The back view of C++

- Impressions of Bjarne Stroustrup, the father of C++, Zuo Qinghou 2002.11.4

Friends who love C++, please don’t misunderstand me. Not implying that "C++ is dead" or anything like that. Semantically speaking, C++, as a programming language, certainly has no backstory. In fact, what I want to say is the back view of a person. Therefore, the title seems a bit abrupt and even sensational. But I think everyone in the C++ community will agree that there is a name that is a symbol of C++. The name is of course Bjarne Stroustrup.

Dr. Bjarne Stroustrup was born in Denmark in 1950. He graduated from Arus University in Denmark and the University of Cambridge in the UK. He is the head of AT&T's large-scale programming research department and a member of AT&T Bell Labs and ACM. In 1979, Stroustrup began developing a language, then called "C with Class", which later evolved into C++. In 1998, the ANSI/ISO C++ standard was established. In the same year, Stroustrup launched the third edition of his classic book The C++ Programming Language.

In October 2002, Stroustrup visited China for the first time.

The longer I have been in contact with the IT industry, the more obvious it is to me that the topics that once made a fuss in the media are often just insignificant things, but are truly major events with profound significance and impact. But it is easy to remain unknown.

Stroustrup’s visit to China caused a great sensation in the technology circle. For many years, Chinese programmers have been groping in the dark through indirect channels such as translated works (often with long lag times). It was not until the popularization of the Internet that we were able to track the latest technologies immediately through the Internet, conduct technical exchanges with foreign counterparts, and slowly and step by step shorten the distance with the world. Today, we finally have the opportunity to consult this world-class master in person and listen directly to the most authoritative voice in this field. We no longer have to work hard to figure out the thoughts of the author behind the poor translation, and we no longer need to be confused by those shocking arguments that often come from the mouths of experts with little knowledge and have been reproduced countless times, and the authenticity is difficult to distinguish. After learning about Stroustrup's visit to China, I talked to some friends that this was a beginning. I hope that China's technology community can take this opportunity and rely on everyone's efforts to establish a stable communication mechanism with the international technology community. , I hope this incident marks that Chinese programmers are no longer an isolated group forgotten by the international community, and have truly become a member of the world family.

However, apart from some publicity by the organizers, Stroustrup’s arrival has hardly been seen in any mainstream media. Although Stroustrup’s achievements and influence on the computer industry are enough to compare with anyone in the contemporary era. In comparison, although the significance of this incident far exceeds the trivial matters in many domestic IT circles.

Stroustrup’s visit to China lasted for half a month, traveling through four cities: Beijing, Xi’an, Hangzhou and Shanghai. During this period, I had the pleasure of meeting him three times.

The first time was the day after he arrived in Beijing. Two of Hua Zhang’s friends invited him to have dinner at a restaurant at the back gate of Beihai, leaving an opportunity for me and him to have dinner. I still hate the traffic jams in Beijing because it happened to be a weekend and it rained heavily, so I arrived at my destination more than an hour later than scheduled. When I rushed into the restaurant angrily, I immediately saw a foreigner sitting in the innermost corner between Hua Zhang's two friends.

He stood up and shook my hand politely. He looks very much like the famous photo (well-known in the C++ community). He is a bit bald and casually dressed. Rather than an expert visiting China, he looks more like a blue-collar man having a casual meal at his own home.

I stammered in English to explain the reason for being late. He nodded and said "oh" several times, as if he "understood", as if he had also suffered from traffic jams. Although we were strangers, the other person's expression and a few simple words suddenly brought us closer. This sentence sounds like a cliché in a book, but I really felt that way when I was there.

Before this meeting, I had imagined what kind of person Stroustrup would be, whether he would be arrogant. Because I know that most extraordinary people often have some paranoia in their personalities, let alone the father of C++? But completely contrary to what I expected, Stroustrup is very kind, has a great sense of humor unique to technicians, loves to laugh, and can even be said to be a bit naive. When I said a word of admiration, he would be as embarrassed as a child.

The hotel is very noisy and not a good place for conversation. My speaking skills were not good to begin with, and I was idle for several years after graduating from college. But when I faced Stroustrup, for some reason, I was brave enough to speak and gesture in this kind of pidgin English, and said something to him. I told him that I had translated one of his FAQs about C++ style and technology, and was reading his famous book "C++ Programming Language"; I told him that there are many C++ programmers in China, and everyone has been looking forward to his arrival for a long time. ; I told him that Chinese programmers lack communication with foreign communities, and I hope we can promote this communication; I also apologized for my speaking level (BS answered very understandingly that English is not his native language), and I hope Able to communicate via email...

Then Stroustrup responded with a series of low English, but it was not a serious academic speech, but he spoke very casually and deeply, obviously he was moved Impress yourself first before others. When he said something wonderful, he would look left and right and laugh with us.

This is an ordinary restaurant, and the food is also very ordinary. There is not much difference between BS and the foreigners who can be seen everywhere on the streets of Beijing. As I was talking, I suddenly had an impulse. I wondered if these people sitting next to us and talking to themselves would know that the foreigner in the corner who was laughing and enjoying himself was a master who shocked the contemporary world. A person who has made great contributions to mankind?

"People are really different..." I thought.

Since BS has to catch a flight to Xi'an tomorrow morning, our time to get together is quite limited. After exiting the store, we waved goodbye. What I gained was BS's signature on the Chinese version of "C++ Programming Language" and a group photo.

When I got home, I walked around the room all night. My roommate asked me: "You seem very excited today?"

"Of course," I replied, "because I have seen the pinnacle of this field."

Stroustrup's itinerary is to first settle in Beijing, then fly to Xi'an, and conduct an official visit in the order of Xi'an-Beijing-Hangzhou-Shanghai. While waiting for Stroustrup to return to Beijing, I saw a post on csdn: "Bjarne Stroustrup's lecture in Xi'an was disappointing." When I clicked in to read it, I wasn’t disappointed with the content of the lecture, but I was criticizing some of the phenomena in the event. This is what worries me the most. In fact, I know that the organizers have made great efforts, and some technical problems are excusable. For the event itself, it is not a big deal. But what touched me was the article mentioned how the audience asked questions after Stroustrup finished his speech.

The original text of the post is as follows:

"...The host walked out after announcing the start of questions. Then the chaotic scene began. I sat on the floor and listened to a few questions. Most of them ask questions such as which language is better, C++, C#, or Java. These people may not know Bjarne Stroustrup. He himself has long said that he will not comment on the advantages and disadvantages of languages, but these people still keep asking. Ask, someone even asked Bjarne Stroustrup, which one does he prefer between computers and his girlfriend? I don’t want to make any comments on this kind of question. Good opportunity, that’s it... .Oh! I could clearly see the displeasure on Bjarne Stroustrup’s face. When I saw more and more people in front of me trying to get the microphone, I decided it was better to leave early. , I stood up from the ground, dusted myself off, and strode away."

I have never interacted with Stroustrup before, and I don't know what his impression of China is. I have wondered, how does Stroustrup view China? Do we think of us as a remote, wild place, just like we think of a small country in Africa? If this is the case, it is not surprising at all. After all, China's international image is that of an IT market, not an IT leader. Of course it is impolite to make such casual guesses, but that only requires us to win people's respect. When we learned that there was a chance to meet Stroustrup, my friend and I encouraged each other: "Don't embarrass Chinese programmers."

More than a year ago, I once said to my friend: "This The level of Chinese programmers has improved a lot in the past few years. I didn’t know how bad my level was before, but now I know how bad it is. “The core of IT technology is abroad, and we have not been open to the country for a long time. If your level is not as good as others, there is nothing you can do about it. After knowing that your level is poor, there are only two points: one is to admit the reality, and the other is to find a way to catch up.

Since entering the computer industry, I have seen countless people who think they are or are thought to be masters. There is no need to elaborate on their arrogance, although in front of Stroustrup they are far from qualified as students. superior. How many people in China are using C++? How many people have an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of C++ (although I know there are definitely people with advanced levels)? Who is supporting our national software industry?

The expected master finally arrived, and the expected face-to-face communication scene finally appeared. Facing the monitor screen, I suddenly felt an inexplicable feeling of loneliness and desolation.

The second time I met Stroustrup was also in a hotel. I was the host and several programmer friends from Beijing had a small-scale exchange with him. Damn history repeated itself again, it was the weekend again, it rained heavily again, and I was late again. The difference was that when I rushed into the hotel angrily again, I saw a different scene. Stroustrup sat alone on one side of the table, and the seats on the left and right were empty. Others sat opposite him, and no one spoke. He was the only one eating silently. He seemed to have gotten used to my lateness and asked me: "You got lost?"

Perhaps due to the influence of this atmosphere, when I sat next to him, I didn't know it for a moment. What should be said. Although I wanted to apologize for what happened to him in Xi'an, I couldn't.

He picked up an English newspaper in hand, pointed to the University of Texas above and said to me: "A small world." It turned out that he had been employed as a professor at the University of Texas. I asked, "Then you leave AT&T?" He said AT&T still retained his position. I also asked him about Lippman joining Microsoft as the chief architect of VC.net. Contrary to my expectations, he seemed to have a high opinion of Microsoft's compiler.

But overall, this time Stroustrup was much more silent than the last time, rarely laughing, and most of the time eating silently.

I finally couldn't help it and asked a question that might not be polite: "Do you feel lonely in China?" Stroustrup didn't understand the word "lonely". When he understood it, he said seriously: "No. He pointed to the opposite side and outside, and said (in English of course): "They, and many others, have given me good treatment." "I hope China can leave a good impression on you." "That's it now." "I hope so."

After dinner, Stroustrup went to the hotel to be interviewed by a media. I continued chatting with a few friends. Although they, like me, were unable to speak freely with Stroustrup due to limitations in their speaking skills, their excitement was palpable. There is one graduate student who is still clamoring to apply for Stroustrup, although the latter said that he has received thousands of applications.

On the pedestrian bridge of Baishi Bridge, looking at the traffic coming and going under the dark sky, I told a friend that I felt unfair for Stroustrup. When people like Bill Gates and Larry Ellison visit China, they will receive state guest-level treatment and receive overwhelming publicity in the media. Stroustrup is on the same level as them in terms of achievements and influence. Why was his trip to China so simple, low-key, and unknown? The other party thought for a moment and then answered, because Gates and Ellison are both heads of large commercial companies and can directly influence the Chinese market and government. Although Stroustrup invented C++ and actually mastered the standard of the C++ language, his impact on the industry is not so direct, and he himself is not a rich man. I said: "I know this too, but I still feel unfair for him."

Stroustrup invented the C++ language in 1979. It has been more than 20 years since he has been working on the improvement, development and standardization of C++. And struggle. In Stroustrup's ideal (and what he has been tirelessly advocating), C++ should be a language that is neutral, open, independent of any platform, and not manipulated by any commercial company. Its standards are controlled by In the ISO C++ standards committee. At this point, C++ and Delphi are fundamentally different from languages ??like Java.

Although C++ appeared very early, its ISO standard was refined over time and was not officially released until 1998. Stroustrup was dissatisfied that commercial companies turned C++ into various messy dialects for their own interests, and spent a lot of effort on the standardization of C++. With the joint efforts of volunteers from all over the world, the new C++ standard and standard library have been perfected. In this sense, Stroustrup created not just a language, but a culture. Stroustrup succeeded (C++ is perhaps the most widely used general-purpose industrial language today), but he still had a lot to do. Stroustrup's trip to China can be seen as a positive contact between him and his ideas and the Chinese software industry. From what I have seen, at least the atmosphere in China's software industry is not so congruent with Stroustrup's temperament.

There is an article on the Internet about the so-called IEEE interview with Stroustrup. It is obviously an April Fool's Day joke. The content is that Stroustrup claimed that he deliberately designed C++ to be difficult to learn in order to increase the salary of programmers. I don’t know which good person translated it into Chinese, which resulted in me finding this thing reposted (sometimes reposted again and again) in almost every forum I frequent (including non-technical forums). ), followed by a lot of serious comments. In subsequent correspondence, I told Stroustrup about this, and he obviously took it as a joke and replied: "It doesn't matter as long as they don't believe it."

Me How should I answer him and tell him that everyone actually believes it?

The last time I saw Stroustrup was at a C++ language seminar at Peking University. I didn't go to the lecture at Tsinghua University the day before. It was said to be quite successful.

This seminar at Peking University is internal in nature and is not large in scale. The voucher admission method should ensure the quality of the participants. There were also several heavyweights attending the conference, including the translator of "C++ Programming Language" and Professor Qiu Zongyan of Peking University. It is estimated that there were also many people who came here because of its reputation.

I couldn’t be late any more, so I arrived at the venue an hour early. As soon as I arrived, people came in one after another, asking each other, "Is the seminar of the father of C++ here?" Many people brought various editions of Stroustrup's works, presumably to seek autographs. Finally, Stroustrup appeared surrounded by people from Huazhang Company and Peking University's Department of Economics. He seemed to be in good spirits today.

First, Stroustrup gave a speech entitled "Speak C++ Like a Native" (using C++ as a native language), which briefly explained the design ideas and several programming styles of C++. The content was relatively basic, and the speeches I gave at Xi'an Jiaotong University and Tsinghua University were similar, so I didn't pay much attention to it. Next, people invited by the organizer gave more formal speeches. Qiu Zongyan was first, Xiong Jie was second, and I was third. I asked a question about developing cross-platform programs through the C++ language, asking why C++ does not have a cross-platform framework like Delphi, and whether there is any intention to develop the existing standard library in this direction. This issue is very flexible and can be discussed in detail or discussed in a few words. But Stroustrup answered the first two questions in a very detailed and patient manner, starting with the goals and positioning of C++, talking about the difference between the standard library and the proprietary libraries of commercial companies, and talking about the lack of standard libraries due to financial issues. It is very likely to develop into an all-encompassing framework. Finally, I suggest that I try some excellent third-party libraries. While speaking, Stroustrup kept looking into my eyes and making gestures so seriously that I felt guilty, because my understanding often failed to keep up with his words.

The most exciting part is the free question and answer time. Many people are already eager to try it. I can no longer recall the specific situation at that time in detail, but I spoke very enthusiastically. In my impression, there did not seem to be any particularly creative questions (of course, in such impromptu speeches, it is difficult to have such good questions), but most of the questions were of a considerable level. In fact, you don’t need to listen to the content of their questions. Just seeing the young faces with focused and slightly nervous expressions can make people feel familiar and friendly... Needless to say, there are actually many The question is a waste of time, because Stroustrup has already answered similar questions many times, and you can find the answer with a little search on the Internet. This situation should show from one side that Chinese programmers as a whole still have too little communication with foreign countries and still lack the mind and vision to look at the world.

"Poor Stroustrup, being asked the same questions over and over again," a friend who was accompanying Stroustrup couldn't help but muttered. It was easy to imagine that he had seen this kind of scene many times. Back. Despite this, Stroustrup still took the trouble to answer every question, and his seriousness was reminiscent of missionaries in modern history. I really admire Wuji for his patience. It was obvious that he was in high spirits today, especially when he encountered a good question, and he played far longer than the scheduled time limit. After several hours of heated discussion, Stroustrup was already a little tired, and later he had to lean against the wall to talk (for some reason, he just didn't want to sit properly, and he stayed in a standing position throughout the free Q&A period. Often even with one foot on the chair). But when the moderator signaled to him that the time had come and it could be ended, he waved his hand in opposition and expressed that he wanted to continue the discussion. There was a burst of good-natured laughter...

The dinner was hosted by an associate professor from Peking University, accompanied by several editors from Huazhang, Meng Yan and Wang Xin from C-View, and Chen from Ketai Banyan tree. Chen Rong has worked at Microsoft for many years and speaks English very well. She chatted with Stroustrup for a long time, talking about some things in the industry and basically did not involve technical issues.

The song ended and we walked out of Peking University. Stroustrup would fly to Shanghai the next day. Before getting in the car, he solemnly shook hands with each of us and said goodbye and expressed his gratitude. I wonder what his trip to China brought him? But I know that he has brought us a lot, including the connections we will establish in the future. In the Beijing night, this Dane, who was over fifty and had slightly gray hair, turned and left, leaving behind a silent figure.

Goodbye, Stroustrup.