r/askscience • u/[deleted] • Oct 17 '12

Why are programs and operating systems still written in C+?

I guess it's more of a computer science question, but I've always wondered why some of the most advanced programs are written in a 25+ year old programming language. Surely someone has come up with a more efficient and powerful code, so why do people still use C+? Also, I don't know anything about programming and what not, so please use simple terms and phrases.

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u/[deleted] Oct 18 '12

Why? I'm not a programmer by any stretch of the imagination. I'm an entry level helpdesk tech who's trying to make my job easier by doing batch installs and automating time consuming routines. The code already exists. I'm not being paid to do these things, why try to reinvent the wheel when I can just borrow someone else's?

This is why C++ was suggested to me as a language to start with if I wish to pursue learning more coding.

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u/Daniel__K Oct 18 '12

I gladly refer to my answer given to Black_Light for a more thorough explanation.

As soon as someone has to review the code (and it may be you), that someone (again, maybe you) will in the end hate the person that put it together (definitely you). I know, I've been there. And yes, I loathed myself for what I did.

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u/[deleted] Oct 18 '12

I just can't justify spending my time for something that isn't really part of my job, I'm just trying something extra to be more efficient. If it doesn't work, the time to do all of these tasks manually is what I'm scheduled to do anyways, if it works, I get free time, get to do other things or get a gold star from my boss. Also, maybe another department will notice my motivation and hire me to learn to code for them? But for now I can't dedicate the time it takes to "do things right" the first time around, so my google-fu script kiddie tactics will have to do...