Introduction

Programming Language Design and Evolution (Incremental Growth)

C and C++ are languages that grew in increments; as the users of the language perceived shortcomings, they added features:
- 1972 - original design of C. Many compilers add different features, sprouting dialects of C.
- 1985 - Bjarne Stroustrup of AT&T adds object oriented features to C, creating C++.
- 1989 - ANSI standard of C developed to resolve differences among the several version of C.
- 1998 - Standards developed for most recent version of C++.
Grown languages tend to be messy; different features are added by people with different tastes.
Grown languages are modified in a hurry to solve a specific need, without considering the consequences.
Grown languages accumulate a patchwork of features that do not necessarily interact well together.
Grown languages have an edge in the marketplace (C++ allows programmers to use new features without throwing away old C code).