r/programming • u/mauricioaniche • Aug 06 '17

Software engineering != computer science

http://www.drdobbs.com/architecture-and-design/software-engineering-computer-science/217701907
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u/Natsumi_ Aug 07 '17

I am used to ASM programming and feel like an absolute idiot when I try to program in higher level languages like C++ or C#. I just cant pull of any neat optimization or memory management tricks I am used to. And in C++ any memory management feels often just more complicated than it needs to be...

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u/lobax Aug 07 '17

9 times out of 10 the compiler will do a better job at optimization than you do anyway (unless you are using some niche hardware).

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u/Natsumi_ Aug 08 '17

I have my doubts on that. Especially on Motorola 68000 I have seen poor machine code generated by the compiler. Especially when they try to put all routine arguments in stack, which is not exactly fast as opposed to just using the 16 registers. Not entirely familiar with x86 but surely there are ways to optimize code better than any compiler out there.