Why Learning C/C++ Often Feels Useless: The Crucial Role of C/C++ in Modern Software Infrastructure

Recently a foreign netizen asked why, after learning C/C++, they feel unable to create useful things, sparking a heated discussion.

Several commenters pointed out that the operating system you use, the TCP/IP stack, compilers, interpreters, drivers, the Java JVM, and especially the Linux kernel are all written primarily in C or C++, with only a small portion in assembly.

These components form the fundamental infrastructure of the digital world, serving as the bedrock for all higher‑level software.

Because recreating such infrastructure is extremely difficult both theoretically and engineering‑wise, and there is little need to reinvent it outside of academic or teaching contexts, most developers cannot directly contribute to building kernels, network stacks, or compilers without extensive background knowledge.

Consequently, developers often shift their focus to application programming—building small programs, websites, or services—where higher‑level languages like Java, Python, or JavaScript provide clear advantages because they were designed for those scenarios.

The article uses a Lego analogy: C/C++ are the tiny plastic bricks, while higher‑level languages are the pre‑assembled modules that let you quickly construct complex models without handling each individual brick.