Not using the heap. Is it sign of being a bad programmer ?

Aug 13, 2018 at 4:05pm
closed account (DEhqDjzh)
I am using c++ for 4+ years and since then, I did not need to use heap (*Libraries is an exception e.g: you have to use heap when creating an object in bullet physics)
I have developed 1 game engine, 2 libraries, and 1 virus and didn't use heap.
Is it a sign of being a bad programmer?

* = http://www.bulletphysics.org/mediawiki-1.5.8/index.php/Hello_World
Last edited on Aug 13, 2018 at 4:05pm
Aug 13, 2018 at 4:15pm
Using the heap is a bad option. You do it when other options are worse or impossible.

That said, such situations do exist. Maybe if you've not encountered any yet, you should think about expanding your programming experience.
Last edited on Aug 13, 2018 at 4:17pm
Aug 13, 2018 at 4:44pm
closed account (E0p9LyTq)
Using the heap does not make for a bad programmer.

How and why you use or don't use the heap can make one.

The heap is a tool, nothing more nor less.
Aug 13, 2018 at 6:14pm
Not using the heap directly in ones code is the sign of a good programmer.
Aug 13, 2018 at 7:31pm
Adding onto what JLBorges said: I'm sure you have used the "heap". You just never used it directly. std::vector uses the heap, std::string uses the heap. Making objects that work with smart pointers uses the heap, etc. The C++ standard library thankfully handles a lot of this for you. If you haven't used new/smart pointers yet, well, there are times when dealing with large amounts of shared data where it can be beneficial or necessary, but it's not necessarily a bad thing that you haven't run into this yet.
Aug 16, 2018 at 8:27am
closed account (DEhqDjzh)
@Ganado thank you !
Topic archived. No new replies allowed.