Yeah throughout a career, you'll learn many different styles of C++, some of which are almost as different from each other as C is to C#! ;)

Regarding interview tests, I've usually seen C used for that (even for Lua jobs) to see if someone understands their fundamentals well.

it;s not nice and it wouldn't happen in a more modern language.

Interestingly now that C# is starting to age, I am starting to notice some of the same complexities as in C++.

For example, the C# that you would need to write in Metro applications is very different to what you would write in Unity. It has a much more non-blocking / "javascript" like approach where much of the functionality is implemented as async functions (albeit all completely unique to Metro and very unportable so we can't really blame C# here). Much of the standard C# patterns do not work here (in particular the using (or IDisposable, try / finally) pattern for memory management since allocations need to persist across functions).

Perhaps the biggest issue is that a lot (too much) of the standard C# library has been removed or replaced in Metro (.NET 4.0 Core) and it is a little harder to work around than in C++ because of a less flexible preprocessor.

That said the Metro C++(/cx) is pretty crazy too and sees many of the same issues as C# with the stripping down of the <windows.h>, however it's standard libraries are completely intact allowing for IMO an easier porting process.

So I guess it comes down to the fact that Metro is annoying, however, since C++ has a smaller standard library than C# it means there is less there for Microsoft to shred! ;)

I wouldn't be surprised if a future version of C# does provide a preprocessor similar to C++. Once C# gets the same amount of legacy baggage as C++ (and since it is a popular language this is quite likely) then it really is going to need it.

Regarding interview tests, I've usually seen C used for that (even for Lua jobs) to see if someone understands their fundamentals well.

Honestly, when asking interview questions I usually don't care what language the person uses to solve the problems posed, just as long as they can solve them. There are some occasions where we'll specify what language should be used to solve a particular problem, but that's actually pretty infrequent. I can understand it being more common in game development though.

Not sure. It's hard I can tell you that much. I think c++ is a standard. Away it's my first language and I haven't studied anything else except html.

Note: global variables are awesome. Learn to love them.

But C++ is still the most used language for game programming.

Can't be more accurate.

Note: global variables are awesome. Learn to love them.

Please disregard this.
Globals are not awesome and you should learn to avoid them as much as possible.


L. Spiro

Globals are not awesome and you should learn to avoid them as much as possible.

Very wise.

If you noticed by now, we all have our language preferences. Learning one is learning the other, more or less.

But, just being one of the opinions, I would suggest starting with C. C is the base document of C++ and Obj-C. C# and Java also derive off of C++, which is derived off of C. Thus, C is good to know. After 5-10 games, then switch to C++. C++, though I enjoy it, is meant for larger groups when dealing with complexity. C is more for the hobbyist who is working with a small team (or just himself), because you're not usually dealing with a complex application, i.e., you're making Pong.

C++ is like putting C in an alchemy mortar, along with crack and any other kind of drug, and watching the end result blow up the entire village.

An afterthought: The good thing about C++ is its overwhelming amount of documentation for game programming. I haven't seen a C book on game programming for a while. If you know both languages, you can apply it still.

C is more for the hobbyist who is working with a small team (or just himself), because you're not usually dealing with a complex application, i.e., you're making Pong.

Some of the largest software codebases in the world are written in C. C is not for hobbyest game projects (arguably that is what C# is for). C is for complex systems level development that deal with problems that languages like C++, Java and C# are not best suited for.

C is certainly not "C++ without all the hard bits" ;)

You may be well aware of this, I just wanted to emphasise this point in case someone starts learning C because they believe it is the easier of the languages beginning with the letter 'C'.

C is certainly not "C++ without all the hard bits" ;)

Indeed, i would say that its more like C is C++ without the easy(proper strings, a sane standard library, smart pointers, etc) bits, a beginner doesn't have to use every arcane feature a language has to offer, The big problem with C++ for a beginner imo is the insane number of pure piece of a bullpoop(the new boston being one of the more popular offenders) tutorials that are flooding the internet.

If you start out by using the nice parts of the language and tackle the unsafe bits after you've covered the basics its really not that awful.

C on the other hand has no nice parts, basic input/output drops you straight in the deep end of the pool and thats probably not the best place to put someone who hasn't learned how to swim yet.