Computerphile - Carbon: (C++)++ ? Can Carbon De-Throne C++? - Computerphile
Carbon is a new programming language introduced by Google, now an open-source project, aiming to replace C++. It was presented at the CPP North Conference in 2022, with a stable version expected by 2027. Carbon's primary goal is to ensure bidirectional interoperability with C++, allowing C++ code to be used within Carbon and vice versa, leveraging LLVM for this purpose. Unlike other languages, Carbon does not use formal garbage collection, opting for manual memory management similar to C++ to maintain high performance. The syntax of Carbon is a mix of C++, Swift, and Rust, with primitive types and variable declarations resembling those in Rust and Swift. Carbon also introduces unique approaches to object-oriented programming, such as classes being final by default and requiring explicit declaration for inheritance and method overriding. The language plans to implement both checked and template-based generics, similar to Java and C++ respectively. Future developments include lifetimes, meta programming, and error handling. Despite its potential, the adoption of Carbon faces challenges due to existing investments in C++ by companies.
Key Points:
- Carbon aims to replace C++ with bidirectional interoperability using LLVM.
- Manual memory management is used to ensure high performance, similar to C++.
- Syntax combines elements from C++, Swift, and Rust, with unique object-oriented features.
- Plans to support both checked and template-based generics, similar to Java and C++.
- Future developments include lifetimes, meta programming, and error handling.
Details:
1. 🔍 Introducing Carbon: The Future of Programming Languages
- Carbon is a new programming language currently in development with ambitious goals to address significant gaps in existing programming languages.
- The language is designed with a focus on performance, scalability, and modern software engineering practices, aiming to provide a robust alternative to existing options.
- Carbon aims to enhance developer productivity and facilitate easier code maintenance, potentially reducing the product development cycle significantly.
- The language incorporates modern features that cater to high-performance computing needs, making it suitable for complex applications.
- Carbon's development emphasizes interoperability with existing C++ codebases, allowing seamless integration and gradual adoption in current projects.
2. 💡 Carbon's Ambitious Goal to Surpass C++
- Carbon aims to replace C++ with a focus on community-driven development.
- The project is open-source, emphasizing collaboration and input from developers worldwide to enhance its growth and adoption.
- Carbon's goal is similar to Rust's objective to replace C, positioning itself as a modern alternative to established programming languages.
- The project was initially introduced by Google, providing it with a strong foundation and visibility in the tech community.
3. 🚧 Carbon's Development Stage and Experimental Nature
- Carbon is currently under development and not yet complete, indicating its experimental nature.
- Insights and information about Carbon shared now may become outdated quickly, highlighting the project's evolving status.
- Raising awareness about Carbon offers an opportunity to engage with a new perspective in programming despite its early and changing stage.
4. 🔄 Ensuring Interoperability with C++
- Carbon aims to ensure bidirectional interoperability with C++, allowing C++ code to be used within Carbon and vice versa.
- Carbon was introduced by Chender CaRu at the CPP North Conference in Toronto in 2022.
- A minimum viable product for Carbon is expected in 2023, with the first stable version anticipated in 2027.
- Carbon's design includes features specifically to ease integration with C++, such as seamless header file inclusion and library usage.
- The language is developed to modernize codebases while leveraging existing C++ infrastructure, reducing the need for complete rewrites.
5. 🧠 Memory Management and Syntax Innovations
5.1. Memory Management in Carbon
5.2. Syntax Innovations in Carbon
6. 🧩 Exploring Data Structures and Object-Oriented Features
6.1. Syntax Similarities and Differences
6.2. Data Structure Implementations
7. 🔧 Understanding Generics and Methodologies
- Carbon does not use explicit constructor methods like other languages; objects are initialized with a syntax similar to 'struct'. For example, initializing an object may look like 'ObjectName { field1: value1, field2: value2 }'.
- The distinction between static and instance methods involves the 'self' parameter, reminiscent of Python, but with unique syntax in Carbon using square brackets. For instance, a static method would be defined as 'fn [ClassName] methodName()', whereas an instance method would include 'fn [self] methodName()'.
- Classes in Carbon are final by default, meaning they cannot be extended unless explicitly declared as base classes, promoting a more controlled inheritance structure.
- Methods do not allow overriding by default; they must be explicitly declared to enable overriding in derived classes. This requires using the 'override' keyword in the method declaration to signal the intent to override.