A new documentary chronicling the history of C++ premiered today on YouTube, featuring interviews with the language's creator and key contributors. Bjarne Stroustrup leads a cast that includes Alexander Stepanov, Anders Hejlsberg, and Herb Sutter, among other influential figures who shaped the language's evolution.

The film traces C++ from its 1980s origins at AT&T Bell Labs through its transformation from C with Classes to the modern standard. It covers major milestones including the development of the Standard Template Library, the C++98 standard, and the language's expansion into gaming, finance, and scientific computing at places like CERN.

According to the documentary, C++ has grown by +90% users over the past 3.5 years, making it the fastest-growing among the top four programming languages worldwide. The film addresses criticism about complexity while exploring modern C++ features and future challenges.

Published by Herb Sutter, chair of the Standard C++ Foundation and former ISO C++ committee chair, the documentary offers rare insight into four decades of programming language development. At 1 hour and 10 minutes, it serves as both historical record and celebration of C++'s enduring influence on software engineering.