Introduction to C++

C++ began as Bjarne Stroustrup’s “C with Classes” at Bell Labs in 1979 and became C++ in 1983. ISO standardization started with C++98 and evolved through C++11, C++14, C++17, C++20, and C++23. Modern C++ supports procedural, object-oriented, generic, and functional styles while retaining efficient access to hardware.

Toolchain and first build

Install GCC, Clang, or MSVC and use a recent language mode. Enable warnings because they catch many type, lifetime, and control-flow mistakes.

#include <iostream>

int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello, modern C++!\n";
}

With GCC or Clang, build with c++ -std=c++20 -Wall -Wextra -Wpedantic main.cpp -o app. A project normally moves through preprocessing, compilation, assembly, and linking. Debuggers, sanitizers, formatters, and a build system such as CMake complete the practical setup.

C and C++ are different languages

C++ inherited much of C syntax, but idiomatic C++ uses constructors, destructors, references, templates, exceptions, containers, algorithms, and RAII. Prefer std::string to manual character buffers, std::vector to owning dynamic arrays, and smart pointers to owning raw pointers. C-style casts, malloc, and global mutable state may compile but bypass useful C++ guarantees.

The zero-overhead goal

C++ abstractions are designed so unused features cost nothing and well-designed abstractions can compile to code comparable with a manual implementation. Performance is not automatic: undefined behavior, needless allocation, poor data layout, and accidental copies still matter. Start with clear ownership and strong types, test behavior, then profile before optimizing.