ to have an opinion, just state it (that is valuable for me).

What the word "C++" brings into you mind ? Do you think it is hard to learn ? Do you think it is good for avanced users and too hard for others ? Do you think it is too low level and should be avoided in a modern code base ? Do you think it is a choice language for modern software ? Do you think it have nothing to do with the internet world and is or will be overwhelmed by "web" languages ? Do you think it is a crippled C extension ? Do you think it is old and should only be used for its initial purposes ? Do you think it is boring to be a C++ developer ? Do you think it is inelegant compared to "beautiful" and strongly expressive languages ? Do you think learning C++ is valuable for a software developer ? Do you think it has a poor community ?

Those questions are oriented and I do not expect anybody to answer each of them. I just wrote them down to help you figure out your opinion.

Thank you very much for any feedback.

[lacero]

I hear it's hard to learn but very powerful when mastered. It looks like its used extensively in embedded systems and high performance computing domains such as in the financial markets. I would learn it but it seems like java is the more marketable standard language.

[mooism2]

A maze of twisty features, all different. It doesn't seem designed so much as thrown together based on what seemed a good idea at the time (a criticism that is certainly not unique to C++).

[venomsnake]

War of attrition in a quagmire. So far C++ wins.