As an Unity 3D developer, you may have heard some conflicting information about whether Unity uses C++ or C as its primary coding language. In this article, we will explore the different opinions and perspectives on this topic, as well as the pros and cons of each approach.
Understanding the Basics
First, let’s clarify that both C++ and C are programming languages used for game development. However, Unity itself is a game engine that uses a scripting language called C. C is an object-oriented language with features such as garbage collection, which helps manage memory usage in a more efficient manner than manual memory management.
C++, on the other hand, is a low-level programming language used for system-level programming and is often used in conjunction with other languages in game development. C++ offers greater control over hardware resources, but it requires more expertise to use effectively.
The Great Debate
The question of whether Unity uses C++ or C has been the subject of much discussion on Reddit and elsewhere in the Unity community. Some developers argue that Unity primarily uses C, while others believe that C++ is still used in certain parts of the engine.
Pros and Cons of Each Approach
Now that we have a better understanding of the different opinions and perspectives on this topic, let’s explore the pros and cons of each approach.
Using C as the primary language offers several advantages. First, it is an object-oriented language with features such as garbage collection, which helps manage memory usage in a more efficient manner than manual memory management. This can lead to faster development times and fewer bugs related to memory leaks and other issues.
Additionally, C’s built-in support for scripting eliminates the need for developers to learn a new programming language altogether, which can save time and resources. Finally, C has strong community support and a wide range of libraries and tools available that can make development easier.
On the other hand, using C++ in certain parts of the engine offers some advantages as well. First, C++ is a low-level language that offers greater control over hardware resources, which can lead to faster performance and better optimizations for specific tasks. Additionally, C++ is widely used in the game development industry, so developers may be more comfortable with it if they have previous experience with this language.
However, using C++ also requires more expertise than C, which can make it more difficult for new or less experienced developers to work on a project. Additionally, C++’s lack of garbage collection and automatic memory management means that developers must be more careful when working with memory, which can lead to bugs and other issues if not managed properly.
Real-Life Examples
Now that we have explored the pros and cons of each approach, let’s look at some real-life examples of how different companies are using Unity and their choice of language.
One example is Ubisoft, which uses Unity primarily for its PC and console games.
