Stroustrup clarifies the complexity of programming languages

Legendary coding architect Bjarne Stroustrup has once again weighed in on the eternal debate over the best programming languages. His sentiments, while not necessarily surprising given his role in shaping the modern computing landscape, still carry significant weight in the tech community.

Stroustrup's take on language complexity

In a recent statement, Stroustrup emphasized that the inevitable and necessary complexity of programming languages is a key factor in their success. He argues that the industry essentially bifurcates into two main categories of languages: those that are widely used, versatile, and occasionally criticized for their complexity (like C++, Java, and Python); and those that are academically focused, experimental, and simple but less powerful (often relegated to niche areas).

Stroustrup contends that any sufficiently capable language will inevitably generate complaints, but that both types have their place in the right contexts. He famously quipped,