C++ High Performance - Second Edition

1

A Brief Introduction to C++

This book aims to provide you with a solid foundation to write efficient applications, as well as an insight into strategies for implementing libraries in modern C++. I have tried to take a practical approach to explain how C++ works today, where modern features from C++11 up to C++20 are a natural part of the language, rather than looking at C++ historically.

In this chapter, we will:

• Cover some of the features of C++ that are important for writing robust, high-performance applications
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of C++ over competing languages
• Go over the libraries and compilers used in this book

Why C++?

Let's begin by exploring some of the reasons for using C++ today. In short, C++ is a highly ...