Table of content

C++ is a general-purpose programming language created as an extension of C. It was originally developed by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1983. The language offers both high-level and low-level programming capabilities and is often considered a "middle-level" language because it can encapsulate both high-level and low-level programming language features.

Key Features

Object-Oriented: C++ supports object-oriented programming, a paradigm that allows for the organization of code around "objects" or complex data structures that have both data fields (attributes) and behaviours (methods).
Performance: C++ allows for low-level memory manipulation and offers features that enable high performance, making it suitable for system development, game development, real-time systems, etc.
Standard Library: C++ comes with a rich set of libraries called the Standard Template Library (STL), which provides several data structures (like vectors, maps, sets) and algorithms (like sort, find) that simplify many complex operations.
Overloading: The language supports function and operator overloading, allowing for cleaner code and more intuitive interaction with objects.
Multiple Inheritance: C++ allows for multiple inheritance of classes, a feature that can lead to complications like the 'diamond problem '. The diamond problem occurs when a class inherits from two classes that have a common ancestor. This can lead to ambiguity in the inheritance hierarchy, which needs to be resolved using virtual inheritance.
Templates: C++ supports template programming, allowing for generic programming.

Portability: Code written in C++ can be portable, although certain platform-specific features and the use of third-party libraries may reduce portability.
Strong Typing: The language is strongly typed, meaning that every variable must be declared with a data type. However, there are ways to bypass the type system for low-level operations, such as using pointers or typecasting. These techniques should be used with caution as they can introduce potential errors in the code.

C++ Use

The versatility of C++ is truly remarkable, as it finds applications in a wide range of domains. Its ability to handle diverse tasks is a testament to its power and flexibility.
Systems Programming
C++ is commonly used to develop system/software drivers and operating systems. It provides the low-level features needed to interact directly with hardware, making it suitable for such tasks.
Game Development
C++ is not just a staple in game development, it's a powerhouse. Its efficiency and ability to handle high-speed graphics, physics simulations, and other game-related tasks are truly impressive.
Real-Time Systems
Because of its execution speed, C++ is invaluable in systems that require immediate response, such as robotics, real-time trading, and avionics.|
Embedded Systems
C++ is used in firmware programming for embedded systems. This could range from medical machines to IoT devices.
Financial Systems
The speed and efficiency of C++ make it a reliable choice for financial trading systems. In an industry where microseconds can make a million-dollar difference, C++ delivers real-time performance you can count on.
GUI-Based Applications
Several libraries and frameworks, such as Qt, are available for building GUI applications using C++.
3D Graphics
C++ is frequently used to develop professional-grade 3D graphics software like AutoCAD and Maya, rendering engines, and more.
Scientific Computing
Although languages like Python and R are becoming more prevalent in scientific computing, C++ is still used for scenarios where performance is a concern.
Audio and Video Processing
Due to its performance characteristics, C++ is widely used in audio, video, and image processing, often where real-time performance is crucial.
Web Back-Ends
Though less common than other languages (like Python, Java, or JavaScript), C++ can be used for web server development, mainly where performance and reliability are critical.
Networking
C++ is commonly used to develop network device drivers, high-performance servers, and clients.
Artificial Intelligence
While high-level languages like Python are generally used for AI and machine learning model training, C++ can be used to implement and deploy models for better performance. C++'s performance characteristics, such as its ability to handle complex calculations and its low-level memory manipulation capabilities, make it a good choice for implementing and deploying high-performance AI and machine learning models.
Libraries and Frameworks
Many software libraries and frameworks are implemented in C++ for performance reasons or because of its versatility.
Cross-Platform Development
With frameworks like Qt, C++ can develop applications that run on multiple platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, etc.) without modification.

Software

There are many text editors available for writing and editing C++ code; some of the most popular include:
Visual Studio Code: A popular, open-source, cross-platform text editor that is highly customizable and has a wide range of plugins available to support C++ development.
Sublime Text: A fast, feature-rich, and popular text editor that has a large number of plugins and packages available, including support for C++.
Atom: Another popular open-source text editor that is highly customizable and has many packages available to support C++ development.
Code::Blocks: A fully-featured, open-source, cross-platform integrated development environment (IDE) that supports multiple programming languages, including C++.
Dev-C++: An open-source IDE for C++ that provides a simple and easy-to-use interface for developing C++ applications.
Ultimately, the best text editor for you will depend on your personal preferences, the features you need, and the platforms you work on.
Clion: Clion is developed by Jet Brains for C++ development.