Overview of C++: Origins, Features, and Development

Origins

The founder of C++ is Bjarne Stroustrup from Bell Labs, who began designing and implementing this programming language in 1979. C++ was developed based on the C language, originally intended to address some complexity issues that may arise in large software development. In 1985, Stroustrup published the first edition of “The C++ Programming Language,” and from then on, C++ gradually entered the public eye and became a widely used programming language.

Features

1. Object-Oriented

C++ introduced the concept of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), including features such as encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. This characteristic makes the program structure clearer and improves code reusability.

Example code:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Animal {public:    void speak() {        cout << "Animal speaks" << endl;    }};
class Dog : public Animal {public:    void speak() {        cout << "Dog barks" << endl;    }};
int main() {    Dog dog;    dog.speak(); // Output: Dog barks    return 0;}

2. Standard Template Library (STL)

The Standard Template Library provides a set of generic classes and functions, making container management, algorithms, and other functionalities easier to use. For example, vector and map are very commonly used data structures.

Example code:

#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
#include <algorithm>
using namespace std;
int main() {    vector<int> numbers = {4, 1, 3, 5, 2};        sort(numbers.begin(), numbers.end());        for (int num : numbers) {        cout << num << " "; // Output: 1 2 3 4 5     }        return 0;}

3. Efficiency

Due to its proximity to low-level operating system operations, C++ has very high execution efficiency. It allows direct memory manipulation, enabling programs to make full use of hardware resources.

Example code:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {   int* ptr = new int(42); // Dynamically allocate memory      cout << *ptr << endl; // Output: 42 
   delete ptr; // Don't forget to free memory!   return 0;}

4. Multi-Paradigm Support

In addition to object-oriented programming, C++ also supports procedural programming and generic programming. This multi-paradigm capability makes it suitable for developers with various needs.

Example code:

#include <iostream>
template<typename T>T add(T a, T b) {    return a + b; }
int main() {   cout << add(5,3) << endl;      // Output: 8   cout << add(1.2,3.8) << endl; // Output: 5       return 0;}

Development History of C++

• 1989: The second edition standard, known as “C++98”, was released.
• 2003: The formal revision version “C++03” was released, most of which addressed errors in previous versions.
• 2011: A major update, “C++11”, added many new features such as automatic type deduction, range-based for loops, and smart pointers.
• 2017: “C++17” was introduced, bringing in new features like the filesystem library and more robust support for parallel algorithms.
• 2020: The “C++20” version brought modular support, coroutines, and improved constant evaluation, marking a significant revolutionary upgrade.

Conclusion

As time has progressed, despite the emergence of many new programming languages and technology platforms, due to its high performance, diverse paradigms, and strong standard library support, C++ remains an indispensable tool in many fields, such as game development, high-frequency trading, and system software development. If you are interested in computer science, learning this historically rich, deep, and widely applicable language will be greatly beneficial. Start practicing now!