History of the C programming language

¶ … C++ programming language. Specifically, it will discuss the creation of the language and some of its applications. C++ is one of the most important programming languages in use today. It has revolutionized the computing world, and applications using the language are utilized by millions of people around the world every day.

Bell Labs scientist Bjarne Stroustrup developed C++ Programming Language between 1983 and 1985. Initially, Stroustrup simply added some features to the C. Programming Language, and called it "C with Classes." Stroustrup added more alterations and functions and finally came up with C++, an Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) language. C++ evolved from a long line of languages that began in the 1960s with languages like FORTRAN and Combined Programming Language (CPL) ("History," 2000). CPL eventually evolved into C (which first stood for "Cambridge" where it was developed, and later "Christopher," for Christopher Strachey, the scientist who helped develop it (Lohr, 2001, pg. 100). C was an excellent language, but with refinements, C++ became even more useable. One history of the language notes, "nowadays it is the most used language in the development of applications" ("History," 2000). Related to Unix as well as C, Stroustrup initially conceived the program as a simple tool to link Unix computers, and ended up as a programming solutions utilized by millions (Lohr, 2001, pg. 103). Stroustrup also used facets of the Simula program in developing C++, which led to C++'s object oriented orientation. Stroustrup took two years to clarify and fine-tune the language; the first instruction manual did not appear until 1985. Since then, C++ has dominated the programming language market, and it has been used to create some of the most well know software packages in use today. Just what is C++ anyway?

The C++ Programming Language

The C++ Programming Language takes C. And makes it a better memory manager, thus allowing for larger and more convoluted programming. One writer notes, "C++ gave programmers mechanisms to structure, define, and handle data logically. With it, a programmer can put one kind of data - say, employee information in one kind of software container and then define what could be done with it, as if these controls were knobs or dials" (Lohr, 2001, pg. 103). One of C++'s best features is the fact that it can run in any computer running C, without any modifications. It is a highly useful program that gives programmers flexibility and familiarity, while bringing OOP to the mainstream.

OOP (Object-Oriented Programming)

OOP is essentially a way of programming with "objects," such as employees, inventory, lists, or other items. C++ is an OOP language, and thus, it uses objects as the main form of criteria in the program. In OOP, "methods" can then manipulate each object, and then subclasses can be applied to each method and/or object. One writer describes it this way, " Each member of the class is called an "object," so Mary Smith is an object, for programming purposes. The programmer will declare that each class member, or object, has certain attributes (name, age, Social Security number, salary, etc.)" (Lohr, 2001, pg.109). Often, these objects are bundled together to create an entire module of a program, and then other modules interact with them.

The popular Internet software Java is also an OOP language. Another language, SmallTalk, is considered by many to be the "ultimate" OOP language. Writer Lohr continues, "The major 'object - oriented' languages now in use, C++ and Java, made pragmatic compromises to run faster and to accommodate the habits and practices of working programmers" (Lohr, 2001, pg. 151). Thus, OOP languages aid programmers in their design and implementation, and make large databases easier to manipulate.

C++ Applications