Perhaps you’re a student considering a programming career and thinking about learning C++. Or, you may be an experienced coder who wants to add another string to their bow, and C++ seems like a good fit. Whatever the case may be, you want to know is C++ still in demand after so long before you commit to learning it.
This article points out the usefulness of C++ in modern programming by examining industry stats, explaining where C++ is used, and providing some of the key reasons why you should learn it.
Is C++ Still in Demand – What the Statistics Say
Given that it was created in 1983, you’d be easily forgiven for assuming that C++ is a defunct programming language. After all, many new languages have appeared in the near-40 years since the creation of C++. However, C++ is still in demand because its flexibility and system-level capabilities make it exceptionally useful for many modern applications.
Statistics from career experts at Zippia show that the average C++ developer in the U.S. earns about $100,000 per year, which works out to $49 per hour. But perhaps more importantly, the same company suggests likely growth in the C++ sector.
It estimates that the demand for C++ coders will grow 21% between 2018 and 2028, creating over 284,000 jobs in the United States alone.
Further to these statistics, the C++ sector offers many job opportunities. Beyond the obvious C++ development careers, coders who know this language can work as software applications architects and senior data center engineers.
Dell Certified Systems Experts also need a working knowledge of C++. Additionally, the language is common in many medical technologies, meaning knowing C++ could help you land a role as a clinic administrator or informatics nurse specialist.
What Are the Uses for C++ in Modern Business
While the statistics suggest consistent growth for the C++ sector in the coming years, you may be wondering how the language fits into the modern world. Is C++ still in demand in industries that matter? As it happens, C++ is still used extensively in several ways.
Operating System Development
Large sections of Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows are developed using C++ as their primary language. That’s due to the language’s combination of speedy execution and the many system-level functions coders can create using C++.
These features make C++ ideal for coding software that runs directly alongside computer hardware.
Machine Learning
Machine learning tools leverage artificial intelligence to process huge amounts of data quickly. An efficient programming language is required for this, which is where C++ comes in. Several popular machine learning frameworks were developed in C++, including the open source platform TensorFlow.
Video Game Development
The key to modern video game development lies in getting the most out of the hardware the development team is using. While modern consoles are exceptionally powerful, coders still need to engage in resource manipulation to work within the limitations these systems set.
C++ offers the resource management and manipulation capacity needed for this task. In fact, several major video game development engines, including Unreal Engine, are made using C++.
It’s for this reason that many videogames have a strong C++ component underpinning them. The language is also commonly used in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) games. In these scenarios, C++ is often essential to manage the enormous amounts of sensor data these types of games must process in real-time.
Cloud Computing
According to cloud services provider Cloudwards’ projections, end-user spending on cloud-based products is projected to reach $397.5 billion in 2022. This is a substantial increase on the $332.3 billion the organization projected for 2021.
Why does that matter when you’re asking yourself the question is C++ still in demand?
Cloud computing systems run close to system hardware, in which C++ excels. The language offers several features that make it ideal for cloud storage solutions. For example, its multithreading capabilities improve performance so that cloud systems can process high request volumes and balance usage loads.
As a portable language, C++ software is also compatible with many types of servers.
Database Development
The more a database needs to scale, the more important performance becomes. Again, C++ serves as the foundational language for many popular database solutions because of its speed and flexibility. For example, MySQL is built using C++, which means a working knowledge of C++ serves as a basis for a better understanding of the MySQL framework.
Custom databases usually have a grounding in C++ too, making coders who know the language essential to many large companies.
The Reasons You Should Learn C++
With demand established and some of the uses for C++ in modern business covered, you may already have enough reasons to learn the language. Still, it’s worth digging into those reasons more deeply to further demonstrate just how important C++ still is.
Career Opportunities
As a foundational language for many other languages, C++ is essential for many computer science careers. As established above, many industries still require C++ experts for the development of tools and software.
The language’s versatility also means that coders who know how to use it can create solutions that may not be possible with other languages. Finally, a good understanding of C++ helps developers to analyze code written in languages based on C++ and advance their skills.
All of these benefits of the language lead to career opportunities because they provide C++ developers with a solid grounding that they can build from when learning other languages.
Ideal for Large Projects
If you have a large project, the odds are that C++ will be implemented somewhere within it. Examples include Spotify, which uses C++ for all of its backend code, and YouTube, which has a video processing function built using the language.
Any project that leverages databases, cloud storage, graphic designs, and compilers will likely be built using C++. If the project requires control over huge amounts of data, C++ is often the best choice because of its flexibility and speed.
Enormous Community Support
C++ has existed for 40 years.
It’s this fact that has made you ask the question: “Is C++ still in demand?” However, that longevity has a side benefit in the sense that it has allowed for an enormous development community to build up around the language.
Tens of thousands of coders work with C++ and actively support developers using the language. As a result, it’s often easier to find solutions for challenges you have in C++ than it is for less popular languages. Furthermore, you’ll find it easier to learn C++ due to the enormous volume of resources available for it.
As we’ve established, demand for C++ is likely to increase over time. This means the extensive support community that already exists is only going to grow further, making it even easier for novice coders to get help.
Speed And Versatility
The combined speed and versatility of C++ is one of the many reasons that major organizations use it as their programming language of choice for large projects.
C++ supports several programming methods, including object-oriented, functional, and procedural programming. This versatility ensures that coders always have options when exploring complex problems. The result is less time spent trying to find workarounds required because of the limitations a language imposes.
Beyond supporting multiple programming methods, C++ is simply fast in general.
Compile and execution times are often lower in C++ than for other languages. That speed allows programmers to develop solutions quickly and with fewer resources, making C++ developers desirable to organizations that want fast and cost-effective work.
C++ Helps You Learn Other Languages
As an intermediate programming language, C++ acts as a bridge between machine code and many other languages. By learning C++, you gain a deeper understanding of programming structure that helps you transition into other languages, such as Java and MySQL. C++ requires developers to write and explain everything in their source code.
Though time-consuming compared to the tools offered by other languages, this need to explain everything fosters your understanding of major programming principles.
By putting the time into learning C++, you make it easier to learn other languages. Think of it as a large initial investment that makes future work easier. Once you have a grounding in C++, jumping into other languages is simpler because you understand the basic coding principles that underpin them.
Meet the C++ Demand
Is C++ still in demand?
It absolutely is. C++ still serves as the foundation for many modern programming languages. Learning how to code in C++ means you can easily transition to other languages without wasting time on learning the basics.
But beyond this foundational merit, C++ is still used directly to create many types of software and applications. Those with aspirations of working in gaming, AR, or VR development need to know C++. The same goes for people who wish to work on large projects, such as enterprise-level databases and operating systems.
Despite its age, C++ is still one of the world’s most popular programming languages and the demand for skilled C++ coders will continue increasing in the coming years.
