Unique Perspective on C++

Its not worthy to write a blog post on the impacts of the Software Development on economy, society and life style. Its one of the major driving forces in the modern world. When it comes to software development, the programming languages has an immense impact on software engineering. As an incontestably candidate of programming languages, I would like to talk about C++ a bit.

Well, the most common questions arises at this particular point are, “Why C++ ?”, “Isn’t it dying ?”.

Yes.. C++ is not used in the same frequency as Java or C#. But, its not dying, its not obsolete.. In fact it’s the heart of modern software development process.

‘Choosing the right tool’ is so important in the Software Development process. So in that context, C++ is a tool; a ‘complicate tool’. And it’s a tool that is difficult to learn, how to use properly.

The complexity of C++ has encouraged most software developers to go for alternatives like Java, C# etc. Then again, the complexity is a consequence of its programming power and the performance.

C++ -Complexity

The uniqueness of a proficient C++ programmers can be observed in many distinct ways

• For a proficient C++ programmer, it’s essential to have a solid understanding of, What compiler does, what linker does, what run time system does and what OS does.

• Memory Management. No garbage collection, so the developer needs to taken care of memory allocation and de-allocation. (‘pointers’ is always a nightmare to a C++ developer )

• OS level Concurrency. No pseudo processes or threads (like threads provided by run time systems). Should use processes and threads directly provided by the operating system.

• Generic Programming. (Templates)

• Interfacing with hardware. (C++ is the best programming language to communicate with hardware)
• Generic Programming. (Templates)

Why C++ ?

Nowadays, selecting C++ for the development of the conventional software system is simply a waste of time and money. We don’t need C++ to develop a traditional business management software system or a web application.

The famous programming languages like Java or C#.Net are often humiliated by some of the requirements of the software system. These applications are often termed “Demanding Applications”.

Demanding Applications

Performance is a major and a crucial requirement of a demanding application. Also, robustness, responsiveness and fault tolerance is also critical in the context of demanding systems. If you still confused about the demanding applications or systems, just now you are working on one of the most complicated demanding system. It’s the operating system. Linux or Windows; both use C/C++. The role that played by C++ in the modern era of Computer Science is obvious when we consider the most common demanding systems .

• Operating Systems – Windows, Mac and Linux is mostly (if not totally) developed using C/C++.

• Embedded Systems – Every embedded system is a real mess of constrained resources and unlimited requirements. So, to maximize the throughput and minimize the resource consumption, C++ immerges as the best development methodology. In fact, embedded systems is the next era of C++ development.

• Hardware Drivers - Almost all the hardware drivers are implemented by C++
• ”The’ most popular windows application. – Well, everybody knows about it. It’s modern success story of Microsoft. Yes.. Its “Microsoft Office suit”. Each and every module of MS-Office is developed using C++.

• Search Engine Core – Google Search Engines is a best example of a demanding system. The performance is the most crucial factor of a search engine. Therefore C++ is the consentaneous candidate to develop the core (or heart) of a search engine.

• Trading Systems – Again this is for the sake of performance and handling the immense amount of load. C++ is a must.

• Real Time Systems - This also a well known case where C++ is mandatory.

So, this is the showstopper for the jerks who claimed that ‘C++ is dying..its obsolete’ . (inspired from a interview with C++ genius, Scott Meyers)

True Colors of Patriotism

Last few weeks or so, the whole Colombo city was covered with Sri Lankan national flag. Sri Lankans are still celebrating not the victory over LTTE but the true independence. As well as enjoying the independence I also enchanted with the beauty of our national flag. To me.. It’s the most beautiful flag in the world (I even heard some Cricket commentators claim that it’s a very colorful flag.). Now we can hoist our national flag with the pride of being able to wipe out the terrorism from our country. It almost took three decades to bring the true independence to the island nation. And we should keep in mind that, the independence that we achieved is formed with the blood and tears of our true patriots. The unanimous credit should goes to HE the president, Armed forces and to the whole Sri Lankan community which is the sheer power behind everything.

However, there are so many people who acts as co-possessor of Victory and Independence of Sri Lanka. Patriotism is suddenly in vogue. Its everywhere.. Nowadays in SL anybody that you meet in a street is a ‘lion hearted patriot’.. anybody who migrated to US or Europe is a ‘true nationalist’ .. There are some people whose ‘patriotism’ is often ignited by alcohols… It’s a dilemma that how a man who migrated to some other country can boast about the sovereignty and the independency of his motherland. All these ‘Non-returning Sri Lankans are the genuine illustrations of ‘Pseudo Patriotism’.

Defeating Terrorism in Sri Lanka is a sacred and a precious thing for all its citizens. As we enjoy the independency we should salute and show our gratitude to its contributor; armed forces, the president, families of all the armed forces, government, local and international community (India, Pakistan, China and Russia in particular). (But not those bloody ‘pseudo patriots’)

Finally, the courage and the dauntlessness of our heroes cannot be explain through a couple of sentences.. But this is a nice poem(translation) written during the Indian revolution around 1940′ when they fight against the British governors.

This day, we walk along with death, and laugh at its pale spectre..

We will not fear those cruel swords, our courage is far sharper..

Mistake not our silence for submission. For beneath lies lava, molten..

O Martyre, O men of valour.. One day the enemy will sing your praises…

We will show our mettle .. When the moment of truth arrives….

For courage lives in deeds, not boastful lies.

We’ve gathered in the enemy’s lair, my friend

In the hope of dying for our motherland…

We will not fear those cruel swords, our courage is far sharper.

This day, we walk along with death and laugh at its pale spectre…..