programming languages

Rank

Mathematica vs C++

  1. This language excels at symbolic manipulation

    94% 6%
    Mathematica 16 out of 17 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  2. This is a high level language

    88% 12%
    Mathematica 16 out of 18 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  3. This language is built on a small core of orthogonal features

    87% 13%
    Mathematica 7 out of 8 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  4. This language matches it's problem domain particularly well.

    87% 13%
    Mathematica 14 out of 16 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  5. This language has a niche outside of which I would not use it

    86% 14%
    Mathematica 13 out of 15 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  6. This language is easier to use for it's problem domain by removing unneeded expressiveness (such as not being Turing complete).

    84% 16%
    Mathematica 11 out of 13 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  7. I still discover new features of this language on a fairly regular basis

    83% 17%
    Mathematica 10 out of 12 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  8. I often write things in this language with the intent of rewriting them in something else later

    83% 17%
    Mathematica 10 out of 12 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  9. This language has a niche in which it is great

    81% 19%
    Mathematica 13 out of 16 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  10. The semantics of this language are much different than other languages I know.

    80% 20%
    Mathematica 17 out of 21 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  11. It is easy to tell at a glance what code in this language does

    80% 20%
    Mathematica 12 out of 15 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  12. This language is minimal

    78% 22%
    Mathematica 11 out of 14 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  13. I enjoy playing with this language but would never use it for "real code"

    78% 22%
    Mathematica 11 out of 14 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  14. This language is likely to be a passing fad

    76% 24%
    Mathematica 10 out of 13 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  15. I am reluctant to admit to knowing this language

    72% 28%
    Mathematica 8 out of 11 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  16. This language has a very coherent design

    71% 29%
    Mathematica 15 out of 21 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  17. This language is good for numeric computing

    69% 31%
    Mathematica 16 out of 23 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  18. This language is good for beginners

    68% 32%
    Mathematica 11 out of 16 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  19. Code written in this language tends to be terse

    66% 34%
    Mathematica 10 out of 15 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  20. Code written in this language will usually run in all the major implementations if it runs in one of them.

    66% 34%
    Mathematica 8 out of 12 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  21. This language encourages writing code that is easy to maintain.

    65% 35%
    Mathematica 13 out of 20 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  22. I would use this language as a scripting language embedded inside a larger application

    64% 36%
    Mathematica 11 out of 17 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  23. This language is best for very small projects

    64% 36%
    Mathematica 9 out of 14 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  24. The resources for learning this language are of high quality

    63% 37%
    Mathematica 7 out of 11 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  25. This language has unusual features that I often miss when using other languages

    63% 37%
    Mathematica 7 out of 11 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  26. I often feel like I am not smart enough to write this language

    63% 37%
    Mathematica 12 out of 19 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  27. This language is good for scientific computing

    62% 38%
    Mathematica 10 out of 16 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  28. This language has a very rigid idea of how things should be done

    61% 39%
    Mathematica 8 out of 13 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  29. I find this language easy to prototype in

    60% 40%
    Mathematica 6 out of 10 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  30. If this language didn't exist, I would have trouble finding a satisfactory replacement

    60% 40%
    Mathematica 12 out of 20 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  31. This language has an annoying syntax

    58% 42%
    Mathematica 10 out of 17 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  32. I use this language out of choice

    57% 43%
    Mathematica 11 out of 19 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  33. This language would be good for teaching children to write software

    57% 43%
    Mathematica 15 out of 26 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  34. When I write code in this language I can be very sure it is correct

    55% 45%
    Mathematica 5 out of 9 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  35. This language is well documented

    55% 45%
    Mathematica 10 out of 18 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  36. If my code in this language successfully compiles, there is a good chance my code is correct.

    55% 45%
    Mathematica 11 out of 20 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  37. I am sometimes embarrassed to admit to my peers that I know this language

    53% 47%
    Mathematica 8 out of 15 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  38. I enjoy using this language

    53% 47%
    Mathematica 8 out of 15 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  39. This language has well-organized libraries with consistent, carefully thought-out interfaces

    52% 48%
    Mathematica 9 out of 17 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  40. I would use this language for casual scripting

    52% 48%
    Mathematica 11 out of 21 picked Mathematica over C++ C++

  41. Code written in this language is very readable

    50% 50%
    Mathematica 7 out of 14 each for C++ and Mathematica C++

  42. This language has a wide variety of agreed-upon conventions, which are generally adhered to reasonably well, and which increase my productivity

    50% 50%
    Mathematica 7 out of 14 each for C++ and Mathematica C++

  43. I usually use this language on solo projects

    50% 50%
    Mathematica 6 out of 12 each for C++ and Mathematica C++

  44. This language excels at text processing

    50% 50%
    Mathematica 7 out of 14 each for C++ and Mathematica C++

  45. This language has a very dogmatic community

    46% 54%
    Mathematica 8 out of 15 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  46. This language is well suited for an agile development approach using short iterations.

    46% 54%
    Mathematica 8 out of 15 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  47. It's unusual for me to discover unfamiliar features

    46% 54%
    Mathematica 7 out of 13 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  48. I find code written in this language very elegant

    44% 56%
    Mathematica 11 out of 20 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  49. Libraries in this language tend to be well documented.

    44% 56%
    Mathematica 11 out of 20 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  50. Learning this language improved my ability as a programmer

    43% 57%
    Mathematica 9 out of 16 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  51. This language has a good library distribution mechanism.

    42% 58%
    Mathematica 12 out of 21 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  52. Code written in this language tends to be very reliable

    42% 58%
    Mathematica 8 out of 14 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  53. I would like to write more of this language than I currently do

    41% 59%
    Mathematica 7 out of 12 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  54. I often get angry when writing code in this language

    41% 59%
    Mathematica 14 out of 24 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  55. This language is frequently used for applications it isn't suitable for

    40% 60%
    Mathematica 12 out of 20 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  56. This language has a high quality implementation

    40% 60%
    Mathematica 9 out of 15 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  57. I would use this language for a web project

    40% 60%
    Mathematica 3 out of 5 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  58. It is easy to debug programs written in this language when it goes wrong

    38% 62%
    Mathematica 8 out of 13 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  59. This language has a good community

    38% 62%
    Mathematica 8 out of 13 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  60. I learned this language early in my career as a programmer

    37% 63%
    Mathematica 10 out of 16 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  61. I would recommend most programmers learn this language, regardless of whether they have a specific need for it

    36% 64%
    Mathematica 14 out of 22 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  62. This language excels at concurrency

    36% 64%
    Mathematica 7 out of 11 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  63. I rarely have difficulty abstracting patterns I find in my code

    36% 64%
    Mathematica 7 out of 11 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  64. The thought that I may still be using this language in twenty years time fills me with dread

    33% 67%
    Mathematica 10 out of 15 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  65. This language is likely to have a strong influence on future languages

    31% 69%
    Mathematica 15 out of 22 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  66. I use a lot of code written in this language which I really don't want to have to make changes to

    31% 69%
    Mathematica 13 out of 19 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  67. It is too easy to write code in this language that looks like it does one thing but actually does something else

    31% 69%
    Mathematica 11 out of 16 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  68. I regularly use this language

    30% 70%
    Mathematica 9 out of 13 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  69. Learning this language significantly changed how I use other languages.

    30% 70%
    Mathematica 16 out of 23 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  70. Programs written in this language tend to play well with others

    30% 70%
    Mathematica 7 out of 10 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  71. I can imagine using this language in my day job

    27% 73%
    Mathematica 8 out of 11 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  72. This language is very flexible

    27% 73%
    Mathematica 8 out of 11 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  73. I would use this language for mobile applications

    25% 75%
    Mathematica 15 out of 20 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  74. This language is good for distributed computing

    25% 75%
    Mathematica 9 out of 12 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  75. This language has many features which feel "tacked on"

    25% 75%
    Mathematica 12 out of 16 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  76. This language is expressive

    25% 75%
    Mathematica 6 out of 8 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  77. Developers who primarily use this language often burn out after a few years

    25% 75%
    Mathematica 12 out of 16 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  78. I know this language well

    24% 76%
    Mathematica 185 out of 245 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  79. This language encourages writing reusable code.

    23% 77%
    Mathematica 13 out of 17 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  80. This language is large

    23% 77%
    Mathematica 13 out of 17 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  81. This language is unusually bad for beginners

    23% 77%
    Mathematica 10 out of 13 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  82. I can imagine this will be a popular language in twenty years time

    23% 77%
    Mathematica 10 out of 13 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  83. Programs written in this language will usually work in future versions of the language

    23% 77%
    Mathematica 10 out of 13 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  84. I find it easy to write efficient code in this language

    22% 78%
    Mathematica 14 out of 18 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  85. This language allows me to write programs where I know exactly what they are doing under the hood

    21% 79%
    Mathematica 11 out of 14 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  86. Code written in this language tends to be verbose

    19% 81%
    Mathematica 8 out of 10 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  87. This language has a strong static type system

    18% 82%
    Mathematica 13 out of 16 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  88. Programs written in this language tend to be efficient

    18% 82%
    Mathematica 13 out of 16 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  89. There are many good commercial tools for this language

    17% 83%
    Mathematica 14 out of 17 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  90. I would list this language on my resume

    17% 83%
    Mathematica 19 out of 23 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  91. I usually use this language on projects with many other members

    15% 85%
    Mathematica 11 out of 13 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  92. I would use this language for a desktop GUI project

    15% 85%
    Mathematica 17 out of 20 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  93. When I run into problems my colleagues can provide me with immediate help with this language

    14% 86%
    Mathematica 12 out of 14 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  94. I know many other people who use this language

    14% 86%
    Mathematica 12 out of 14 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  95. This language is likely to be around for a very long time

    14% 86%
    Mathematica 12 out of 14 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  96. There is a lot of accidental complexity when writing code in this language

    13% 87%
    Mathematica 13 out of 15 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  97. This language is suitable for real-time applications

    11% 89%
    Mathematica 15 out of 17 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  98. I would use this language for writing server programs

    9% 91%
    Mathematica 9 out of 10 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  99. Writing code in this language is a lot of work

    9% 91%
    Mathematica 9 out of 10 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  100. This is a mainstream language

    9% 91%
    Mathematica 19 out of 21 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  101. I would use this language for writing programs for an embedded hardware platform

    9% 91%
    Mathematica 10 out of 11 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  102. I would use this language to write a command-line app

    7% 93%
    Mathematica 12 out of 13 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  103. There are many good tools for this language

    7% 93%
    Mathematica 13 out of 14 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  104. There are many good open-source tools for this language

    6% 94%
    Mathematica 15 out of 16 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  105. I use many applications written in this language

    5% 95%
    Mathematica 17 out of 18 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  106. This language is best for very large projects

    100%
    Mathematica 13 out of 13 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  107. There is a wide variety of open source code written in this language

    100%
    Mathematica 12 out of 12 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  108. This is a low level language

    100%
    Mathematica 12 out of 12 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  109. Third-party libraries are readily available, well-documented, and of high quality

    100%
    Mathematica 11 out of 11 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

  110. This language makes it easy to shoot yourself in the foot

    100%
    Mathematica 15 out of 15 picked C++ over Mathematica C++

What's going on here?

The absolute rankings are interesting for large scale comparisons but when you want to know about two specific languages it's much more informative to look at how the two fare when they go directly head to head.

Here are all the statements which we've got enough comparisons between Mathematica and C++ to be meaningful and which of the two our users picked.

The order in which we're presenting them is a little arbitrary (sorry), but we've tried to put the things which they're both good at first so as to give you the most interesting picture of it.