The article argues that C and C++ are fundamentally flawed due to pervasive undefined behavior (UB) that makes it nearly impossible to write correct code, even for experienced programmers. The author, with 30 years of experience, explains that UB is not just about optimizations but about the language specifications themselves, and that many common programming practices can trigger UB without developers realizing it. The piece suggests it's time to move beyond these languages given modern computing environments and security requirements.
Background
C and C++ are widely used systems programming languages known for their performance but criticized for memory safety issues and undefined behavior. The discussion around their safety and suitability for modern software development has intensified in recent years with the rise of memory-safe alternatives like Rust.
- Source
- Lobsters
- Published
- May 20, 2026 at 03:26 PM
- Score
- 8.0 / 10