Table of Contents
CPP Web Development
Backend CPP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlUO6ERf1TQ
CPP Web Development equivalents: Compare and contrast for Python, PowerShell, Bash, Rust, Golang, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, Kotlin, Scala, Clojure, Haskell, F Sharp, Erlang, Elixir, Swift, C Sharp, CPP, C Language, Zig, PHP, Ruby, Dart, Microsoft T-SQL, Oracle PL/SQL, PL/pgSQL, Julia, R Language, Perl, COBOL, Fortran, Ada, VBScript, Basic, Pascal.
CPP Web Development Equivalents: Compare and Contrast
CPP Web Development is typically achieved using frameworks like CppCMS, Crow, or Pistache for building fast, high-performance web servers. CPP excels in scenarios where speed and resource control are critical, such as in backend systems for IoT devices or high-throughput services. Below is a comparison of equivalents across 35 programming languages.
Python
- Equivalents: Frameworks like Django, Flask, and FastAPI.
- Strengths: High-level and beginner-friendly with extensive libraries.
- Weaknesses: Slower performance compared to CPP.
PowerShell
- Equivalents: No direct web frameworks; can host web servers via .NET components.
- Strengths: Simplifies automation for small-scale web services.
- Weaknesses: Limited for full-scale web applications.
Bash
- Equivalents: No direct support; relies on tools like `curl` or `wget` for web interactions.
- Strengths: Lightweight for basic tasks like HTTP requests.
- Weaknesses: Unsuitable for building web applications.
Rust
- Equivalents: Frameworks like Rocket and Actix.
- Strengths: High performance, safety, and concurrency.
- Weaknesses: Steeper learning curve for web development beginners.
Golang
- Equivalents: Native `net/http` package, frameworks like Gin and Echo.
- Strengths: Lightweight, fast, and optimized for microservices.
- Weaknesses: Limited abstractions compared to higher-level frameworks.
JavaScript
- Equivalents: Frameworks like Express.js, Next.js, and Fastify.
- Strengths: Ubiquitous in web development with strong community support.
- Weaknesses: Limited for computationally intensive backend tasks.
TypeScript
- Equivalents: Same as JavaScript, with added type safety.
- Strengths: Improves code reliability for large-scale web projects.
- Weaknesses: Shares JavaScript’s runtime performance limitations.
Java
- Equivalents: Spring Framework, Play Framework.
- Strengths: Enterprise-ready and robust for large-scale applications.
- Weaknesses: Verbose and heavy for smaller projects.
Kotlin
- Equivalents: Ktor and frameworks interoperable with Spring.
- Strengths: Concise syntax and modern tooling.
- Weaknesses: JVM dependency for deployment.
Scala
- Equivalents: Play Framework, Akka HTTP.
- Strengths: Functional programming integrates well with concurrency.
- Weaknesses: Complex for small-scale web services.
Clojure
- Equivalents: Ring and Compojure.
- Strengths: Simplifies web development with immutable data structures.
- Weaknesses: Small community and ecosystem for web tools.
Haskell
- Equivalents: Scotty and Yesod.
- Strengths: Pure functional programming ensures safety and correctness.
- Weaknesses: Steep learning curve for newcomers.
F Sharp
Erlang
- Equivalents: Cowboy web server.
- Strengths: Fault-tolerant and highly scalable for distributed systems.
- Weaknesses: Verbose and limited for rapid development.
Elixir
- Equivalents: Phoenix Framework.
- Strengths: Simplifies development with built-in support for real-time web applications.
- Weaknesses: Limited to BEAM ecosystem.
Swift
- Equivalents: Vapor and Kitura.
- Strengths: Optimized for Apple platforms.
- Weaknesses: Limited adoption outside macOS/iOS ecosystems.
C Sharp
- Equivalents: ASP.NET Core.
- Strengths: Comprehensive tooling and scalability for enterprise web applications.
- Weaknesses: Steeper learning curve for non-Windows platforms.
C Language
- Equivalents: Custom web servers using libraries like libmicrohttpd.
- Strengths: High performance and low-level control.
- Weaknesses: Error-prone and verbose for complex applications.
Zig
- Equivalents: Lightweight web servers built using custom implementations.
- Strengths: Performance-oriented with simple syntax.
- Weaknesses: Limited web-specific frameworks.
PHP
- Equivalents: Frameworks like Laravel and Symfony.
- Strengths: Simplifies web development with built-in server capabilities.
- Weaknesses: Performance limitations for high-throughput applications.
Ruby
- Equivalents: Ruby on Rails, Sinatra.
- Strengths: Rapid development for web applications.
- Weaknesses: Performance bottlenecks for computationally heavy tasks.
Dart
- Equivalents: Dart Frog, Aqueduct.
- Strengths: Best for Flutter-based applications with backend integration.
- Weaknesses: Limited ecosystem for non-UI-based services.
Microsoft T-SQL
- Equivalents: Database-driven web APIs through stored procedures.
- Strengths: Optimized for SQL-based web data access.
- Weaknesses: Lacks full web development capabilities.
Oracle PL/SQL
- Equivalents: Database APIs for web applications.
- Strengths: Efficient for Oracle database-centric applications.
- Weaknesses: Limited for frontend or server-side logic.
PL/pgSQL
- Equivalents: Database-side APIs for PostgreSQL-based services.
- Strengths: Great for database-driven web applications.
- Weaknesses: No direct frontend support.
Julia
- Equivalents: Frameworks like Genie.jl.
- Strengths: Simplifies numerical and scientific web services.
- Weaknesses: Small ecosystem for general web development.
R Language
- Equivalents: Shiny for data-centric web applications.
- Strengths: Optimized for visualizing and analyzing data on the web.
- Weaknesses: Limited beyond data-driven workflows.
Perl
- Equivalents: Dancer and Mojolicious.
- Strengths: Simplifies lightweight web scripting.
- Weaknesses: Outdated for modern web development needs.
COBOL
- Equivalents: No direct web support; backend processing via external interfaces.
- Strengths: Reliable for legacy systems.
- Weaknesses: Unsuitable for modern web applications.
Fortran
- Equivalents: Custom server implementations with libraries.
- Strengths: High performance for numerical backends.
- Weaknesses: No ecosystem for web frameworks.
Ada
- Equivalents: AWS (Ada Web Server).
- Strengths: Reliable for safety-critical systems.
- Weaknesses: Limited adoption in modern web development.
VBScript
- Equivalents: IIS integration for ASP Classic.
- Strengths: Simplifies small-scale Windows-hosted applications.
- Weaknesses: Outdated and limited for modern web development.
Basic
- Equivalents: No direct web framework support.
- Strengths: Beginner-friendly for simple tasks.
- Weaknesses: Outdated and unsuitable for web applications.
Pascal
- Equivalents: Web frameworks like Free Pascal's fpWeb.
- Strengths: Reliable for structured programming in web development.
- Weaknesses: Limited adoption in modern ecosystems.
Comparison Table
Language | Web Development Support | Strengths | Weaknesses |
——————– | ——————————————- | ————————————- | ————————————- |
CPP | Frameworks like CppCMS, Crow, Pistache | High performance and resource efficiency | Verbose and lacks high-level abstractions |
Python | Frameworks like Django, Flask, FastAPI | Easy to learn, extensive libraries | Slower performance than CPP |
PowerShell | .NET components for hosting servers | Simplifies small-scale web services | Limited for full-stack development |
Bash | Tools like `curl`, `wget` | Lightweight for HTTP requests | No support for building web applications |
Rust | Frameworks like Rocket, Actix | High performance and safety | Steep learning curve |
Golang | Native `net/http`, frameworks like Gin | Optimized for microservices | Limited abstractions for rapid development |
JavaScript | Frameworks like Express.js, Next.js | Ubiquitous in web development | Inefficient for CPU-heavy tasks |
TypeScript | Same as JavaScript, with type safety | Reliable for large-scale projects | Runtime performance matches JavaScript |
Java | Spring Framework, Play Framework | Robust for enterprise applications | Verbose and heavy for small projects |
Kotlin | Ktor and Spring compatibility | Modern syntax, JVM-based | Limited use outside JVM environments |
Scala | Play Framework, Akka HTTP | Functional programming integration | Complex for small-scale applications |
Clojure | Ring, Compojure | Immutable data structures simplify concurrency | Small ecosystem for web tools |
Haskell | Scotty, Yesod | Ensures safety and correctness | Steep learning curve for newcomers |
F Sharp | Suave, Giraffe | Works well with .NET frameworks | Limited adoption outside .NET |
Erlang | Cowboy | Fault-tolerant and scalable | Verbose for rapid development |
Elixir | Phoenix | Simplifies real-time web apps | Limited to BEAM ecosystem |
Swift | Vapor, Kitura | Optimized for Apple platforms | Limited cross-platform support |
C Sharp | ASP.NET Core | Enterprise-ready, robust tooling | Steeper learning curve for non-Windows environments |
C Language | Custom servers with libmicrohttpd | High performance and control | Error-prone and verbose |
Zig | Lightweight custom implementations | Performance-oriented | Limited web-specific frameworks |
PHP | Frameworks like Laravel, Symfony | Simplifies backend development | Slower for high-throughput tasks |
Ruby | Ruby on Rails, Sinatra | Rapid prototyping for web apps | Performance bottlenecks for large-scale systems |
Dart | Dart Frog, Aqueduct | Best for Flutter integration | Limited ecosystem for backend development |
Microsoft T-SQL | Stored procedures for web APIs | Great for database-centric workflows | No frontend or server-side logic support |
Oracle PL/SQL | Database-driven APIs | Optimized for Oracle workflows | Limited beyond database logic |
PL/pgSQL | Database-side APIs for PostgreSQL | Tailored for PostgreSQL workflows | No frontend or application-layer support |
Julia | Genie.jl | Simplifies numerical web services | Small ecosystem for general web applications |
R Language | Shiny for data-driven web apps | Great for visualizing and analyzing data | Limited outside data-centric workflows |
Perl | Dancer, Mojolicious | Lightweight for web scripting | Outdated for modern web development |
COBOL | Backend processing via external interfaces | Reliable for legacy systems | Unsuitable for modern web frameworks |
Fortran | Custom implementations with libraries | High performance for numerical tasks | No web-specific tooling |
Ada | AWS (Ada Web Server) | Reliable for safety-critical systems | Limited adoption in web development |
VBScript | IIS integration for ASP Classic | Simple for small-scale web apps | Outdated for modern web development |
Basic | No direct web framework support | Beginner-friendly for small tasks | Unsuitable for web applications |
Pascal | fpWeb (Free Pascal Web) | Reliable for structured programming | Limited modern ecosystem support |
This table highlights the web development capabilities of 35 programming languages, comparing their strengths and weaknesses relative to CPP Web Development.
HTTP and WebSocket built on Boost.Asio in C++11
https://github.com/boostorg/beast
4.4K GitHub Stars, 639 GitHub Forks
https://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_86_0/libs/beast/doc/html/index.html
Beast is a C++ header-only library serving as a foundation for writing interoperable networking libraries by providing low-level HTTP/1, WebSocket, and networking protocol vocabulary types and algorithms using the consistent asynchronous model of Boost.Asio.
This library is designed for:
Symmetry: Algorithms are role-agnostic; build clients, servers, or both.
Ease of Use: Boost.Asio users will immediately understand Beast.
Flexibility: Users make the important decisions such as buffer or thread management.
Performance: Build applications handling thousands of connections or more.
Basis for Further Abstraction. Components are well-suited for building upon.
…one of the most highly regarded and expertly designed C++ library projects in the world. — Herb Sutter and Andrei Alexandrescu, C++ Coding Standards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJZgRcvPFwI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TtyYbGDAj0
Since tens of thousands of users across the internet rely on the Boost.Beast library as the foundation of their code, security and peer review is crucial and mandatory to identify and remove dangerous security vulnerabilities. Vinnie Falco, the creator of Beast, reached out to Bishop Fox to assess the security of the Boost C++ Beast HTTP/S networking library.
Alternative “Beta”
Low-level HTTP/1 Protocol C++11 Library using Boost.ASIO
https://github.com/cppalliance/http_io
HTTP/1 parsing and serialization algorithms using C++11
This is currently NOT an official Boost library.
Overview
Boost.Http.Proto is a portable, low-level C++ library which provides containers and algorithms for implementing the HTTP/1.1 protocol described in the document Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP/1.1): Message Syntax and Routing
https://github.com/cppalliance/http_io
Boost.HTTP.Proto Boost.HTTP.Proto is a portable C++ library which provides containers and algorithms which implement the HTTP/1.1 protocol, widely used to deliver content on the Internet. It adheres strictly to the HTTP/1.1 RFC specification (henceforth referred to as rfc9110). This library understands the grammars related to HTTP nessages and provides functionality to validate, parse, examine, and modify messages.
Poco
https://github.com/pocoproject/poco
8.5K GitHub Stars, 2.2K GitHub Forks
The POCO C++ Libraries are powerful cross-platform C++ libraries for building network- and internet-based applications that run on desktop, server, mobile, IoT, and embedded systems.
POCO (Portable Components) C++ Libraries are:
A collection of C++ class libraries, conceptually similar to the Java Class Library or the .NET Framework. Focused on solutions to frequently-encountered practical problems. Focused on “internet-age” network-centric applications. Written in efficient, modern, 100% ANSI/ISO Standard C++. Based on and complementing the C++ Standard Library/STL. Highly portable and available on many different platforms, from embedded to server. Open Source, licensed under the Boost Software License.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFEYLu74XZM
Conan
The POCO C++ Libraries are also available via the Conan C/C++ Package Manager.
$ conan install Poco/1.14.0@pocoproject/stable The official Conan tutorial also uses the POCO C++ Libraries.