Jeff Garland on C++ Generic Programming: Harmful or Helpful?

In the world of programming, C and C++ continue to be two of the most influential languages that shaped modern software development. Recently, I revisited the fundamental differences between them, and this comparison serves as a powerful reminder of how each language contributes uniquely to building technology. The image below highlights some of the key distinctions between C and C++, and here’s my takeaway: C A powerful procedural programming language Focuses on functions, flow control, and structured programming Lacks object-oriented concepts such as inheritance and polymorphism Does not support operator overloading or virtual functions Often follows a bottom-up approach Still widely used for system programming, embedded systems, and performance-critical tasks C++ An extension of C that brings the full power of object-oriented programming Supports classes, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction Enables operator overloading and virtual functions, making code more flexible and extensible Typically follows a top-down design approach for solving complex problems Used extensively in real-time systems, game engines, simulations, and applications requiring high performance and modular design Why This Comparison Matters Whether you're learning programming, preparing for interviews, or refining your development philosophy, understanding the mindset behind procedural vs. object-oriented paradigms is essential. C builds your foundation; C++ teaches you how to scale it into larger, more maintainable systems. Both languages have stood the test of time - and mastering their differences can give you a significant advantage in writing efficient, structured, and scalable code. #CProgramming #CPP #SoftwareDevelopment #ProgrammingConcepts #ObjectOrientedProgramming #Developers #TechLearning #CodingJourney #EngineeringMindset

This is a great article on just how tricky casting bytes can be. It's the first article that I've read that covers all the gotchas such as aliasing, alignment, object lifetimes, and what to do about it!

How do you reinterpret the bytes of an object of one type as another type in C++? If your answer is a type-cast or a union, you're probably invoking undefined behavior! Type punning is an essential concept for writing low-level C++, especially for embedded or networking programming, but unfortunately is full of footguns that can cause you to write non-portable code. I wrote a deep-dive blog on this topic detailing: * Why C-style casts and unions are UB in C++ * Object lifetimes, alignment requirements, and strict aliasing rules * Modern, correct approaches: std::memcpy, `std::bit_cast` (C++20), and `std::start_lifetime_as` (C++23). Check out the full post here and please give me any feedback: https://lnkd.in/e-wqs4ay #Cpp #SystemsProgramming #EmbeddedSystems #SoftwareEngineering

Type punning in C++ leads to undefined behavior and still remains in our code based for several reasons: * it's a low-level code and thus can be ugly, * it works. Joseph Zalusky shows better approaches in modern C++ for the same job

While reading “Modern C++ Programming with Test-Driven Development” by Jeff Langr, I came across a simple yet powerful concept that is often overlooked — Hamcrest-style assertions. In my work, I primarily use the GoogleTest (GTest) framework, so the examples below are based on it. GTest documentation itself advises avoiding “classic form” assertions such as `EXPECT_EQ(actual_value, expected_value)`. These can sometimes produce misleading or incomplete diagnostics, and in some cases even pass unintentionally due to implicit conversions — for example, when comparing different types such as `bool` and `string`. By contrast, Hamcrest assertions (using `EXPECT_THAT(actual_value, matcher)`) make comparisons explicit and provide far more informative failure messages. Instead of only showing that two values differ, they describe why they differ and how the comparison was evaluated. Another major advantage is the rich set of built-in matchers available — such as `Eq`, `Ge`, `StartsWith`, `Contains`, `AllOf`, and many others. They allow you to write expressive, readable tests that clearly communicate intent, without extra helper functions or complex conditions. In real-world projects, this expressiveness and clarity significantly reduce debugging time and improve collaboration. When multiple developers review failed tests, clear and descriptive messages help the team quickly understand what went wrong without digging into the code. Even though it might seem like a small change, using Hamcrest matchers can make your tests not only more readable, but also more reliable and maintainable — a key goal of any robust test suite. You can see the difference between classic and Hamcrest assertions in the picture below.

C++Now 2025 - Richard Powell: "Techniques for Declarative Programming in C++" youtu.be/zyz0IUc5po4 Declarative programming is the technique of saying “what you want” instead of “how to do”. This talk walks through the lessons and learnings I encountered when developing wxUI, a C++ Declarative UI library built on top of wxWidgets. This talk is not about creating GUIs in C++, but instead breaks down techniques for how to use C++ techniques to give structure and clarity to your code. We will explore using many advanced techniques like CRTP, expression templates, and [insert the C++ buzzword of the week here] to create flexible libraries to convert imperative programming to declarative programming. --- Richard Powell began using C++ 20 years ago to develop a psychoacoustic audio encoder/decoder, and has since continued exploring how to create software that unlocks the potential of hardware to deliver incredible audio experiences. He enjoys both teaching and learning about C++ and programming, and has presented several talks at CppCon as well as at local Bay Area C++ user groups. Beyond computers, Richard plays both the trombone and piano (though not usually at the same time) and performs jazz and classical music at local events.

Don’t refactor a codebase just to support the next best programming language, there is negative ROI in most cases. Refactor your code to be more easily extendable, or to make it easier to work with in general. You can measure that, and it’s useful.

💡 C vs C++ — Understanding the Core Difference As developers, we often start our journey with C, the foundation of modern programming — a procedural language focused on functions and structured logic. Then we move to C++, an evolution that introduces Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) — bringing classes, objects, and reusability into play. Both languages are powerful in their own way: ✅ C – Fast, low-level, close to hardware ✅ C++ – Flexible, modular, and object-oriented Understanding their differences helps us appreciate how programming has evolved — from procedural thinking to object-oriented design. 🚀 #C #CPlusPlus #Programming #Developers #Coding #Learning #SoftwareDevelopment #OOP #TechEducation

Discover what C programming is and why this foundational language is still vital today. Our beginner's guide covers its history, features, and uses. https://lnkd.in/ecZ9xMRA

OOP in C# 🧩 Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) in C# — Deep Dive After mastering C# basics, I continued with “OOP as it should be in C#”, learning how to write clean, reusable, and scalable code. 🔹 What I Learned: Classes & Objects: memory management and object creation Encapsulation & Abstraction: writing secure, maintainable code Inheritance & Polymorphism: constructors, overriding, multi-level inheritance Interfaces & Abstract Classes: designing flexible systems Composition, Partial & Sealed Classes: modular and organized code Advanced C# features: Enums, nested classes, class libraries 🔹 Mini Projects: Calculator Project to practice constructors, static members, and OOP principles Practical examples applying real-life constructors and static members 🔹 Key Takeaways: Learned to think object-oriented first Strengthened my ability to build large-scale C# applications OOP principles make code cleaner, scalable, and maintainable Feeling more confident in writing professional-quality C# code and ready to tackle bigger projects! 💪 #CSharp #OOP #DotNet #SoftwareEngineering #CleanCode #Programming #ObjectOrientedProgramming #ContinuousLearning