DaniWeb interviewing Bjarne Stroustrup (the father of C++)

Question

WASDted 184 Practically a Master Poster

14 Years Ago

DaniWeb plans to interview Bjarne Stroustrup, the designer and original implementer of C++ and the author of many books on C++. This is truly a treat and rare opportunity for us as a community to talk to the father of C++.

As the new editor-in-chief of DaniWeb's News and Reviews I would like to reach out and involve the entire community and ask for your suggestions. Rather that simply asking Mr. Stroustrup the questions that come to my mind I would like to hear from you what you would like to know. Suggest a specific question or a general topic. Please keep it clean, respectful and relevant [to technology].

At the end of next Wednesday (May 19, 2010) I will review and consider all of your suggestions and come up with a list of questions for Mr. Stroustrup. I really look forward to your feedback and suggestions.

c++ microsoft

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Latest Post 14 Years Ago Latest Post by AuburnMathTutor

Sodabread 88 Posting Whiz in Training

14 Years Ago

Hmm. What are your thoughts on C# and do you see C++0x taking back some of the C++ programmers lost to C# and other .NET languages?

Edited 14 Years Ago by Sodabread because: n/a

jonsca 1,059 Quantitative Phrenologist

14 Years Ago

I'm trying really hard to come up with something but he has such an extensive website (http://www2.research.att.com/~bs/ if anyone doesn't know it) where he has answered so many questions already.

I might ask him if he's going to come out with a new edition of his book covering C++0x in its entirety.

or
(for some hard hitting journalism)
What language or library does he use that he doesn't want people to know he uses?

Edited 14 Years Ago by jonsca because: n/a

mitrmkar commented: I think your "hard hitting journalism" -question really should make to the interview. :) +5

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I think your "hard hitting journalism" -question really should make to the interview. :)

termatt56 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 1 · 2010-05-15T10:44:26+00:00

What are your feelings on the growing trend towards teaching higher level and less complex languages in education(Python, Vb.net etc) as opposed to lower level and/or more complex languages (C++, Java etc) and how do you think this will affect the quality of future programmers?

Sky Diploma 571 Practically a Posting Shark · Answer 2 · 2010-05-15T20:28:12+00:00

I'm trying really hard to come up with something but he has such an extensive website (http://www2.research.att.com/~bs/ if anyone doesn't know it) where he has answered so many questions already.
I might ask him if he's going to come out with a new edition of his book covering C++0x in its entirety.
or
(for some hard hitting journalism)
What language or library does he use that he doesn't want people to know he uses?

The first question is very common for example: In mr.Stroustrups website, you can look at the interviews section for a hell load of links. (i've gone through a few and hence know )

One of them being this :

http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1192024

In which the 10th question is what you wanted to ask .

--------------------------------------------------------
However the second question (hard-hitting-journalism)

I would love to hear what Mr Stroustrup would say on that particular one.

jonsca 1,059 Quantitative Phrenologist Team Colleague Featured Poster · Answer 3 · 2010-05-15T22:01:52+00:00

The first question is very common for example: In mr.Stroustrups website, you can look at the interviews section for a hell load of links. (i've gone through a few and hence know )

LOL see that was my point exactly, but thanks for pointing that particular one out.

See if he lurks on any boards for C++.

Nick Evan 4,005 Industrious Poster Team Colleague Featured Poster · Answer 4 · 2010-05-17T00:06:40+00:00

>>See if he lurks on any boards for C++.

Does he have a DW account for example? And if so, is it Narue or Salem?

whiteflags 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 5 · 2010-05-17T21:36:09+00:00

>> Does he have a DW account for example? And if so, is it Narue or Salem?

Neither of those people are Bjarne Stroustrup. You knew that--I'm supportive of a funny and truly different interview, but that question isn't funny.

Stefano Mtangoo 455 Senior Poster · Answer 6 · 2010-05-19T18:21:39+00:00

(1) what does he think of GUI toolkits specifically Win32, wxWidgets and QT? Which one does he use? and This is specifically my interest -> What does he think of wxWidgets?

(2) What is his comments on Compilers/Debuggers? Which one is his favorite?

(3) What does he think of IDEs? Which IDE does he use (Vim? Emacs? Geany? Anjuta)

I'll think about others if I'm not late :

Chris Bruner 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 7 · 2010-05-19T21:35:52+00:00

In C you always know when a called function will change a passed variable. In C++ you never know. I would like to know why you made this design decision.

eg.

void fooRef(int &a)
{
  a++;
}
void fooPtr(int *a)
{
  (*a)++;
}

void bar()
{
b = 10;
  fooRef(b); // no indication that is going to change.
  fooPtr(&b); // indication to programmer that b may change
}

thelamb 163 Posting Pro in Training · Answer 8 · 2010-05-20T21:25:55+00:00

@Chris :

That's not really a C++ problem, a programmer should not use a reference to change a variable in a function, if the variable is to be changed he should use a pointer.
A reference can be used to 'speed up' functions that take large data structures as arguments, but in this case it should be a const reference to indicate that the passed variable is not going to be changed.

Stroustrup mentions this specifically in his "The C++ Programming Language" book.

Chris Bruner 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 9 · 2010-05-20T23:48:08+00:00

I view the const solution you suggest as a bandage solution to a general design issue with the language.
The fact that you "CAN" change the reference means that some guy who had the code before me, "HAS" changed the reference somewhere down the tree of functions. When I am given new code one of the first things I do is change all references to const references to see what breaks. The fact that I have to do this in order to protect myself means that the language has a flaw.

A reference does not speed up functions any differently then a pointer. Internally they are equivalent. The only use that a reference has, is making it easier to code in that variables can be accessed as though they are local instead of being a pointer to a variable, which admittedly is a more complex syntax. I don't have a problem with references just that there is no indication to the calling function that the variable that is being passed is a reference.

genux 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 10 · 2010-06-04T01:52:24+00:00

I would ask what does he think to the next language D ?

And also where does he think that D/C++ is placed within the latest languages (java/c#/ruby etc)

albertkao 12 Junior Poster in Training · Answer 11 · 2010-06-05T22:01:16+00:00

DaniWeb plans to interview Bjarne Stroustrup, the designer and original implementer of C++ and the author of many books on C++. This is truly a treat and rare opportunity for us as a community to talk to the father of C++.
As the new editor-in-chief of DaniWeb's News and Reviews I would like to reach out and involve the entire community and ask for your suggestions. Rather that simply asking Mr. Stroustrup the questions that come to my mind I would like to hear from you what you would like to know. Suggest a specific question or a general topic. Please keep it clean, respectful and relevant [to technology].
At the end of next Wednesday (May 19, 2010) I will review and consider all of your suggestions and come up with a list of questions for Mr. Stroustrup. I really look forward to your feedback and suggestions.

Ask him what will be the priority for the future C++ Standard Library wishlist (http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/docs/papers/2006/n2034.htm) after C++0x comes out in about a year
Personally I wish Web services, Web service container, Database support, Aspects and Design by contract will be the highest priority.

albertkao 12 Junior Poster in Training · Answer 12 · 2010-06-06T16:21:07+00:00

Benevolent Dictator For Life or BDFL is a title given to a small number of open source software development leaders. The BDFL resolves disputes or competing arguments within the community. The C++ community does not have a BDFL. Should the C++ community have a BDFL? If yes, does he want to be the BDFL?

Stefano Mtangoo 455 Senior Poster · Answer 13 · 2010-06-07T10:59:09+00:00

Stefano Mtangoo 455 Senior Poster

14 Years Ago

is it not done yet? where is result?

venkat arun -6 Light Poster · Answer 14 · 2010-06-11T14:31:19+00:00

Does he have any plans toad some of the libraries from the Boost collection of libraries to STL?

Why is giving code hints (in IDE's) more difficult in c++, is it a design problem?

What does he think about using interpreters for debugging?

While strings are very important in high-level programming, strings are not as developed in c++ as in other languages (say Java or Python). What should be done about it?

Stefano Mtangoo 455 Senior Poster · Answer 15 · 2010-06-11T15:45:24+00:00

Does he have any plans toad some of the libraries from the Boost collection of libraries to STL?

That is already done in soon coming version. They have borrowed some boost libs as boost braggs

venkat arun -6 Light Poster · Answer 16 · 2010-06-12T13:09:05+00:00

Nested comments are a boon in debugging. Why does C++ not support them, is this a design overlook?

Orion2k -6 Newbie Poster · Answer 17 · 2010-06-25T04:59:04+00:00

can u ask from him is it possible to develop AI programs in Native C++ more effectively.???
please ask this like I've asked from u
thanks.

venkat arun -6 Light Poster · Answer 18 · 2010-06-25T10:35:40+00:00

There are a few libraries out in the net, but it would be nice to have some AI libraries in the STL itself.

What about a few (non-windows) libraries dedicated to networking (high-level, not the current type)? After all having more abstraction through libraries is not bad, since the program will not get loaded if you don't use them, and will only increase programming efficiency.

Silvershaft 2 Junior Poster · Answer 19 · 2010-07-02T04:06:34+00:00

I emailed him once asking some things and got a reply :) Good luck, looking forward to some answers!

Orion2k -6 Newbie Poster · Answer 20 · 2010-07-02T18:52:48+00:00

Orion2k -6 Newbie Poster

14 Years Ago

:)

genux 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 21 · 2010-07-03T01:07:29+00:00

Has the interview/chat taken place ?

How cool is that though, to get a response from the man (Bjarne Stroustrup).

AkashL 0 Light Poster · Answer 22 · 2010-07-07T17:23:27+00:00

Has this interview happened now? When is it due to happen?

jerryjerry 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 23 · 2010-07-08T19:13:15+00:00

Why do new developers want to use only C#, Java,.Net Programming Languages? Why C++ has become second preference to the developers?

kRaeTwin 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 24 · 2010-07-09T08:43:20+00:00

I'd like to start by saying hi; I am new to this forum but I have visited many a time as a guest :)

You could ask him what it feels like to know that high performance games for basically ever console are written in a language he developed ?
I think he should charge companies that develop games in C++ - afterall, the games wouldn't work if his language wasn't implemented in them :P

technology -5 Light Poster · Answer 25 · 2010-07-13T16:01:25+00:00

I would just like to say to Bjarne Stroustroup well done on C++ I started with C Programming in 1982 for windows later and went onto C++ a decade later around 1994 I went through the process of relearning how to do it all over again in C++ using objects and thanks to his language objects are upgradeable resusable to some degree but can hide their complexity and expose simple methods for manipulating the objects. Trying to implement an object orietated approach for large projects in C would be a headache as I tried out a method for encapsulating C in a manner with a wrapper to give C an Objected Orietated extension but the translator produced C Code but the wrapper was a nightmare to use so thanks Bjarne for C++ and I hope you will work on all you ever wanted to know about C++ book something simple like the K&R AT&T C Book for C++ but in a small book nothing too massive for beginners to C++.

Stefano Mtangoo 455 Senior Poster · Answer 26 · 2010-07-13T18:37:33+00:00

I think he should charge companies that develop games in C++ - afterall, the games wouldn't work if his language wasn't implemented in them :P

Welcome Bill Gates II

Another Question, seriously, why is there no C++ Software foundation?

jonsca 1,059 Quantitative Phrenologist Team Colleague Featured Poster · Answer 27 · 2010-07-13T22:14:56+00:00

Welcome Bill Gates II

Bill Gates is already Bill Gates III LOL at your comment though.

Another Question, seriously, why is there no C++ Software foundation?

Since there is an ISO standard for the language why would you need such a body?