The Design and Evolution of C++, First Edition

7. Interest and Use

Some languages are designed to solve a problem; others are designed to prove a point.

— Dennis M. Ritchie

C++ usage — compilers — conferences, books, and journals — tools and environments — ways of learning C++ — users and applications — commercial competition — alternatives to C++ — expectations and attitudes.

7.1 The Explosion in Interest and Use

C++ was designed to serve users. It was not an academic experiment to design the perfect programming language, nor was it a commercial product meant to enrich its developers. Thus, to fulfill its purpose C++ had to have users – and it has:

Date	Estimated number of C++ users
Oct 1979	1
Oct 1980	16
Oct 1981	38
Oct 1982	85
Oct 1983	??+2 (no Cpre count)
Oct 1984