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C, C++ Tests Posing Real Challenge To Programmers
By Doug Caverly
Staff Writer
Article Date: 2010-01-21
The tests that students must take on a routine basis are no fun, and leaving them behind is perhaps of the nicer things about becoming an adult. Still, there's no denying that exams can effectively separate people who know stuff from folks who just fake it, and unfortunately, it seems that the C and C++ programming communities haven't done too well on a certain two tests.
Meaningful results aren't in yet for the C++ test, so let's start by looking at the other and let it serve as a sort of model. Michael Barr explained, "In December of 2007, an Embedded C Quiz was launched online as part of a redesigned Netrino website. In the 25 months since, over 4,000 data points have been collected . . ."
So the test was large enough to be statistically significant, and given where it could be found, probably wasn't taken by too many people who aren't embedded systems programmers. There weren't dentists, trash men, and other random folks stumbling across it and fouling up the results, in other words.
Here's the problem: Barr wrote, "In a nutshell, the world's embedded systems programmers merit only a failing grade of D- in the C language." Indeed, the mean score on a global basis is 61 percent to date.
That's a bit disturbing. People who depend on C programmers might just want to hope that the test takers didn't take the test seriously. Or maybe that many of them thought of something better to do partway through the quiz and just started clicking random things.
The news isn't looking much better with relation to the C++ test, which was introduced in September of 2009, though. So far, Barr's found the dropout rate to be higher and the final scores of completed tests to be worse.
As a result, he's asked for C++ programmers to make a special effort to visit the site, take the test, and do their best.
Since the reputations of the C and C++ communities might rest upon the results (at least to some degree), programmers should consider giving the tests a try.
About the Author:
Doug is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest eBusiness news.
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