Re: Will therefore GDB utilize C++? Not.

Re: Will therefore GDB utilize C++? Not.

Posted Apr 15, 2012 14:20 UTC (Sun) by jzbiciak (✭ supporter ✭, #5246)
In reply to: Re: Will therefore GDB utilize C++? Not. by jwakely
Parent article: Re: Will therefore GDB utilize C++? Not.

Hopefully things will improve. But, for much of the C++ I write (on an embedded DSP, or on an embedded ARM using an outdated version of RVCT), C++11 will remain a fairy tale for some time. I don't expect to be able to write a lambda expression on either for another few years at a minimum.

But those clever hackers influenced the future direction of the language, making metaprogramming an integral part that _is_ intended to be used that way now, so C++11 provides variadic templates and extended SFINAE and cleans up a number of warts, all making the mechanisms more regular and more powerful.

It will remain true, though, that they had to fit within the existing C++ framework, and not break (too much) existing C++ code. If you were to design a powerful metaprogramming language to overlay onto a C++-like language from scratch, would it look like C++11? (Say, start with C++ of a few years ago, subtract whatever you like, and then add a proper metaprogramming environment of your own design.) There is some ugliness in C++ that can't be deprecated without breaking compatibility with C++ as it is.

Scott Myers' books are invaluable for understanding the best ways to use these features, IMHO. C++ definitely gives you more than enough rope to let you shoot yourself in the foot. In fact, it can take your whole leg off while you trip over it.

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