Ask HN: Which is better in your opinion: C or C++.Justify your answer?

2 Forgret 5 8/22/2025, 11:12:04 AM

Comments (5)

RS-232 · 2h ago
You would reach for one or the other depending on what you’re trying to do. They excel at different things.

C: language interop/FFI

C++: systems programming

But if you HAD to pick one, it has to be C for ubiquity.

ankurdhama · 2h ago
Given the choice between these I will probably pick C++ because of its feature that allows creation of higher level of abstractions. Abstractions are not just about "nice code", they are more about helping you think through complex problem.
Forgret · 1h ago
I will choose C for one simple reason: less unnecessary overhead. In C++, a lot of additional stuff can be added to the binary after compilation, which makes it harder to fully control. With C, I get a clean binary right away, and that’s what I prefer.
aarkaay · 1h ago
C for more control, C++ for easier coding. Depends totally on use case. In some cases, where speed matters, C is KING.
incomingpain · 1h ago
When I coded in C++, it was nearly indistinguishable from C. I didnt use any of the ++ benefits.