C++ - How it Got Here, Where it's Going

In 2020, the C++ programming language was considered by many to be the most powerful language on the planet. It is used for operating systems, web browsers, games, embedded software, autonomous cars, medical technology, and many other applications. Major companies such as Facebook, Google, Amazon, and many others rely on C++ to run their data centers.

Since its inception over four decades ago, C++ has expanded many times with performance, efficiency, and flexibility of use as its main design highlights. C++20, became generally available in December 2020.

Around that time, we talked to a panel of C++ experts, evangelists, and devotees from both sides of the pond to understand a little more about C++ – its position in the development community, its history, and its future. We learnt a lot and much of what we uncovered is still very much relevant today.

More about the contributors to this paper:

Ivan Čukić is a senior software engineer at KDAB and the author of Functional Programming in C++.

Kalle Dalheimer is a software pioneer and the co-founder of KDE. Most notably, he’s the founder and CEO of KDAB.

Jon Kalb is co-author of C++ Today: The Beast is Back and originated the largest annual C++ conference globally: CppCon.

Jens Weller is a C++ evangelist and the founder and organizer of what has now become the Meeting C++ platform in Europe.

Andy Gryc is a freelance technical writer based in Canada and wrote this paper based on our video interview with the contributors.