Bjarne Stroustrup: C++ | Lex Fridman Podcast #48

It's pretty amazing to think that the software industry is so young that the OG's are still alive today and can be interviewed like this. We've come a very long way in a very short time.

The fact that I can watch conversations like these for free, with no spammed ads along the way is absolutely amazing. Keep up the brilliant work Lex!

I really enjoyed this conversation with Bjarne. Here's the outline: 0:00 - Introduction 1:40 - First program 2:18 - Journey to C++ 16:45 - Learning multiple languages 23:20 - Javascript 25:08 - Efficiency and reliability in C++ 31:53 - What does good code look like? 36:45 - Static checkers 41:16 - Zero-overhead principle in C++ 50:00 - Different implementation of C++ 54:46 - Key features of C++ 1:08:02 - C++ Concepts 1:18:06 - C++ Standards Process 1:28:05 - Constructors and destructors 1:31:52 - Unified theory of programming 1:38:10 - Machine learning 1:44:20 - Proudest moment

This reminds me of Neo talking to The Architect in The Matrix.

this man wasn't getting what he wanted out of the languages he had at his disposal, so he just said fuck it and created his own language and it became one of the best languages of all time. legend.

"These C vs. C++ fights are for people who don't quite understand what's going on." Linus Torvalds: Angry typing of e-mail intensifies

"By the way, philosophy is important. You can't do good language design without philosophy, because what you are determining is what people can express and how."

Since programming has become such a fundamental part of the 21st century perhaps the Swedish Nobel committee should consider a Nobel prize in this category 😊

Lex, thank you greatly for interviewing Bjarne Stroustrup! He has been a personal hero of mine for the last twenty years or more. He is not only a supreme engineer but also an adroit consensus builder. That is a rare combination and his consensus building seems to have played a critical role in forging the success of C++. I highly recommend his "The Design and Evolution of C++" to anyone interested in computing history, language design, or even politics. To me, Stroustrup's approach seems to be 1) understand the "customer's" problem and needs 2) assess the shortcomings of existing tools and prior art 3) design simple, pragmatic, correct solutions to fill the gaps and 3) deliver and communicate those solutions with humility. That is an admirable process I aspire to emulate.

Thanks to Bjarne for starting and continuing to work on C++. I have been programming in C++ for 10 hours a day every day for the last 10+ years and I am still in love with it.

How about Linus Torvalds next?

Such a humble guy. You can tell he is really interested in the languages and meta-level stuff. It reminds me how business-oriented programming today has become. It's so nice to see a guy like this, with so much love and thought for the craft itself.

I met Bjarne few days after watching this video, it was one the best experiences of my life. He is very humble, i asked him a roadmap to be better c++ programmer, he gave some excellent advice.

I have attempted to meditate many times in my life and prior to this CD the only success I've experienced is with live guided meditation. youtube.com/post/Ugkxzpa8CIfZcihW4Z0F_ja0QF3W9KIat… This is the first CD I've used that cuts through my unmedicated ADHD and enables me to truly relax and experience a quiet and energizing interval. The instructors voice is very soothing and pleasant to listen to. I am easily able to sit successfully through the entire CD, and for quite some time after. I cannot adequately express how tremendously helpful this CD has been on my spiritual journey!! Two thumbs up and 10 stars!

This podcast is a gift to the humanity

C++ is wonderful. Thank you Bjarne and team working on C++.

You should organize a playlist with all the programming language creators. It was brilliant to interview many of them, it’s going to be a reference for many years from now. You’re the bomb

The world owes Bjarne in so many ways... thank you Lex!

In a hundred years or so, people will watch this interview and be in awe seeing these people that paved the way for the grandeur of humanity.

The fact lex was able to have him on is incredible. What this man has done for computer science!!