Comment by ChrisMarshallNY
1 month ago
I think that it depends on the system.
Firmware is probably still best done in C (sometimes, C++), mostly because so many SDKs, libraries, and toolkits are done in those languages. Also, there's decades of "prior art" in C. Lots of places to look for solutions.
I worked on a project, where we tried using a very "less-popular" language for firmware.
It didn't end well.
I'd say that being a "Systems Programmer" means that you are operating at a fairly "advanced" level, where the benefits of "safer" languages may be less of a factor, and the power of more "dangerous" languages is more attractive.
Of course, on HN, suggesting C or C++ is suggesting "less popular" languages...
Though we see "fairly advanced level" of C and C++ leading to 70 percent of the vulnerabilities in the Chromium project. So I would bet on anyone's advanced level.
Good, safe, code tends to come from Discipline, Humility, and thoroughness.
I've known many highly experienced and intelligent software devs that are terrible at that stuff, and are like coding time bombs.
I highly doubt they're less popular, it's just that most people who use them aren't as vocal as their detractors.
This is my thought, also (it was basically a joke).
Another "unpopular" language, is PHP: https://w3techs.com/technologies/history_overview/programmin...