Brief history of the C++ language

Zyante ProgInCpp

10 Jul 201301:07

Summary

TLDRIn 1978, Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie introduced the C programming language at AT&T Labs in New Jersey. Seven years on, Bjarne Stroustrup built upon C's foundations by creating C++, a language that embraced object-oriented programming and other enhancements. The '+' in C++ symbolizes an increment operator in C, suggesting an advancement over its predecessor. C++ has influenced many languages, including Apple's Objective-C and Microsoft C, and continues to be a significant language with 9% of lines written, ranking third after C and Java.

Takeaways

📚 Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie developed the C programming language, which was published in 1978.
🔢 C++, a C-based language, was introduced in 1985 by Bjarne Stroustrup, incorporating object-oriented programming and other enhancements.
🔄 The '+' in C++ symbolizes the increment operator in C, suggesting an improvement over the original C language.
🍎 Variants of C++ include Apple's Objective-C and Microsoft C, indicating the language's adaptability and widespread use.
🌐 Many newer programming languages, such as Java, have been influenced by C++, showing its enduring impact on the field.
📈 C++ is the third most commonly written language, with 9% of lines written, following C and Java, as depicted in the graph.
💡 The development of C++ aimed to extend the capabilities of C, adding object-oriented programming constructs for more structured and reusable code.
🛠️ C++'s popularity can be attributed to its performance and flexibility, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
📝 The script highlights the historical significance of C and C++ in the evolution of programming languages and their continued relevance today.
🔑 The naming of C++ reflects the language's incremental improvements over its predecessor, C, and its role in advancing programming paradigms.
🌟 The script provides a snapshot of the programming language landscape, with C++ holding a notable position among other languages.

Q & A

Who were the original creators of the C programming language?
-Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie created the C programming language while working at AT&T Labs in New Jersey.
In what year was the C programming language first published?
-The C programming language was first published in 1978.
Who is credited with the development of the C++ programming language?
-Bjarne Stroustrup is credited with the development of the C++ programming language.
When was the C++ programming language first described in a book?
-C++ was first described in a book in 1985, seven years after the publication of C.
What programming paradigm does C++ support that C does not?
-C++ supports object-oriented programming, a paradigm not present in the original C language.
What does the '++' in the name C++ represent?
-The '++' in the name C++ represents the increment operator in C, suggesting an improvement over the C language.
Can you name some variants of C++?
-Variants of C++ include Apple's Objective-C and Microsoft C, among others.
How does the script describe the influence of C++ on newer programming languages?
-The script states that many newer languages, like Java, have a strong C++ flavor, indicating C++'s influence on their design.
What is the script's claim about the popularity of C++ in terms of lines of code written?
-According to the script, C++ is the third most commonly written language, with 9% of the lines written in all languages.
Which languages are mentioned in the script as being more commonly used than C++?
-The script mentions that C and Java are more commonly used than C++, with C++ following as the third most used language.
What does the graph mentioned in the script illustrate?
-The graph in the script illustrates the percentage of lines written per language, showing C++'s position as the third most written language.

Outlines

00:00

📘 C and C++: The Evolution of Programming Languages

The script introduces the development of the C programming language by Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie at AT&T Labs in New Jersey, which was published in 1978. It then discusses the subsequent creation of C++ by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1985, a language derived from C that introduced object-oriented programming and other enhancements. The name C++ is explained as a play on the increment operator in C, suggesting an advancement over the original C language. Variants such as Apple's Objective-C and Microsoft C are mentioned, along with the influence of C++ on newer languages like Java. The script concludes with a graph indicating that C++ is the third most commonly written language, with 9% of the lines of code, following C and Java.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡C

C is a high-level programming language that was developed in the early 1970s by Dennis Ritchie at AT&T Bell Labs. It is known for its efficiency, portability, and influence on other programming languages. In the video's context, C is the foundational language from which C++ evolved, and it represents a significant milestone in the history of programming languages.

💡Dennis Ritchie

Dennis Ritchie is credited with the creation of the C programming language while working at AT&T Labs in New Jersey. His contribution is pivotal to the video's theme as it sets the stage for the development of C++ and the evolution of programming languages. Ritchie's work on C has had a profound impact on the field of computer science.

💡C++

C++ is an extension of the C language that was introduced by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1985. It incorporates object-oriented programming features, among other enhancements. The term 'C++' is used in the video to illustrate an improvement over the original C language, with the '+' symbolizing an increment or advancement, much like the increment operator '+' in C.

💡Bjarne Stroustrup

Bjarne Stroustrup is the developer of the C++ programming language, which he published a book about in 1985. His work is central to the video's narrative as it discusses the evolution from C to C++. Stroustrup's contribution is highlighted by the introduction of object-oriented programming constructs to the C language.

💡Object-oriented programming

Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm that uses 'objects' to design applications and computer programs. It is characterized by the use of classes and objects, inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism. In the video, OOP is mentioned as one of the key features added to C to create C++, reflecting a significant shift in programming paradigms.

💡Operator

In programming, an operator is a symbol that represents an operation or procedure, such as arithmetic operations or logical operations. The video specifically mentions the increment operator '+' in C, which is part of the rationale behind the naming of C++. This illustrates how language features can influence even the naming of programming languages.

💡Apple's Objective C

Objective C is a programming language that was developed by Apple and is an extension of the C language with features for object-oriented programming. It is mentioned in the video as a variant of C++, showing the influence of C and C++ on other languages and the diversity of programming languages that have emerged from this lineage.

💡Microsoft C

Microsoft C refers to a version of the C programming language developed by Microsoft. It is mentioned in the video as one of the variants of C++, indicating the widespread adoption and customization of the C language across different companies and platforms.

💡Java

Java is a high-level, class-based, object-oriented programming language that is designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible. It is mentioned in the video as having a strong C++ flavor, suggesting that Java was influenced by C++ in terms of syntax and programming concepts.

💡Programming language variants

The term 'variants' in the context of the video refers to different versions or extensions of a base programming language, such as C++, that have been developed to cater to specific needs or to introduce new features. Variants like Objective C and Microsoft C are examples of how the original C language has been adapted and expanded upon.

💡Graph

In the video, a graph is used to illustrate the percentage of lines written per programming language. The graph is a visual representation of data that helps to convey the popularity and usage statistics of different programming languages, with C++ being the third most commonly written language after C and Java.

Highlights

Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie developed the C programming language while working at AT&T Labs in New Jersey.

C was first published in 1978 as a high-level language.

Bjarne Stroustrup published a book in 1985 describing C++, a C-based language.

C++ added support for object-oriented programming constructs.

The '+' in C++ is inspired by the increment operator in C, symbolizing an improvement over C.

C++ has seen various variants such as Apple's Objective-C and Microsoft C.

Many newer languages, including Java, have a strong influence from C++.

C++ is the third most commonly written language, with 9% of lines written.

C++ follows C and Java in terms of popularity among programming languages.

The development of C++ introduced significant improvements and new programming paradigms.

C++'s object-oriented features have influenced the design of many modern programming languages.

The choice of the name C++ reflects the language's incremental enhancements over C.

C++'s widespread adoption has contributed to its status as a top programming language.

The graph in the transcript illustrates the prevalence of C++ in software development.

C++'s versatility is evident through its use in a variety of programming applications.

The evolution from C to C++ represents a shift towards more sophisticated programming techniques.

C++'s influence is seen not only in its direct derivatives but also in the design of other languages.

The C++ programming language continues to be a significant player in the field of software development.