The C++ Programming Language
C++ is a general-purpose programming language developed as an extension of C, and both languages have almost the same syntax. Besides being based on C, C++ is object-oriented, gives a clear structure to programs and allows code to be reused, lowering development costs.
Like C, C++ gives programmers a high level of control over system resources and memory.
One reason why C++ is so effective is its ability to work very closely with hardware. Additionally, as an object-oriented programming language, it offers flexibility in development. This makes it the go-to language when speed and performance are non-negotiable.
What is C plus-plus used for?
Over time, C++ has become a choice language for building fast and reliable software. Its versatility makes it an excellent match for complex applications, embedded systems, and internet of things (IoT) devices. A few of its most common use cases are as follows:
- Software engineering. A couple of applications you might use daily that were created with C plus-plus include Netflix and Amazon.
- Operating system (OS) development Examples of OS that were created with C++ include Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and iOS.
- Graphical user interfaces C++ is often recommended for graphical user interface design or, GUI.
- Virtual reality (VR) C++ can be an excellent language to learn if you want to develop VR applications.
- Blockchain technology The well-known cryptocurrency Bitcoin was developed in C++. It can also be used to create smart contracts.
- Game development You can develop games and gaming consoles with C++. For example, the game World of Warcraft and the Xbox console.
Libraries and Frameworks
Standard Template Library (STL)
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The C++ Boost Library: Beyond the STL
Some outstanding Boost libraries we have tested are:
Qt Framework
Qt is currently being developed by The Qt Company, a publicly listed company, and the Qt Project under open-source governance, involving individual developers and organizations working to advance Qt. Qt is available under both commercial licenses and open-source GPL 2.0, GPL 3.0, and LGPL 3.0 licenses.
(The Qt framework is available under free and open-source licenses, specifically the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL) and the GNU General Public License (GPL). This means you can use Qt for free in your projects, but you need to comply with the obligations of the chosen license, especially if you choose LGPL, which allows for commercial use under certain conditions.)
Non-GUI programs can also be developed, such as command-line tools and consoles for servers. An example of such a non-GUI program using Qt is the Cutelyst web framework.
Qt supports various C++ compilers, including the GCC and Clang C++ compilers and the Visual Studio suite.
Other features include SQL database access, XML parsing, JSON parsing, thread management and network support.
Cinder (at https://libcinder.org/)
Cinder is an open-source programming library designed to give the C++ language advanced visualization abilities. It was released as a public tool in spring 2010 and can be viewed in many ways as a C++-based alternative to tools like the Java-based Processing library, Microsoft Silverlight or Adobe Flash. It is also comparable to the C++ based openFrameworks; the main difference is that Cinder uses more system-specific libraries for better performance while openFrameworks affords better control over its underlying libraries.
Unlike Flash and Silverlight, Cinder is generally used in a non-browser environment. This, combined with the speed provided by C++, makes the library more appropriate for heavily abstracted projects, including art installations, commercial campaigns and other advanced animation work.
Last stable release: 2020
openFrameworks
penFrameworks is an open-source toolkit designed for creative coding founded by Zachary Lieberman, Theo Watson and Arturo Castro. OpenFrameworks is written in C++ and built on top of OpenGL. It runs on Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and Emscripten. It is maintained by its founders with contributions by other members of the openFrameworks community.