OT: C++'s position / Next things

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John Spiegel - 27 Oct 2004 21:21 GMT

Hi all,

This strays off-topic (which would seem difficult in something including
"general" in its name)...

I've been curious where C++ is fitting into the overall scheme of the
future. Is MS trying to downplay it in favor of C#? Where is it heading in
the rest of the non-MS world? There appears to be no certification track,
looking for training on MS technologies is heavily VB- and C#-centered.

What makes me ask is that I kept my head buried in obscure-language sand for
a long, long time. Last year I poked my head up and found my resume looking
very useless. So over the past year I've been learning a lot, having
covered much of C#, ASP.NET and MSSQL. While intending to focus more on
C#/ASP/MSSQL, I am considering what the next area I want to get at least a
solid base in might be. C++ and Java seem like frontrunners or maybe
getting more in depth in the "related" topics to the MCSD, e.g., JavaScript
or getting more in depth with XML and its related topics like XSLT.

Any opinions?

- John

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Shrike_UK - 27 Oct 2004 23:57 GMT

if youve been keeping abreast of .NET 2005, (check this link out...
http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnvs05/html/b
akerdozen.asp)

Seems that things are going to be a lot better soon. I bet that there will
be exams eventually :( , because of the fact MS are changinging C++ so much
they are coming up with a new C++ to fit .NET by the looks of it.

Besides, you can do more in C++, so it certainly aint dead or dying. What
interests me more is whether Pre-Jitting an assembly makes the code run as
fast as a C or C++ compile would.

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UAError - 28 Oct 2004 15:11 GMT

>if youve been keeping abreast of .NET 2005, (check this link out...
>http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnvs05/html/b
akerdozen.asp)
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>interests me more is whether Pre-Jitting an assembly makes the code run as
>fast as a C or C++ compile would.

As far a C++.NET certification goes I wouldn't hold my
breath. As it is the VB.NET and C# track are almost
identical as none of them actually check for "langauge"
proficiency - they are all about the framework and related
systems that put .NET to work - langauge specific references
are different but that's it. Adding a C++.NET track of the
same nature would be a waste of time.

So a C++ programmer wishing to be certified should get on
with the C# track and move on.

However C++.NET is at the core of Microsoft's own interest
as they will most likely use it to migrate their own
products as the Windows OS becomes more .NET centric.

The question is how close, where possible, will they stick
to the (unmanaged and evolving) ISO standard. In the
pre-.NET days they were notorious for using C++ as a "C with
augmented structures" rather than a "mature C++".

Lets see how long they keep listening to Herb Sutter
http://www.gotw.ca/
Right now his microsoft page
http://www.gotw.ca/microsoft/
isn't working, but I guess he still may be busy at OOPSLA'04
in Vancouver.
http://www.oopsla.org/2004/ShowEvent.do?id=804

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OT: C++'s position / Next things

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