5 Top C++ Features That Show It’s Not As Tricky As You Think

1. C++ is an Object Oriented Programming Language

Applications have become much more complex nowadays. They have a wide variety of data storage types, variables and a plethora of user interface paradigms for us to follow. We also have many types of variables (integers, floating points, strings, Booleans) in tables with enormous sizes of databases. We have to integrate all of this in harmony. The best way is to categorize each of these in their logical meaning in our real life. If we are developing a C++ app for a real world, and if we want our apps to best mirror that World, we should define variables and functions accordingly.

For example, we can write an application for a zoo with a database, we may store each animal type with their name, age, weight, .. etc. In real life, all animals in the zoo have names or ids, age, weights, etc. In this zoo, animals arrive; there are births, deaths and sometimes they can be moved from one section to another section of the zoo.

In Object Oriented Programming, for this zoo app example, we can define a Animal Class with a name, age, weight variables and these animals comes to zoo from somewhere so we should add them too zoo, births, they can be moved from one place to another place. As an Object of this Animal class , we can create Elephant, Tiger, Penguin … objects with this Animal class. So each animal type will have same attributes as Animals. We can move their place, we can add them or we can report them as dead. In a way, our objects work similar to real life.

Object Oriented Programming is a way to integrate with objects which can contain data in the form of attributes or properties of objects, and code blocks in the form of methods, functions of objects. These attributes and methods that belong to the class are generally referred to as class members. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a good way to work on data and work with functions in memory. Classes and Objects are the best way to work on properties and functions. Object-Oriented Programming has many advantages over procedural programming and it is the most characteristic feature of the C++ programming language. Benefits of Object-Oriented Programming are,

• faster and easier to execute
• provides a clear structure for the programs
• helps to keep the C++ code DRY “Don’t Repeat Yourself”, and makes the code easier to maintain, modify and debug
• makes it possible to create full reusable applications with less code and shorter development time

Procedural programming is about functions ( procedures, sub-functions, algorithms ) that perform operations on variables (properties). While OOP is about objects with a defined class that contain both properties and functions. OOP is a modern way to use both variables and functions safely.

Learn about Object Oriented Programming, Introduction to OOP

2. C++ is a Native Programming Language

C++ Programming language is one of the most widely usable software that can be downloaded easily. The great variety of sources and hosts for C++ compilers means users can develop their small applications for different platforms for free. If you are looking for the best free C and C++ compiler available today, this article lists the Top Free C/C++ Compilers with their features. It’s very hard to identify which C++ compiler is the best for you, as this is mostly about what you want to achieve with your code. If you want to implement small projects for analysis and calculations without GUIs and many other features, most small compilers will do just fine. If you want to migrate from building simple executable code to complex professional applications, we highly recommend using Community Editions which are free to use, and then you can switch to a professional C++ compiler with an advanced IDE from the start.

There are two types of programming languages: Interpreted and Non-Interpreted (Compiled). All computers (CPU/GPU) work with machine code (code that can be directly programmed by assembler codes) that tells the computer what to do (exe files are this kind of file). This is the most native and fastest code, but it requires writing many lines for simple things and is hard to generalize for all kinds of machines.

Native programming means you can use every part of the device natively and efficiently. That allows you build faster applications like Iterative Numerical Analyzers, Image Processing Applications, High-DPI Video Analyzers, Deep Learning and Other AI Applications.

The Top Free C++ Compilers to Download Right Now

3. Multi-OS and Multi-Device Compilation Options

In C++ you can develop a single code for the most of popular operating systems. C++ Builder is the easiest and fastest C and C++ IDE for building simple or professional applications on the Windows, MacOS, iOS & Android operating systems. It is also easy for beginners to learn with its wide range of samples, tutorials, help files and LSP support for code. C++ Builder comes with Rapid Application Development Studio, also known as RAD Studio, and C++ Builder is one of the most professional IDE’s that work under RAD Studio. Under the Embarcadero brand it comes with new versions, features, updates and support. RAD Studio’s C++ Builder version comes with the award-winning VCL framework for high-performance native Windows apps and the powerful FireMonkey (FMX) framework for cross-platform UIs. There is a free C++ Builder Community Edition for students, beginners and startups.

You can download the free C++ Builder Community Edition here: https://www.embarcadero.com/products/cbuilder/starter.
Professional developers can use the Professional, Architect or Enterprise versions of C++ Builder. Please visit https://www.embarcadero.com/products/cbuilder.

4. Modern ways to enhance your development

C++ has a lot of modern ways using to enhance your developments. Here are some of examples to modern C++ features;

• You can use the latest CLANG and C++17 features and standards in C++ Builder
• You can easily use visual components of the VCL Visual Component Library framework for Windows apps or FMX FireMonkey framework for Multidevice applications.
• You can add music, sound, icons, high DPI images, splash screens to your applications easily
• You can use multi-task coding methods to use all CPU cores in C++
• You can use new modern libraries for example Parallel Library to use all CPU cores in a computational loop
• You can develop 3D applications easily by using OpenGL, Viewport3D or you can use other 3rd party engines
• You can add 3rd party components or you can create your own components by using New Component Wizard
• You can check sensor and you can easily reach to other peripherals of the device like camera, microphone, motion sensor etc
• You can use std::wstring, std::u16string or UnicodeString in your applications which means you can support worldwide languages that allows you to develop global applications.
• You can connect to the latest databases by using database components. For example official FireDAC database component enables native high-speed direct access from Delphi and C++Builder to InterBase, SQLite, MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, DB2, SQL Anywhere, Advantage DB, Firebird, Access, Informix, DataSnap and more, including the NoSQL Database MongoDB.. There are other 3rd party database components too.
• You can easily add Visual Effects to your Bitmap Images and UI design on design time and on runtime
• You can use Python in your C++ apps by using Python4Delphi component
• You can deploy your apps to Windows Store, App Store and to Google Play with only one click.

These are only some of examples of thousands may be millions of features in C++ programming.

5. Allows You To Develop Stunning UI Designs

In RAD Studio, Multi-Device C++ Builder FireMonkey Projects, using styles on your new projects is very easy. You design your application view in normal ways with buttons, labels, edit boxes, memos, trackbars, panels, switches etc. You can also add these Styles to your Old C++ Builder Projects or to Old C++ Builder Unit files. You just need a RAD Studio, C++ Builder which supports styles, we highly recommend you latest RADS , C++ Builder 10.x versions which has new features and improvements on Styles.

Syles are sets of graphical details that define the look and feel of a application visually and they are one of most beautiful and useful UI feature of RAD Studio, that makes your UI elements skinned with professionally designed with different Styles. Official Styles are designed by Embarcadero’s Designers and other there are other 3rd party Styles, also users may generate their own styles. Styles are similar to themes in Windows or skins of applications. Styles are being modernized with RAD Studio, C++ Builder and Delphi since the first XE versions (2010), currently C++ Builder 10.4 has many improvements on Styles.

Learn To Modernize Appearance Of Multi-Platform C++ Builder FMX Applications By Using Styles

C++ Builder is the easiest and fastest C and C++ IDE for building simple or professional applications on the Windows, MacOS, iOS & Android operating systems. It is also easy for beginners to learn with its wide range of samples, tutorials, help files, and LSP support for code. RAD Studio’s C++ Builder version comes with the award-winning VCL framework for high-performance native Windows apps and the powerful FireMonkey (FMX) framework for cross-platform UIs.

There is a free C++ Builder Community Edition for students, beginners, and startups; it can be downloaded from here. For professional developers, there are Professional, Architect, or Enterprise versions of C++ Builder and there is a trial version you can download from here.