On Friday August 12th 2011, the results for the final ISO ballot on C++0x came in, and they (the ISO C++ Standards Committee) were unanimous in favor of approving the new C++0x (for now unofficially known as C++11) object-oriented programming language standard which is intended to replace the existing C++ ISO/IEC 14882. The new standard is to offer new and improved features such as lambda functions, concurrent programming functionality, direct data field initialization, and an improved standard library to name but a few.
So there you go fellow OO programmers, another step in the right direction it would seem. After a long and sometimes drawn out process and lots of hard work coupled with a little lobbying by all those involved as is invariably required with these types of processes, we can now officially say that we have a new International Standard approved and recognized by the ISO in Geneva. It is said that the ISO will take several months to publish it fully but it is hoped that it will move swiftly and ideally be fully documented and made available to the public by the ISO before the end of this year. Once that is complete, it can then be referred to by it’s official published and more marketable name: C++11.
It’s yet another milestone in the history of the infamous and world renowned C plus plus object-oriented programming language and once again we all owe a debt of gratitude to Bjarne Stroustrup and all others involved for continuing to share and open up their important work to the world.
Stroustrup recently commented on the new C++ standard saying “Surprisingly, C++0x feels like a new language: The pieces just fit together better than they used to and I find a higher-level style of programming more natural than before and as efficient as ever”.