> I don't think C++ programmers in general are worth chasing. If they stuck with C++ for such a long time, it means they are used to it and accept C++ with all its flaws
People don’t use C++ because it’s convenient and easy, they use it because it’s one of the best widely used options/ecosystems if performance really matters.
Any other language targeting this space has to chase C++ users because C++ is so prevalent. It would be like coming up with a new general purpose dynamic language and not appealing to Python users, or a new stats modeling language and not appealing to R users.
Yes, I agree - I didn't mean that the "C++ is a contender" use cases are few, in fact the opposite. Just that I don't see a ton of of professional "We wrote our Postgres CRUD app in Rust for reasons". I'm sure a few have, but that's a harder choice to defend that using Rust instead of C++.
I think there's a distinction between people making side projects/posting online and professional usage of rust.
There's a lot more Python/JS/etc developers than C++ developers, and Rust meaningfully offers something those languages don't, so I suspect you see a rush of folks from that world going to learn Rust and posting about it online.
However, I generally don't see or hear about Rust being used professionally except in a context where C or C++ would have been seriously considered as well.
People don’t use C++ because it’s convenient and easy, they use it because it’s one of the best widely used options/ecosystems if performance really matters.
Any other language targeting this space has to chase C++ users because C++ is so prevalent. It would be like coming up with a new general purpose dynamic language and not appealing to Python users, or a new stats modeling language and not appealing to R users.