C# Vs. C++: Selecting the Best Programming Language for Your IT Projects

28Aug, 2019

We are living in an era where there are truckloads of programming languages, which makes it very difficult to choose from. The most challenging aspect is to ascertain which programming language will prove to be the best for your IT projects. The problem is, even if you select one programming language and start your project, in case you feel that the language is not the best one, it will be challenging to switch to a new one. Hence, it is incredibly vital to consider your options after much deliberation. Here, the role of developers becomes even more critical. The reason being, they can prove to the invaluable resources that can guide you to select one of the many .Net languages already existing in the market. 

If you are one of the companies that are finding it challenging to select the best programming languages for your IT projects, this write-up has been written specifically for you! In the forthcoming sections of this write-up, we will divert our attention to the common things and differences between C# and C++. We promise after reading this piece of content; you will be in a far better situation to ascertain whether to go for C# or C++ for your IT projects.

Grass-Root Level Stuff

At the grass-root level, both C# and C++ use similar code. C# came into the game much later than C++. Microsoft introduced it in the year 2000 as a Java competitor. In comparison, C++ has been the central pillar around which several programming languages stand. It emerged in the 1980s. Today, C++ has made its presence felt in applications.

C# and C++ as we all know are object-oriented languages. However, C++ is tougher to work with when compared with C#. You can employ both these programming languages in web and desktop applications. C++ is a much-preferred programming language for applications like games, operating systems, and low-level programming requiring total control over the hardware on the PC or server. 

In case your application is an elementary web or desktop application, we suggest you go for C# as your preferred programming language for the project. On the other hand, if you wish to create an app that has a direct correlation with computer hardware or has a direct connection with an application, then opt for C++ as your preferred programming language.

Now, that you have gained necessary information about these two programming languages, let’s divert our attention to similarities between them.

Points of Similarities

C# is a C-based language; hence, the two syntaxes are quite similar. C# developers employ brackets to bifurcate coding structures. This is done along with C-style object-oriented code integrating dependencies and libraries. In case a developer is acquainted with Java or C++, it becomes effortless for them to shift to C#. However, changing from C# to C++ is another case altogether. 

It is complicated for a C# developer since it is a comparatively low-level language. C# handles more overhead than the C++ language. This very reason makes C++ a more complex language to learn in the development world.

Object-oriented

The syntax of both these programming languages is slightly different. However, the inheritance, concept of classes, and polymorphism are the same. 

Compiled Languages

Java is an interpreted language. However, both C# and C++ are compiled languages. In technical terms, it means that before an application gets launched on PC or the server, the code needs to be converted into binaries. A prime example of this is an executable EXE file which is a compiled file that can be written in C# or C++.

Now, that you have looked at the similarities, let’s look at the differences between these two programming languages.

Size of Binaries

As discussed earlier, both these programming languages employ compiled languages to transform your code to binary files. Here, you should note that C# has a lot of overhead and libraries integrated before compilation. On the other hand, C++ is lightweight in comparison to C#. Hence, the C# binaries are comparatively larger once they are compiled in comparison to C++.

Performance

C++ is comparatively widely used when high-level languages are not efficient. Also, you should understand that the C++ code is much swifter than the C# code. This makes it an ideal choice for applications where the application is of high significance. 

Garbage Collection

While employing the C# programming language, developers do not have to worry about garbage collection. On the other hand, when it comes to C++, there is no automatic garbage collection. You must allocate and deallocate memory for your objects.

Targeted Platform

C# programs are usually targeted towards the Windows operating system. Recently, Microsoft has commenced working towards cross-platform support for C# programs. As far as a C++ programming language is concerned, it can code any platform like Windows, Linux, and Mac.

Project Types

C++ developers usually concentrate on applications that work directly with the hardware. Alternatively, it is valid for applications that need better performance compared to other languages. It works best for networking, gaming, server-side applications, and even device drivers for your PC. On the other hand, C# is highly effectively used for mobile, desktop, and web applications.

Compiler Warnings

C++ will let you perform any task provided the syntax is appropriate. It is a very flexible language. However, it can have damaging effects on the operating system. On the other hand, C# is much more protected. It provides compiler errors and warnings without enabling you to make certain critical errors allowed by C++.

C# Vs. C++: Selecting the Best Programming Language for Your IT Projects

As a general thumb rule, it has been observed that web and desktop development can be done effectively using the C# programming language. You will be amazed to learn that C# is an integral part of the .NET language, which is especially useful for web development. However, you can also employ it with a Windows-based program. This is where the C# development service comes in handy for the developers.

On the other hand, C++ can be employed for different platforms and target applications. The only problem is, the developer pool is limited compared to C# because it is not very popular for web and mobile apps.

In case you are executing a project that is concentrating on extremely low-level processing, you may need the help of a C++ developer. All in all, you can employ C++ for much more than C#. However, it may not always prove to be the most cost-effective way to complete your IT project.

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