> Linux kernel is large project and clearly C is sufficient for it
Sure, and operating systems have been written in assmebly too. The question is whether it would be better than just sufficient if Linux were written in C++, today (ie C++17 or 20, not something old). Switching now probably wouldn't be feasible (even ignoring technical reasons, the kernel developer community is familiar with the C codebase and code standards and bought into it), but if Linux were started today, would it be a better choice?
Maybe the answer is still no and C would still be chosen, but the choice today is very different than it was when Linux was started. Of course, maybe Rust or something would be chosen today instead.
Cantrill did a talk on which he touches on C, C++ and Rust for systems programming [1].
His tl;dr being that Rust feels very much like a proper systems programming language, and more of a « better C » than C++.
I don't entirely know what to make of it, but my instinct is that something like C++ with such an opportunity space for baroque concoctions (leading to an obsession with design patterns) is just playing with fire.
Sure, and operating systems have been written in assmebly too. The question is whether it would be better than just sufficient if Linux were written in C++, today (ie C++17 or 20, not something old). Switching now probably wouldn't be feasible (even ignoring technical reasons, the kernel developer community is familiar with the C codebase and code standards and bought into it), but if Linux were started today, would it be a better choice?
Maybe the answer is still no and C would still be chosen, but the choice today is very different than it was when Linux was started. Of course, maybe Rust or something would be chosen today instead.