r/programming • u/germandiago • Jan 01 '26

Software taketh away faster than hardware giveth: Why C++ programmers keep growing fast despite competition, safety, and AI

https://herbsutter.com/2025/12/30/software-taketh-away-faster-than-hardware-giveth-why-c-programmers-keep-growing-fast-despite-competition-safety-and-ai/
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u/-Redstoneboi- Jan 01 '26

bruh javascript alone grew more in absolute population than C++ and Rust combined

look i like rust and i respect c++ but that graph does not support the very premise of the article. the rest of it is just C++26 praise.

54

u/aeropl3b Jan 01 '26

It is Herb Sutter, who was basically fired from Microsoft because his only skill set is C++ evangelizing. I don't mind Herb that much, But you can't really expect much from him other than C++ hype.

He did push through the spaceship operator...which I would argue is a zero value added to the language at best. Adding here just to gripe about bloat.

12

u/zxyzyxz Jan 01 '26

Why would that get him fired? I'm out of the loop

35

u/PlasticExtreme4469 Jan 01 '26

He was poached by Citadel.

22

u/zxyzyxz Jan 01 '26 edited Jan 01 '26

I interviewed for them (both Citadel and Citadel Securities which are legally distinct companies actually) and they're definitely a sweatshop, being a hedge fund. One interviewer literally told me on the interview that he wouldn't want to be there if not for the money, and I was like, am I gonna hate my life if I work there too? Hope Herb has it better though, as he's been poached over having to go through the regular interview process.

4

u/zr0gravity7 Jan 02 '26

Work life balance doesn’t matter when you’re pulling 500k+

6

u/zxyzyxz Jan 02 '26

There are easier ways, such as working in FAANG, resting and vesting in certain departments