I used to be a C++ guy for 20 years, but won't go back unless absolutely necessary. I mean, it's tempting -- there are some cool new language features. I find that the abstractions are leaky, though, so you still have to understand all the hairy edge-cases. The language has gone insane. I'm 40 -- I want to get stuff done before I die, not play clever games to get around my language / system.
C++ has been by next loved language after Turbo Pascal, since then I learned and used countless languages, but C++ was always on the "if you can only pick 5" kind of list.
Since 2006 I am mostly a Java/.NET languages guy, but still keep C++ on that list.
Mostly because I won't use C unless obliged to do so, and all languages intended to be "a better C++" still haven't proved themselves on the type of work we do, thus decreasing our productivity.
Because in spite of Swift, Java, .NET and JavaScript, C++ is the best supported option from OS vendors SDKs.
I dream of the day I could have an OpenJDK with AOT compilation to native code with support for value types, or a .NET Native that can target any OS instead of UWP apps.
Until then C++ it is, but only for those little things requiring low level systems code.
I've given up on C++ 5 years ago, after 10 years of getting paid to develop it. I find out the extra money that come from a C++ job doesn't cover the gray hairs of trying to tame the language so you don't shoot yourself in the foot a dozen times every time you call a method.
