Over the last 7-8 years what are the biggest influences on C++ programming?

Question

I started programming in C++. It was my first language, but I have not used it in many years.

What are the new developments in the C++ world? What are the BIG things -

Answer 1

Good books to help prospective C++ programmers learn how to use the language properly. Effective C++ by Scott Meyers was a massive help for me. There are other threads on C++ books.

Answer 2

To me, besides the already mentioned boost, TMP, MC++D etc., the shift away from teaching C++ as "C plus some extras" towards "C++ is a very different language that's not to be used like C" is very important. That would make Koenig/Moo "Accelerated C++" is a huge influence, even though it's a beginners book and even though it's a beginners book that has (with only 250 pages) much too steep a learning curve.

Stroustrup had been saying things about a better language hidden within C++ and the need to teach it better, but I never really understood what he meant until, after 10 years of C++ programming and experience in TMP, I read the book and was enlighted. :^> It's not that I learned any new technical facts from the book. It just taught me a better way to look at (and teach) C++.

And, yes, I have been programming different since then.

Answer 3

Qt is also pretty useful, 'pretty', well-documented, portable, and free (now under LGPL).

Answer 4

Commercially available whole-program and profile-guided optimization from various C++ compilers, notably Intel's and Microsoft's. In particular, cross-module inlining makes it easier to write well-factored code that blazes.

Answer 5

Developers who actually understand OO rather than C with Classes.

Though the field is still full of C programmers with think they know C++ (but don't they are just C with Classes people).

Answer 6

Although it started in 1998, but it really got going in the last 7-8 years, the boost libraries have added a huge amount of high quality code, which in many ways has helped keep c++ somewhat up to date with the capabilities of more modern languages.