As we approach the new year, everyone talks about what the new year has in store for us. It could be business ideas, technology, gizmos, music, entertainment etc, etc.

I work mainly in C++ and develop algorithms, data management modules for a product development software company. We also use Java, SOA, J2EE and .NET in application tier and middle tier areas.

Since our business logic and data management code is in C++, I am very curious to know what is in store in the recent future. There does not seem to be a big push in this direction unlike in Java where new stuff keeps coming in very regularly.

I have been using the same old C++ and STL framework for a long time. It is good in one way to have stable framework to work on because it improves productivity and increases predictability. Its also not very tough to maintain stuff you wrote some years back.

But, at the same time, it also does not let you move up the value chain in a manner which new packages in Java allow you to. For example: the support for complex data structures does not get extended in C++ so soon. Java supports so many variants of lists and maps that a C++ developer has to do a lot to compete. And in the process, it takes much more time to do the same thing in C++.

Your thoughts?