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Jogofus
Asked: 2020-07-07 14:28:52 +0800 CST 2020-07-07 14:28:52 +0800 CST

Differences between C++ and c++/cli

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I am trying to make a windows form, and researching the web, I have seen that it is the c++/cli language, but I do not understand very well what this means. As I understand it, it is a modification of c++ by Windows, but I don't see any kind of relationship with the standard language, since if I want to print by console in c++ I would use std::cout << "Hola mundo"and in c++/cli it would beConsole::WriteLine("Hola Mundo");

Why, if it has such a different syntax, is it considered part of the same language (an extension or a modification)?

c++

1 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    C++ is a native language (an executable binary is generated). C++.Net is a virtual machine based language (part of the .Net family). In this case, the compiler does not generate executable code, but rather a kind of intermediate code that is processed by the .Net virtual machine during the execution of the program. This virtual machine is in charge of converting that intermediate code into executable binary.

    The .Net version of C++ is not pure C++ but rather a free version of the language that has been adapted to be compatible with the .Net framework.

    Portability:

    • The binary generated with C++ can only be executed on the target machine (the binary is not portable from windows to linux, for example)
    • The code generated by C++.Net can be executed on any system that has a .Net installation.

    Reverse engineering:

    • The binary generated by C++ has a complicated reverse engineering since the class structure can disappear completely and the system architecture is reduced to a set of functions. The code generated by C++.Net can be decompiled with some ease, obtaining the names of the functions, the variables and the architecture of the system. When working with .Net it is normal to pass some kind of obfuscator that complicates reverse engineering.

    Licenses:

    • When working with C++ you have very good open source compilers at your disposal. You can also opt for payment solutions
    • C++.Net, being anchored to .Net, has few options to choose from and almost all of them involve using the Microsoft compiler or the one provided by the MONO project. The normal thing is that you end up subject to Microsoft licenses.

    Basic library:

    • The C++ standard library, although it has quite powerful features, is insufficient for a serious project. With the entry of the latest standards, a great effort has been made to incorporate basic elements into this library, but it still has many shortcomings.
    • .Net makes available to the programmer an extensive catalog of libraries that allow them to do authentic wonders (graphical interface, cryptography, sockets, access to databases, printing services, ...)

    And the thing continues...

    As you can see, the differences are notable and the choice of one or another alternative will completely mark the way you develop your projects.

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