INTRODUCTION TO C++

 What is C++

• WHAT IS C++
• UPGRADES
• ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
• APPLICATION TO C++

C++ is a general-purpose object-oriented programming language. It was created by Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Labs around 1980. The early 1970s saw Dennis Ritchie create C, which is a lot like C++. C++ is sufficiently similar to C that it can most likely build over 99 percent of C programs without requiring any source code changes. Although C++ is an OOP-based language, it is much better structured and safer than C.

Some computer languages ​​are written for a specific purpose. Because Java was originally designed to control toasters and other electronics. C was developed for operating system programming. Pascal's idea was to teach proper programming techniques. But C++ is a general-purpose language. It very well deserves the widely recognized nickname "Swiss Army Knife of Languages".

Upgrades

This new programming language was called C with Classes but was later renamed C++ (++ refers to the C concatenation operator).

A few more upgrades or versions of C++ is being exist: -

C++98, C++03, C++11(C++ox), C++14(C++1y), C++17(C++1z)

Advantages and Disadvantages of C++

Advantage: -

·    Portability: C++ code is portable in that it can be built and executed on many systems with just little modifications. With this, we may write code once and use it on several platforms, including operating systems and architectures.

C++ supports the procedural, object-oriented, and generic programming paradigms. Its versatility in several programming languages and requirements allows us to choose the appropriate approach to deal with different problems.

Memory management: - Direct memory management control is offered by C++, enabling effective allocation of memory resources. Optimizing performance and resource use in memory-intensive applications requires this capability.

· Strong C++ compatibility enables smooth integration with current C code bases and libraries. Leveraging more C++ capabilities, this compatibility facilitates the migration and extension of legacy systems.

· Object-oriented: - The C++ language is an object-oriented programming (OOP) language that enables us to represent actual items as objects with attributes and actions. Software systems are better organized and structured generally when code is made more reusable, modular, and maintainable by this approach.

· Low-level manipulation: - System programming, device drivers, and applications requiring high performance can all benefit from C++'s low-level hardware resource manipulation. With the help of this function, we may interface with hardware components, access memory directly, and modify pointers, thereby controlling system behavior in great detail.

Large community support: - A sizable and vibrant group of developers, teachers, and enthusiasts support and advance C++. For C++ users to help with learning and cooperation, this community offers a wealth of support tools including documentation, tutorials, forums, and open-source libraries.

Scalability: - From little initiatives to huge enterprise-level systems, C++ is ideally suited for developing scalable software. Its ability to be modular and extendable, together with classes, inheritance, and polymorphism, enables users to effectively control complexity and grow their apps.

STL: The Standard Template Library (STL), a set of standard data structures and algorithms that make routine programming chores easier, is included with C++. Ready-made containers (like vectors, lists, and maps) and algorithms (such as sorting and searching) from the STL increase productivity and code quality.

    Disadvantage

·      Use of pointers: - C++ allows direct manipulation of memory addresses using pointers, which can cause memory-related errors such as segmentation faults, memory leaks, and dangling pointers. Proper management of pointers requires careful attention and can add complexity to our code and open up potential vulnerabilities.

·      Security issue: - Because of its few features and manual memory management, C++ code is prone to vulnerabilities such as buffer overflows, pointer arithmetic errors, and other memory-related issues. Writing safe C++ programming calls for knowledge and industry standards to reduce these dangers.

Concurrency and multi-threading are not built-in to C++, unlike several other contemporary programming languages. While threading is supported by libraries like std::thread, manually managing threads can be challenging and prone to mistakes, particularly in intricate concurrent systems.

Gone is the automated garbage collector in C++ instead, users must manually create and release memory resources with the new and delete operators. Memory leaks, dangling pointers, and inefficient resource use might result from this laborious and prone to mistake manual memory management.

C Applications of C++

     C++ finds versatile use in applications such as:

     Because of its effective memory management and low-level features, C++ is extensively utilized in operating systems and system-level software. Frequently implemented in C++ include the kernel, device drivers, and basic system utilities of widely used operating systems like Linux. Building stable and effective operating systems like Ubuntu, CentOS, and Debian is made possible by its ability to manage system resources and interface with hardware.

Browsers: The fundamental features of browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome are mostly dependent on C++. Performance-related C++ implementations of components like the JavaScript engine, web stack, and rendering engine are commonplace. Processing complicated online material, doing computationally taxing jobs, and offering a smooth and responsive browsing experience all depend on C++'s speed and efficiency.

Graphics and Gaming Engines: Because C++ allows for direct control of hardware resources and performance, it is the language of choice for creating graphics engines and gaming frameworks. Applications that employ C++ to produce visuals, work with pictures, and make intricate computations include Adobe Photoshop and Autodesk Maya. By using C++'s low-level controls and optimization capabilities, game engines like Unreal Engine and Unity produce visually spectacular and engaging gaming experiences.

Database Engines: Critical functions for data storage and retrieval are powered by database engines, which are developed in large part by C++. C++ is used in relational databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL as well as NoSQL databases like MongoDB and Redis to perform fundamental database operations such as indexing, query optimization, and data manipulation. The large data set processing and efficiency of C++ make it an ideal language for developing scalable and effective database systems.

Cloud/Distributed Systems: Where performance, scalability, and dependability are critical, C++ is also widely used in the creation of cloud computing platforms and distributed systems. Many times, C++ is used to develop infrastructure components including communication middleware, distributed file systems, and network protocols. Building and optimizing their underlying infrastructure with C++ allows cloud service providers like Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to deliver high availability and smooth scalability of cloud-based applications.