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Comment by std_throwaway | Hacker News Reader

In python there is the term "pythonic" describing if something is in the spirit of the languages founding fathers. As in: "The most pythonic way to write this down is ..." or "Map/filter don't feel very pythonic."

What is the equivalent term or expression for being in the spirit of C++?

The article, while a joke (just like C++ originally, look it up), feels very C++y.

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I think the word is "confusing"

I was once taught, "In C, calling a solution 'interesting' is a compliment. In Python, that's an insult. Maybe we should go with "interesting".

"Such-and-such is (not) idiomatic C++"

I don't think there's broadly "idiomatic" C++. There's "idiomatic Google C++" though.

While what's idiomatic is subjective, I think there's plenty that everyone can agree is not idiomatic, so I think GP's quote is still pretty commonly used

I think we can all agree that actively re-purposing the postfix-- operator to perform a dereference on a smart is definitely not idiomatic.

Idiomatic might be fuzzy, but it definitely does not include active attempts obfuscation, malice or jokes. The code in the article could be any of these depending on context.

Yep, no arguments here!

Not in a literal sense of the word, perhaps. But in practice, "idiomatic C++" is taken to mean STL- and Boost-like.

The code from the article isn't merely "not idiomatic C++", but I would go so far as to say it's abused or obfuscated C++.

An example of non-idiomatic C++ might be

    for (int I = 0; I < c.size(); I++) {
        Total += c[I].foo;
    }

...instead of using std::accumulate. The code from the article is (humorously pointing out) something else entirely.

Either you come from a very different community of C++ users than I do, or you are using a different definition of "idiomatic" than I am familiar with, because that loop looks like totally ordinary, everyday C++, and is therefore precisely what I'd call "idiomatic", while I can't recall ever having seen anyone actually use std::accumulate in real life. I suppose this is part of the fun of C++, though, in that it supports a family of distinct but compatible dialects.

"This is not confusing enough to be considered C++"

The article where bjarne describes C++ syntax as a joke and programmer job security is a parody.

http://www.snopes.com/computer/program/stroustrup.asp

Not sure if there is such a thing but if not, maybe it could be "Stroubie".

As in something you could end up in? "Using long arrow operator in production will get you into strouble".

Python has a strong sense of purity. It is a language that really guides you into doing things one way and the community reflect that.

Not so much with C++. There is no one way to do things. Depending on your needs, you will use the language differently. Code focused on performance (ex: game engine) will look very different from server code, or a GUI, or embedded software. And none will be more C++y than the other.

Possibly "Bjarney"

undefined behavior

Python has zen. Zen is the basis of what is considered pythonic. C++ does not have zen; the language was designed by committee.

Not really. C++ was designed by Stroustrup; a committee then modified it somewhat.

Stroustrupian

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