C# and C++

Question

I have seen many job ads requirement knowing C++ only, there are no other programming languages are requested.

But when it comes to C# I have seen very rarely job ads only with C# request. Many other Programming languages are requested with C#. For example typical job ads requirement is as below.

Programming Languages: C++

Programming Languages: ASP, Java Script, CSS, SQL, C#

Programming Languages: SQL, C#

I wish to whether C++ is more power full than C# or country to country requirement will differ.

Vulpes · Answer

I think that to put it in such stark terms is being unduly harsh on C#. What I'm saying is that in the types of programming where C# is commonly used i.e. web and desktop applications, you need to have knowledge of more things than just the language itself. However, in the types of programming where C++ is commonly used i.e. games and system development, you can get by, more or less, with just the language itself. It's important to note that the position vis-a-vis web and desktop programming is the same whatever language you use including C++ itself which is still used by some developers to write desktop applications. As most such applications need access to data, you need a basic knowledge of SQL to be able to query relational database products such as SQL Server, Oracle and MySQL, as well as knowledge of text formats such as XML and (increasingly) JSON. Although Microsoft doesn't support ASP.NET development using C++/CLI (the .NET version of C++), if they did, you'd still need to know about JavaScript, HTML, CSS and a number of other things to be a professional web developer. So, there's no need for the C# developer to feel depressed about the current state of affairs. Indeed, now that it's been open-sourced, the future of C# looks assured with its reach being extended to more platforms than just Windows and future versions offering the promise of more low level support on the one hand and further integration of key concepts from functional programming languages on the other.

Vulpes · Answer

Incidentally, Maha, I read recently that there now thought to be around 8 million C# developers in the world and, with 1.9 million registered users of this site, you're in good company :)

Maha · Answer

I thought time invested to study C# is a futile exercise and it is pestering my mind very much for a long time even though my profession is not programming. Your explanation is excellent Vulpes, thank you.

Maha · Answer

From your view Vulpes knowing C# alone is useless whereas knowing C++ alone is useful .

Vulpes · Answer

C++ is more powerful than C# but is much harder to learn and use to a professional standard. The areas where it excels are games and system programming where its fast executable speeds and ability to interface with operating system and hardware resources at a low level are particularly important. For these sorts of tasks it's all you need. In contrast C# tends to be used for general application and server side web programming (ASP.NET) where it needs the support of SQL for relational database access, JavaScript for client side web programming and various other technologies such as HTML/CSS. So I think that's the basic reason why C++ jobs may not ask for anything else but C# jobs invariably do. Where you happen to live is nothing to do with it.

Afzaal Ahmad Zeeshan · Answer

No Maha, that is not a case. Programming language neither depends on the locale of yours or the ad you're reviewing. It only depends on the company that's hiring. The three example ads that you've shown, seems to tell, that the first company is interested in developing quality software, C++ is converted to C code then into native code. Which is why C++ is usually used for cross-platform development; C doesn't support class, C++ does. The second company has interest in web applications, and the third one creates applications that use databases. This way you can make your mind to check what would company offer you? Even if you're not interested, there are quite a bunch of jobs in almost every field. For example, if you go for a web development job, even in your own city there would be a company hiring developers with C# experience, but didn't bother paying for an ad service. C++ is (for sure) a lot more powerfull, because as I said it compiles to native code that is why it is much much faster to be ran across platforms. Whereas the C#, converts to the IL code and is compiled as required . That is why it takes some time for the applications to run, and it also runs over .NET framework making the applications consume a bit more memory. Companies are already available to hire you (or other developers), ads do not show the actual interest of the companies in developers. It (for me) shows, that there is a great search for C++ developer, as compared to C# developer. C# is a lot simpler as compared to C++. I personally love C# way more than I would even use C++.

Prasham Sabadra · Answer

Hi Maha, These are two different languages and target to different set of applications. Along with the products C# also mostly used with Asp.net while coding. Also like we are working on SharePoint, but for server side coding we mostly use the C#. Please let me know if you confusion or want to more details.

Michal Habalcik · Answer

not sure the rest besides C++/C# can be called as 'languages'. SQL is just an addition if you work with databases. It can be used with C++ as well. JavaScript and CSS are a reasonable additions to ASP.net (doesn't matter if you use C# or Visual Basic).