When I first started learning C++ for Object-Oriented Programming around 2008–2009, the internet was full of complaints about the language.

Fast forward to 2026, and I have decided to start working on serious projects with C++. I believe it’s important to approach the language with a fair and realistic perspective. First, we have to ask a crucial question: Do people actually build real-world software with C++? This question matters because when you live inside a codebase day in and day out, you experience the real practical pain points. The answer is an absolute yes. A massive number of notable software systems are written in C++: Adobe Photoshop, Blender, ChromeOS, Firefox, MySQL, Unreal Engine, and World of Warcraft.

Second, there is no perfect language in the world. If you want to understand computer fundamentals at the lowest level, you should select a language that lets you interact directly with the CPU and memory. C and C++ are the ultimate choices for this.While Rust is also incredible for modern memory management, the key is to simply pick a language and build real applications with it. I believe every language was born to solve a specific problem. If you understand that core purpose, you won’t regret your decision.

I just bought a C++ book: Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ by Bjarne Stroustrup, the C++ creator. It’s time for me to relearn the fundamentals and get plenty of practice.

I also stumbled upon a great C++ documentary on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lI7tMxzSJ7w?si=ZlZ7L2OrrWIdeEQN. Whether you love the language or not, there’s no denying that C++ is a massive part of computing history.

Good luck with your own journey!