51.3 - The Design and Evolution of C++ (Bjarne Stroustrup)
This book is copyright 1994, the year I started working in Developer Support for Visual C++. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I haven't read this book before. Since I've decided to add more C++ books to my reading queue, I thought I'd start with this book. I'm glad I did.
My general impressions after reading this book are that C++ was really crafted from real user experience by someone who had strong ideas of what the language should be (and should not be). Those ideas make a lot of sense even 12 years later and I think that's one reason why the language endures. Some stuff from the book that surprised me or that I didn't know and found interesting:
- The initial incarnation of what would become C++ (C with Classes) contained a feature that would allow you to specify a function that would be called before every member function call and another that would be called before every member functrion returned.
- Almost from the very beginning, C++ has had a community of users that had to be considered as the language moved forward.
- Andrew Koenig and Barbara Moo were the test team for C++ version 2.0.
- Stroustrup wrote this with respect to what C++ is suitable for: "C++ is not ideally suited for applications that do not have major systems-programming components and where run-time and space efficiency requirements are not demanding. However, when supported by libraries and possibly by a garbage collector C++ often is a viable tool." As far as C++ strengths, he mentions low-level and higher-level systems programming, embedded systems, numeric/scientific computing, and for certain components in mixed systems.
- Back in 1994, Stroustrup expressed the desire that C++ implementors take the language beyond text files and character-oriented tools.
- Multi-methods were consdered for C++ and Stroustrup expresses regret that he was unable to get them into the language.
D&E is an excellent book full of great information and history about the evolution of one of the most important programming languages in history. I'm glad I finally got around to reading it.
Recommended.
12:24:07 AM 
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