C++

C++ is a commonly used programming language. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1979 as an upgrade from the then commonly used C language. C++ began to incorporate a newer style of programming which is called object oriented programming. C++ first began to incorporate classes and then added member functions, operator overloading, exception handling and several other more advanced features now common in computer programming. C++ is now used readily in many different types of programming. It is commonly used to develop system software, device drivers, and is also implemented in video game development. C++ is like other high level languages uses keywords as well as variables and operators to develop the code for computer softwares. These keywords and variables become the source code for the software. The source code is then put through a complier. The compiler is a program itself that takes the source code and converts it into binary code which the computer can understand. The compiler will also reveal some of the errors that computer programmers will face during the programming process.

Languages

Thus far in my computer science studies I haven't had a ton of practice with many of the computer programming languages that are in wide use today. I have used Java and begun to work with C++. I have realized that there are many similarities between the two languages in both syntax and overall style, but Java and C++ are only a small part of the spectrum of computer programming languages.

In software development it is fairly common that the software is developed using many different computer languages. Windows Vista, for example, was developed using C#, C++, .Net framework and several other languages. Although Vista is an operating system which is complex computer software, it is common practice to use different languages for a single software. This is done because certain languages are best suited for different parts of programming. Many times this will be done by different programmers that specialize in different languages. I would like to take a look into some of the different languages over the next few posts and focus on what languages are better suited for different types of programming. This allows for a better understanding of the programming process and the different tools utilized during it.

A Constant Change

Computer programming is the basis of software development and is a quickly evolving science. Technological advances are constantly changing the programing industry. Only forty years ago computers were programmed using binary code and punch cards. Now all software is developed using high level programming languages like Java and C++. Software development will always change so software developers must always learn the advancements of technology. The software development process can be broken down into steps that will always be useful in development though.

The process begins with analyzing the product that needs to be developed. Usually this starts with identifying the user's needs and then designing and testing a solution. The solution is referred to as an algorithm. Once the algorithm has been developed it is then coded by a computer programmer. Many times the algorithm is developed by one group of people and the coding is done by another set of people, but this is not always true and I will analyze the differences as I break down recently developed software in future posts.