C++
C++ (pronounced "see plus plus") is an multi-paradigm programming language, which supports object-oriented programming; developed, during the 1980s, by Bjarne Stroustrup of Bell Labs. C++ is derived from C. C++ was standardized in 1998 (ISO/IEC 14882-1998). Along with it's object-oriented design, C++ is distinguished from C with its support for generic programming and template metaprogramming; via alias types, in-line expansion, templates, and //-commenting. In-line expansion and //-commenting were added to C, as part of the C99 update.
History of C++
Stroustrup began work on the language in 1979, inspired by Simula67, and the language was first used, by AT&T, in August 1983. The original compiler was Cfront. The first commercial release was in October 1985.
History of the Name "C++"
While most C is valid C++, C is not a subset of C++; although, the names do indicate a distinct relationship. This name is credited to Rick Mascitti (mid-1983) and was first used in December '83. Earlier, during the research period, the developing language had been referred to as "C with Classes". The name stems from C's "++" operator (which increments the value of a variable) and a common naming convention of using "+" to indicate an enhanced computer program, for example: "Wikipedia+". According to Stroustrup: "the name signifies the evolutionary nature of the changes from C". C+ was earlier used as the name for an unrelated program.
Some C-programmers have noted:
- if x=3 and y=x++, then x=4 and y=3;however, if y=++x, then y=4 and x=4.
Following such reasoning, a more proper name for C++ might actually be ++C. However, other C-programmers do use the expression "c++" to increment the variable "c".
Ownership of C++
Nobody owns C++. Stroustrup and AT&T are not paid royalties for the usage of C++.
"Hello Wikipedia!" Program
The below code can be compiled into a program which outputs a text message. See also: Hello world program
#include <iostream> // The <iostream> header is needed for std::cout
int main() // Beginning of main() routine
{ // { ... } is used to include blocks of code
std::cout << "Hello, Wikipedia!\n"; // Outputs the text enclosed with ""
}
Note that older (non-standard) C++ compilers, such as Borland C++ 5.02, usually require <iostream.h> instead of the standard <iostream>, and cout instead of std::cout.
Class definition
#include <string>
using std::string;
class InetMessage
{
string m_subject, m_to, m_from;
public:
InetMessage (const string& subject,
const string& to,
const string& from);
string subject () const;
string to () const;
string from () const;
};