Reasons to choose C over C++

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+1 Q:

Reasons to choose C over C++

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What’s the advantage of using C over C++ or is there one?

Hello all.

I was wondering why so many people continue to code in C when C++ has now been out for such a long time. What advantages/disadvantages are there??

I heard that there are differences (ie. advantages to C) in the way that linking is done, but I didn't hear anything more than that.

Can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks!

+2 A:

For some small embedded chips, there is a C compiler but no C++ compiler. Also, some people are afraid of progress. And some people maintain huge codebases that aren't typesafe and won't compile with the C++ compiler.

Ben Voigt 2010-07-18 23:08:45

'Some people are afraid of progress' -really? C++ is a great language but I don't think choosing C indicates an inflexible mindset. Pick the tool to suit the job IMO.

zebrabox 2010-07-18 23:11:39

+1 "some people are afraid of progress" - not that i agree, just that im sitting here smiling and waiting to see the comments :)

Aran Mulholland 2010-07-18 23:12:50

I didn't say that "afraid of progress" is the only reason for anyone to stick with C. But it sure is the primary reason for some.

Ben Voigt 2010-07-18 23:14:24

There are plenty of people who look negatively at C++ for various features that many people would consider progress and desirable - exceptions would be a good example. So, from the perspective of many non-C users, you could say that C programmers appear to be afraid of change and progress. Of course, you could say much the same about C++ and programmers of other languages such as Java or C#. So, some of it is simply a matter of what you're used to using. Many people don't like change, regardless of whether it's better or worse.

Jonathan M Davis 2010-07-18 23:16:04

@Ben Voigt - Ten years ago, I'd have agreed 100%. Not so sure now, though I'm sure there are still some. Of course, there are a few developers going back to C from C++

zebrabox 2010-07-18 23:16:41

Man! Sometimes i hate this...uhm..progress so much!

kudor gyozo 2010-07-24 14:53:41

+1 A:

This one is sure to get a lot of opinionated responses. :-)

does only and exactly what you want, without side-effects
is even closer to the CPU
is often available on systems where c++ is not
is very close to other languages used for low-level interactions, like ORCAD and other chip-burning systems
is often the basis for a lot of legacy code that won't compile under c++

C++:

has powerful object orientation
has templates
has more recent optimizations in the compiler, put together by the world smartest programmers
has more high-level libraries already available, i.e. the std libs and even higher-level things

If I missed something really obvious, I'm sure there will be no end to the people who will correct me. :-)

eruciform 2010-07-18 23:16:58

"without side-effects"? Nope. C most definitely does exactly what you want - side-effects included. And C is no closer to the CPU than C++ is.

greyfade 2010-07-18 23:20:11

@greyfade: i don't want to get into the holy war here, i'm only pointing out that it has far less side effects than almost any other modern language. everything has a side effect, even setting a variable, depending on if it's `volatile` or even `register` or not.

eruciform 2010-07-18 23:26:15

ansaurus

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