Summary
In this chapter, we learned that C++ has evolved and diverged significantly from its humble C (as well as B and BCPL) origins. We learned that C++ has introduced modern features and stricter rules to enhance safety and efficiency, and to support modern programming paradigms. While it maintains much of C’s syntax, the two languages have heavily branched off over time, leading to compatibility challenges, especially when mixing older C code with features requiring newer C++ standards. We discussed this extensively in this chapter.
Within modern C++ itself, the introduction of features such as move semantics, stricter template parsing, and changes in the behavior of keywords such as auto have added layers of complexity (not that there were not enough). We also learned this in this chapter.
Despite these challenges, we explored the fact that C++ continues to build on its rich legacy, offering powerful tools for developers while requiring careful attention to evolving...
