They Dream of the Death of C++

I find it baffling how much bias there is against C++. Every time I write an article praising the features and capabilities of C++, some individuals jump into the comments, proclaiming that the era of C++ is over, and Rust has taken its place. If you were a C++ developer who switched to Rust, that’s your choice, and congratulations on it! Every person knows what’s best for them and follows that path. However, if you switched to Rust because you struggled with C++'s memory safety or complexity, I’d remind you that Rust is also a difficult language and is still in its infancy, with many years ahead before it can rival C++ as a mature and comprehensive language with a large and dedicated community.

This is not to downplay Rust or those who chose it as their primary language. I’ve tried Rust myself, and I’ve read a lot about it. It’s undoubtedly a powerful, efficient language with outstanding memory safety features and other advantages that may surpass all other languages. However, it remains a tool like any other, just like C++, with its strengths and weaknesses.

But for those who program in Rust, love it, and dream of the demise of C++—a giant that has played a massive role in the evolution of so many aspects of programming that would have been challenging for any other language to accomplish—and which has been undergoing incredible developments since 2011 and continues to do so, I say to them: continue dreaming as much as you like, for dreams are free and cost nothing.

Nevertheless, this vastly superior language, compared to many others, allows its developers and enthusiasts to proudly produce any type of robust and unparalleled software. They can continue without paying heed to these dreams or illusions of its demise or decline. C++ continues to excel while making room for all current languages to compete in a healthy manner, not to replace it. The doors are wide open to all minds and innovations in the programming world, and it’s not a domain monopolized by C++ or any other language.