Contents
Bjarne Stroustrup
Creating C++, the programming language behind systems, games and high-performance software.
The C++ Programming Language · The Design and Evolution of C++
- Born
- 30 December 1950
- Birthplace
- Aarhus, Denmark
More people
Bjarne Stroustrup
Danish computer scientist who designed and first implemented C++. His work brought tools for organising large programs into a language that retained close control over computer resources.
Early life
Danish education
Grew up in Aarhus and studied mathematics and computer science at its university.
Cambridge research
Completed a doctorate in 1979 under David Wheeler, researching distributed systems.
Career
- 1979
Bell Labs
Joined its computing research centre and began the work that became C++.
- 1980s–2002
Language development
Led programming research while extending C++ and contributing to its standardisation.
- 2002–2014
Texas A&M
Moved into university teaching and research.
- 2014 onward
New York
Combined work at Morgan Stanley with Columbia teaching, becoming a Columbia professor in 2022.
Books & software
The C++ Programming Language
His guide to the language, subsequently revised across multiple editions.
The Design and Evolution of C++
Explained the choices and practical constraints behind its development.
Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++
Introduced programming through a structured textbook.
Beyond work
Shared standards
Works through the international C++ standards process rather than controlling the language alone.
Away from software
His interests include history, photography, hiking, music and travel.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Institutional biography and research ↗Photo: ICPCNews. CC BY 2.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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