Article by Ayman Alheraki on January 11 2026 10:34 AM
I got an idea from one of the top experts who follows me and corrects many of my concepts, Dr. Daniel J. Duffy, about classifying C++ programmers' skill levels using a Judo-Style system. I did some research on the internet about this topic and found the following, while being open to any suggestions from C++ experts.
we will classify C++ programmers into different levels using a judo-style belt system. Each belt color represents a certain level of expertise and mastery of C++ programming concepts. Below is a proposed breakdown of these levels, including the newly added orange belt, along with the knowledge and skills a programmer must attain at each stage.
Understanding the basics: At this stage, the programmer starts by grasping fundamental concepts such as variables, arithmetic operations, and conditional statements.
Loops: Proficiency in using loops (for, while, do-while).
Functions: Knowing how to define and use simple functions.
File Handling: Basic understanding of input/output using the standard library.
Basic Memory Management: A simple grasp of pointers and dynamic memory allocation using new and delete.
Pointers: A deeper understanding of pointers, including pointer-to-pointer and their usage in memory management.
Arrays: Handling one-dimensional and two-dimensional arrays.
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP): Grasping the fundamentals of OOP, such as classes, objects, inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism.
Advanced I/O: More detailed file handling using the fstream library.
Understanding of Advanced Data Structures: Familiarity with linked lists, stacks, and queues.
Deeper Pointers and Dynamic Memory: Using pointers in more complex structures like linked lists and trees, and handling dynamic memory more safely.
Namespaces: A good understanding of namespaces and how to organize code into modules.
Error Handling: Familiarity with exceptions and understanding how to use try, catch, and throw properly.
Basic Template Programming: Basic understanding of templates, allowing generic functions and classes.
Templates: Understanding the use of templates in generic programming, including function and class templates.
Advanced OOP: Mastering concepts such as multiple inheritance and advanced abstraction.
Advanced Memory Management: Understanding dynamic memory allocation and managing resources safely using RAII.
Standard Library (STL): Proficiency with standard containers (like vector, map, set) and algorithms (like sort, find).
Metaprogramming: Understanding partial specialization of templates and SFINAE (Substitution Failure Is Not An Error).
Smart Pointers: Utilizing smart pointers such as std::shared_ptr and std::unique_ptr.
Multithreading: Learning the basics of multithreading, including threads, mutexes, and locks.
C++11 to C++17: Familiarity with new features in these standards, including lambdas, constexpr, and auto.
Component-Based Design: Understanding advanced principles of system design using independent components.
Design Patterns: Mastery of popular design patterns such as Singleton, Factory, and Observer.
Performance Optimization: Techniques for performance optimization, such as memory pooling and reducing execution time.
Advanced Multithreading: Handling data races and utilizing the right tools to prevent them.
Library Development: The ability to develop efficient and reliable libraries using modern C++ standards.
Advanced Metaprogramming: A deep understanding of constexpr, advanced specialization, and metaprogramming techniques in C++.
Profiling & Optimization: The ability to profile and optimize code using profiling tools.
C++20 and Beyond: Mastery of the latest features, such as ranges, coroutines, and modules.
This judo-style grading system provides a clear path for C++ programmers to progress from beginners to experts. Advancing from one belt to another requires mastery of progressively more complex concepts, starting with the basics and moving toward advanced C++ programming techniques. The addition of the orange belt reflects the need for intermediate skills that bridge the gap between basic understanding and more complex programming concepts.