think-cell secures C++ standardization work in Germany

Since the beginning of 2013, software vendor think-cell supports the German Institute for Standardization’s (DIN) working group for programming languages. Funding and participation from the Berlin-based company has secured German involvement in the international standardization of C++, which was once in question as the DIN planned to dissolve its corresponding working group for financial reasons and retire to the role of an observer. Funding provided by think-cell made it possible to move forward with standardization work.

In recent years, the increasing importance of the C++ programming language, particularly for native and high-performance software, has once again drawn attention to the standardization of the language by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). German involvement in the working group and the vote is the responsibility of the DIN working group for programming languages. The DIN came to a decision to dissolve the working group in Autumn 2012 due to a lack of sufficient funding.

"Our software has been written in C++ since think-cell was founded over ten years ago. The C++ programming language has really won us over based on the fact that it is very elegant, and we can work more efficiently than with other languages," says Arno Schödl, think-cell's CTO. "We were surprised that no other software vendor in Germany wanted to get involved in further developing C++, but I must say we are delighted to be entrusted with such an important task."

"The national and international standards are developed by unpaid experts drawn from industry and research," explains Cord Wischhöfer, managing director of the DIN Standards Committee on Information Technology and Applications (NIA). "We therefore very much welcome the fact that think-cell is financially funding the working group for programming languages and that its employees are taking on an active role in the working group."

Funding from think-cell has created an additional ten expert seats in the working group. However, the software vendor does not wish to fill these seats only from within its own ranks. "We believe representatives from all areas of the German C++ community should have the opportunity to design the standards in their craft. We are therefore inviting interested experts to join us in promoting the national and international development of C++," says Schödl on the goal of the working group having a balanced composition.

Those interested in participating in the working group are asked to contact think-cell directly.