History of C++
C++ is a general-purpose programming language that was developed as an extension of the C programming language. It was designed to provide object-oriented features while retaining the power and efficiency of C. Here’s an overview of its history:
Timeline of C++ Development:
- 1979 - Initial Development: Bjarne Stroustrup began working on "C with Classes" at Bell Labs. His goal was to add features for object-oriented programming to the C language.
- 1983 - Renaming to C++: The language was officially renamed to "C++," with the "++" symbol signifying the increment operator in C, indicating an enhancement of the C language.
- 1985 - First Edition of C++: The first official version of C++ was released, along with Bjarne Stroustrup's book, "The C++ Programming Language."
- 1989 - ANSI Standardization: The language began its journey toward standardization with contributions from the ANSI (American National Standards Institute).
- 1998 - ISO Standardization: The first ISO standard for C++ (ISO/IEC 14882:1998) was published, known as C++98. It included templates, the Standard Template Library (STL), and exception handling.
- 2003 - C++03 Update: Minor revisions were made to address defects in the C++98 standard.
- 2011 - C++11: A major update to the language introduced features like lambda expressions, smart pointers, the auto keyword, and improved concurrency support.
- 2014 - C++14: Provided incremental improvements over C++11, including bug fixes and enhanced usability of new features.
- 2017 - C++17: Introduced features like std::optional, structured bindings, and parallel algorithms, simplifying modern C++ programming.
- 2020 - C++20: Marked a significant leap forward with concepts, ranges, coroutines, and modules, enabling more expressive and efficient code.
- 2023 - C++23: Continued to enhance usability with features like static operator(), deducing this, and extended library functions.
Key Contributions of C++:
- Object-Oriented Programming: C++ introduced object-oriented features, paving the way for modern software engineering practices.
- Portability: Its compatibility with C and platform independence made it widely adopted for system and application programming.
- Standardization: Continuous standard updates ensure its relevance in contemporary software development.
Over the decades, C++ has evolved into one of the most versatile and powerful programming languages. It continues to be a foundational language for various domains, including game development, embedded systems, and high-performance computing.