An overview of C++

C++ is a general purpose programming language3 designed to make programming more enjoyable for the serious programmer. Except for minor details, C++ is a superset of the C language*. C++ was designed to [l] be a better C. [2] support data abstraction. [3] support object-oriented programming. This paper describes the features added to C to achieve this. In addition to C, the main influences of the design of C++ were Simula67’ and Algo1684. C++ has been in use for about four years and has been applied to mpst branches of systems programming including compiler construction, data base management, graphics, image processing, music synthesis, networking, numerical software, programming environments, robotics, simulation, and switching. It has a highly portable implementation and there are now at least 1500 installations including AT&T 3B, DEC VAX, Intel 80286, Motorola 68000, and Amdahl machines running UNlXt and other operating systems*.