C++ training and certification: Recognized programming credentials

Only in the computer science department can C++ students make the grade. That's because C++ has grown into one of the most stable and common programming languages in use among developers. C++ training programs help students understand the benefits and challenges of writing code on a platform that has endured for decades.

What is C++?

Developer Dennis Ritchie first implemented the C programming language on Unix servers at Bell Labs in the late 1960s. The low-level language simplified the process of moving software applications across multiple platforms, spawning a handful of variations over the next two decades. By 1983, more programmers wrote code in C than in any other language. Bjarne Stroustrup used his position as a Bell Labs researcher to speed up code on that era's large processors. Stroustrup called his fork "C with Classes," shortened to C++ before its first commercial release in 1985. Today, C++ has evolved to include classes, templates, exception handling, and virtual functions.

Stability and flexibility helped popularize C++ among coders, who use the language today for everything from desktop applications to embedded software on electronic devices. As a non-sector-specific programming language, C++ works for both procedural and object-oriented programming tasks. Advanced developers can even use C++ to manage both types of programming within the same code. According to Stroustrup, some of the most popular applications developed in C++ include:

• Adobe Photoshop
• The original iPod interface
• Google's proprietary file storage system
• Quicken
• Microsoft Windows

Microsoft developed many of its most popular operating systems and software packages using Visual C++, a fork of the core language that simplifies coding complex applications. However, C++ remains royalty-free and available for use by any programmer.

What does C++ training cover?

Although most computer science degree programs include C++ as a concentration, developers with experience using other programming languages can complement their skill sets with standalone courses. Many IT training and professional development programs offer C++ training at three distinct levels:

• Beginning programmers: Preliminary C++ training offers a basic understanding of the language's functions, capacities, limitations, and history.
• Intermediate programmers: Intermediate C++ training provides hands-on experience in actual programming. Many IT degree programs include C++ programming as a core requirement.
• Experienced programmers: Advanced C++ training and certification teaches students how to develop system-level software.

Despite chipmakers' constant speed and power improvements, many C++ training programs emphasize building efficient, clean code. Even though personal computers often ship with powerful, multicore processors, C++ developers have helped speed the adoption of single-purpose devices like streaming music players and car navigation systems.

Portfolio and training often trump certification

A few software vendors offer their own versions of C++ certification exams. However, most hiring managers rely on the reputation of IT degree programs and on developers' code libraries to evaluate job seekers. C++ training programs not only help novice programmers learn how to code, they offer motivation to complete projects that could pique the interests of future employers.