Huh, C++ is "back"? It never left! It has still been powering some of the most complex, important and widely-used software systems the whole time, even if it doesn't get the hype of languages like Java or Ruby.
Absolutely. However, the extent of C++ usage (and more generally "system languages") has indisputably shrunk over a wide range of domains. Startups are a great example.
I know C++ very well, but I also know Ruby well.
Some startups *ARE* using them, just not web/app startups. C is still heavily used in algorithmic, infrastructure, and networking startups - But they're a different crowd. More neckbeard and device drivers than TechCrucnh and Rails.
But I do agree that it's use cases have been marginalized more.
Oh look, you found ONE. Good fucking job. If you look hard enough, you could find one ANYTHING. It appears you really missed the point devbug was trying to make.
My point was, that start-ups differ. As well as technologies they focus on. Not all start-ups are about the Web and frontend tech. Many are about backend, others are about core technologies like mobile operating systems and so on. Numbers are not the point. But significance and impact are.
I don't think that those are good measures of a language's actual usage patterns.
There are very different staffing dynamics when it comes to C++ projects versus projects written in Java, Python, Ruby, PHP, JavaScript and languages like those.
In my experience, employee turnover is far greater when dealing with higher-level programming languages, and especially when it comes to web development. The overall skill level of these developers is generally far lower than what we see from even an entry-level C++ programmer, and it's much easier to replace them.
Those who have overcome C++'s more significant barrier to entry can often command greater salaries and more stable employment situations. They are often working on absolutely massive projects where it can take some time to get up to speed. We aren't talking about simple CRUD web apps, for instance, where an average developer can get a pretty good comprehension of the entire system within a few days.
So we see C++ being very heavily used, but with development and maintenance being performed by stable teams that will often work together for many years, if not decades in some cases. The lack of near-constant turnover really cuts down on the need to advertise for open job positions.
Furthermore, we often see many C++ hires coming via referrals from other C++ programmers or other contacts, rather than through advertisements or job boards. It's actually a relatively tight-knit community in many areas and industries.
C++ may not be as immediately visible as Java, Ruby, JavaScript and other languages, but it's still extremely, extremely important, and still very widely used.
> So we see C++ being very heavily used, but with development and maintenance being performed by stable teams that will often work together for many years, if not decades in some cases. The lack of near-constant turnover really cuts down on the need to advertise for open job positions.
Sir, you nailed it.
I've noticed the same thing in my company. There are a handful development teams currently present and almost all of them do various Java based consulting gigs for external clients. Most of that is CRUD based web form twiddling. And as it happens, the turnover rate on those teams is often through the roof.
However, there is also one C++ team which does in-house development on a very critical piece of software and I've noticed a couple of things about those guys: they not only appear to be far more technically competent than their Java counterparts, but the turnover is nearly nonexistent. While other teams have seen massive turnover to the point of being unrecognizable after a period of time, the C++ team hasn't changed at all... and the funniest thing is, a lot of people are internally applying to work on that team but these guys are extremely selective about who they let in.
There's definitely something to be said about C++ development and the effect it has on stability/turnover in dev teams.
To be fair, the "big money" jobs aren't so much at Google, Facebook or Microsoft as they are at little hedge funds and prop trading shops. I haven't spent much time looking at the hiring thread this month, but I did see Two Sigma there, so there are some "big money" jobs on this "hipster forum" :).
I got a $350k/year salary offer from a High Frequency Trading company based in Chicago. They use C, C++ and FPGA.
As far I know in 2-3 years you can go over 500k.
Not many developers get that much in the Valley...
I agree 100% , C++ was always here and never needed hype. C++ will still be here 50 years from now ( and C too ). Why ? because it does the job and the codebase is huge ! Can we say the same for other languages ? Maybe , maybe not.
