Differences between C++ and C#
Programming is the crux of anything and everything ranging from the websites we use to the robots we build and acts as the axle on which computer technology spins and advances. The emergence of programming languages is seen to have happened with the formulation of FORTRAN in 1957, after which a wide range of languages, each with its own distinctions, were seen to have been developed to the programming languages we have today, be it C to JavaScript and everything in between. C, the programming language developed by Dennis Ritchie was the language that heralded programming into the modern era of coding, with it being the direct precursor to languages like C++ and to an extend, C#. Bjarne Stroustrup in 1983, developed further enhancing extensions for the C program, naming it “C++” or “C with Classes” using the latest programming technology of the time, OOP or the Object Oriented Programming, where the objects are data pieces that be manipulated and used by the programmer.
From here came about the high level programming language that is C++ that we know and use today. The C# (C-Sharp) programming language was also built as an extension to the C language much later in 2002 by Andrew Hejlsberg and his team, based on Microsoft’s .NET framework. This language evolved from C to perhaps become the most technically complicated yet, easy to learn language since it’s less prone to syntax errors when compared to C or C++. Now, that we know the basic history of how C++ and C# came about, let’s see how they differ from each other.
Differences Between C++ and C#
1. Language
C++ — Intermediate level object oriented programming language as it concentrates on classes that link together into a big binary executable.
C#- High level programming language that is both object oriented and component oriented as it makes use of exchangeable code modules that function on their own without the need of understanding their inner workings.
2. Performance Difficulty
C++ — A complex, faster and more efficient language that is used when higher languages are insufficient in efficiency making it the best program for performance based applications.
C# — Easy due to its hierarchical classifications, this programming language has a standard efficiency when compared to C++ and is used in normal applications like network analysis software.
3. Garbage Collection
C++ — Requires the manual allocation and deallocation of memory for your objects before and after its task completion.
C# — Has an automatic garbage collection feature for objects after whose functions they are automatically deleted for better memory management as it runs in a virtual machine.
4. Platform
C++ — Originally designed for Unix based systems, it can be used for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems as well. It is essentially used for applications anywhere that requires direct communication with the hardware.
C# — C# is a standardized language, however it is targeted for the Windows environment and is therefore rarely used anywhere else.
5. Pointers
C++ — Pointers can be used anywhere in the program.
C# — Pointers can only be used in unsafe mode or not used at all.
6. Runtime
C++ — After coding, it compiles directly into a native machine code, thus avoiding the requirement of a universal runtime system. C++ also enables direct system calls to the operating system.
C# — Code is compiled into an intermediate bytecode language and is compiled into native code by the common language runtime (CLR) which is then interpreted by ASP.NET.
7. Binary Size
C++ — This program is more easily compiled and therefore, lightweight.
C# — C# binaries are more complex having a lot of overhead and libraries before compilation of code takes place.
8. Bounds Checking
C++ — Bounds Checking is not done by the compiler and thus, it has the capacity to cause damage to the operating system if the syntax is errored since detection doesn’t take place, despite it being a flexible language.
C# — Has a higher level of protectivity owing to the checking, error detection and warnings given by the compiler thus enabling the program to avoid some serious errors.
9. Applications
C++ — Capable of creating both stand alone and console applications as it is used for ensuring better performance when compared to other languages. Used for networking, gaming and server-side applications.
C# — Can create console applications, along with ASP.NET, Windows and Mobile Applications.
Now that you know the differences between C++ and C#, it becomes easier to understand which program to use while coding for a specific application whilst keeping its function in mind. You can also make up your mind about which language you want to advance into and learn first! So let’s get cracking and start your learning to enrich your knowledge in the field of programming!
