The document discusses the future of C++. It begins by addressing common misconceptions about C++, such as that it never evolves and requires manual memory management. It explains how C++ has continued to evolve through new standards and techniques like RAII. It acknowledges C++ is complex but discusses how its power is necessary for performance-critical applications. It argues C++ remains important where efficiency is paramount, such as on mobile devices and in cloud computing. It concludes C++ will remain valuable for optimizing applications for major constraints like processor speed and power consumption.

1. The
*
truth
about C++
* Commonly accepted among a representative population of 1
Arnaud Porterie – While42 Paris – 20130912
Thursday, September 12, 13

2. Who am I?
• Arnaud Porterie - @icecrime
• Epitech 2007
• Mostly worked with C++ since then
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3. Objectives of this talk
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4. Objectives of this talk
• Discuss common misconceptions
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5. Objectives of this talk
• Discuss common misconceptions
• Understand the recent hype
Thursday, September 12, 13

6. Objectives of this talk
• Discuss common misconceptions
• Understand the recent hype
• Show that C++ has a (bright) future
Thursday, September 12, 13

7. Objectives of this talk
• Discuss common misconceptions
• Understand the recent hype
• Show that C++ has a (bright) future
• In less than 1/2h
Thursday, September 12, 13

8. Objectives of this talk
• Discuss common misconceptions
• Understand the recent hype
• Show that C++ has a (bright) future
• In less than 1/2h
• Without showing code
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9. C++ misconceptions
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10. #1 - C++ never evolves
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11. C++98
C++03
2002
1998
2005
2007
2003
C# 1.0
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C++11
2010
2013
2011
C# 2.0 C# 3.0
C# 4.0
C# 5.0

12. 13 years for a new C++?
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13. Evolution didn’t wait for a
new standard
• C++ changed radically in the past decade
• So called “Modern C++”
• “Modern C++ design”, A. Alexandrescu, 2001
• Boost library, the standard’s sandbox
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14. • Community driven evolution
• Committee standardized already widely
adopted libraries
• C++11 also adds many new language
features and libraries
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15. #2 - C++ is about manual
memory management
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16. C++ greatest myth
• If you delete, you’re doing it wrong
• RAII is C++ most important idiom
• The stack is fast and foolproof
• std::shared_ptr, std::unique_ptr, ...
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17. Pro tip #1
Want to test if someone knows C++?
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18. Pro tip #1
Want to test if someone knows C++?
Ask about memory management.
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19. Pro tip #2
Just ignore any wrong answer to #1.
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20. Pro tip #2
Just ignore any wrong answer to #1.
You’ll never recruit anyone.
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21. #3 - C++ is too hard
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22. Can’t really deny that...
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23. It’s not getting any better
• ISO/IEC 14882:2003: 786 pages
• ISO/IEC 14882:2011: 1328 pages
• C++11 is supposedly more accessible
• I say C++11 can’t properly be used without
a good understanding of C++03
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24. Multi-paradigm language
• Procedural
• Generic
• Functional
• Object-oriented
• Variety does not make things easier for the
newcomer
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25. So, is C++ is back?
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26. • Was it ever gone?
• The world is built on C++!
• One thing has changed: C++ is back as a
first class language in Microsoft’s strategy
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27. What future for C++ ?
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28. Choosing C++ is a case of
premature optimization
– Miguel de Icaza
Xamarin CTO & level 60 troll
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29. • The tradeoff between productivity and
control is not as huge as most believe
• The real question is: today, are there that
many problems that justify the extra effort?
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30. Phase/trend
Major constraints
2x efficient apps runs...
1950s - 1990s
Compute-constrainted
Processor
2x compute speed
2x users
1995ish - 2007ish
Surplus local compute +
low UI innovation (WIMP)
Programmer time
n/a
200x Mobile
Processor
Power (battery life)
2x compute speed
2x battery life
2009 Cloud
Power (31%)
Server HW (57%)
0.5x power
0.5x nodes
2009 Heterogeneous cores,
GPGPU
Power (dark silicon)
Processor
0.5x power
2x compute speed
Shamelessly stolen from Herb Sutter’s “Not your father’s C++” talk
Thursday, September 12, 13

31. Phase/trend
Major constraints
2x efficient apps runs...
1950s - 1990s
Compute-constrainted
Processor
2x compute speed
2x users
1995ish - 2007ish
Surplus local compute +
low UI innovation (WIMP)
Programmer time
n/a
200x Mobile
Processor
Power (battery life)
2x compute speed
2x battery life
2009 Cloud
Power (31%)
Server HW (57%)
0.5x power
0.5x nodes
2009 Heterogeneous cores,
GPGPU
Power (dark silicon)
Processor
0.5x power
2x compute speed
Shamelessly stolen from Herb Sutter’s “Not your father’s C++” talk
Thursday, September 12, 13

32. Phase/trend
Major constraints
2x efficient apps runs...
1950s - 1990s
Compute-constrainted
Processor
2x compute speed
2x users
1995ish - 2007ish
Surplus local compute +
low UI innovation (WIMP)
Programmer time
n/a
200x Mobile
Processor
Power (battery life)
2x compute speed
2x battery life
2009 Cloud
Power (31%)
Server HW (57%)
0.5x power
0.5x nodes
2009 Heterogeneous cores,
GPGPU
Power (dark silicon)
Processor
0.5x power
2x compute speed
Shamelessly stolen from Herb Sutter’s “Not your father’s C++” talk
Thursday, September 12, 13

33. Phase/trend
Major constraints
2x efficient apps runs...
1950s - 1990s
Compute-constrainted
Processor
2x compute speed
2x users
1995ish - 2007ish
Surplus local compute +
low UI innovation (WIMP)
Programmer time
n/a
200x Mobile
Processor
Power (battery life)
2x compute speed
2x battery life
2009 Cloud
Power (31%)
Server HW (57%)
0.5x power
0.5x nodes
2009 Heterogeneous cores,
GPGPU
Power (dark silicon)
Processor
0.5x power
2x compute speed
Shamelessly stolen from Herb Sutter’s “Not your father’s C++” talk
Thursday, September 12, 13

34. Phase/trend
Major constraints
2x efficient apps runs...
1950s - 1990s
Compute-constrainted
Processor
2x compute speed
2x users
1995ish - 2007ish
Surplus local compute +
low UI innovation (WIMP)
Programmer time
n/a
200x Mobile
Processor
Power (battery life)
2x compute speed
2x battery life
2009 Cloud
Power (31%)
Server HW (57%)
0.5x power
0.5x nodes
2009 Heterogeneous cores,
GPGPU
Power (dark silicon)
Processor
0.5x power
2x compute speed
Shamelessly stolen from Herb Sutter’s “Not your father’s C++” talk
Thursday, September 12, 13

35. Phase/trend
Major constraints
2x efficient apps runs...
1950s - 1990s
Compute-constrainted
Processor
2x compute speed
2x users
1995ish - 2007ish
Surplus local compute +
low UI innovation (WIMP)
Programmer time
n/a
200x Mobile
Processor
Power (battery life)
2x compute speed
2x battery life
2009 Cloud
Power (31%)
Server HW (57%)
0.5x power
0.5x nodes
2009 Heterogeneous cores,
GPGPU
Power (dark silicon)
Processor
0.5x power
2x compute speed
Shamelessly stolen from Herb Sutter’s “Not your father’s C++” talk
Thursday, September 12, 13

36. Find your biggest cost,
and optimize for that
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37. Example - Facebook
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38. • Hip Hop Compiler
• HHVM JIT Compiler
• 5x faster than the interpreter
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39. There are only two kinds of
language: the ones people complain
about and the ones nobody uses
– Bjarne Stroustrup
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40. Questions?
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