Rust vs c++ in 2026 should i follow safety or the job market ?
Posted by FitWinner3340@reddit | learnprogramming | View on Reddit | 21 comments
Guys i am really confused what to use Rust or C++ i want a programming language that offers me of course a job safe software and everything i need in language networking threading the basic things
rust is nice i like it beautiful syntax as fast as c++ it is just cool but when i search on youtube "rust or c++" some videos come up and start criticizing rust and start saying non sense and its flaws this makes me doubting that i would be able to learn it and find a job
c++ is nice but feels so complex i have been trying to learn it for a long time please guys if you can give me any recommendation it would be much appreciated i want both safety & jobs i really like rust but afraid of i will find any jobs please help
AdreKiseque@reddit
You're not married to a programming language. You can learn both.
Evening_Phrase4656@reddit
this guy gets it - i learned c++ first few years ago then picked up rust last year and its not like starting from zero again. the concepts transfer over pretty well and rust actually helped me understand memory management better even when i go back to c++ projects
learning both also makes you way more flexible when job hunting since you're not putting all eggs in one basket
GreatStaff985@reddit
Rust might legitimately kill you learn it as your first language. So many concepts you will have no grounding for.
t_hunger@reddit
On the other hand: rust is hard because it is different from other languages you might know. You avoid the hassel of unlearning bby learning rust first.
Saw a umiversity teacher present on his experience teaching Rust to first year CS students. He claimed people with a programming background struggled with lifetimes and the rust stuff, while those without prior experience found recursion and other foundational things the hardest.
GreatStaff985@reddit
Also depending on your background the syntax looks legitimately disgusting.
t_hunger@reddit
Another problem limited to people with programming experience :-)
Mindless_Selection34@reddit
Start with c++ and then rust.
mredding@reddit
1) Look for jobs you want. What language does the job require? 2) Learn that.
Outrageous_Duck3227@reddit
if c++ already feels painful, rust will probably click better for you long term, it enforces safety instead of relying on you never messing up memory stuff, but right now most entry jobs still want c++ so maybe learn basic c++ first then rust, whole thing is harder now cause everyone wants experience and there’s fewer junior roles, actually landing that first job is the real boss fight
ChemicalRain5513@reddit
Safe memory in Cpp is not that difficult if you
GreatStaff985@reddit
Any time something relies on developers not being dumb you will have trouble as soon as there is more than 1 dev.
ChemicalRain5513@reddit
It's true.
I wish there was an overhaul where pointers were smart pointers by default, and you needed a workaround to get unsafe C-style pointers back. But it's not going to happen because it would break code bases.
GreatStaff985@reddit
I think this is actually likely happening in cpp 29 with a tag like #pragma profile(type_safety), at the top of your file.
C++26 is done! — Trip report: March 2026 ISO C++ standards meeting (London Croydon, UK) – Sutter’s Mill
Find in page "Work on C++29, especially on more memory safety and profiles"
cochinescu@reddit
I’ve noticed that a lot of companies list C++ as a requirement, but every year I see more Rust positions popping up, especially in startups and some big tech. If you genuinely enjoy Rust more, it could be worth starting there, but C++ is still the safer bet for pure job numbers right now.
FitWinner3340@reddit (OP)
but how long will c++ remain the safe bet ? i know u are gonna say nobody knows i see on linkedin everyday someone comes out and ask for rust developers to rewrite their coeebase
Hot_Pomegranate_0019@reddit
Honestly, don’t overthink it too much. If your main goal is getting a job right now, C++ still has a lot more opportunities across different fields. Rust is great and growing, especially for safety, but the job market is smaller at the moment.
A practical approach is to focus on C++ to get your foot in the door, and learn Rust alongside it at your own pace. The concepts carry over, so it won’t feel wasted. You’re not locking yourself into one choice, just making things easier for yourself right now
Comprehensive_Mud803@reddit
Use both. Become fluent with many languages and technologies.
ChemicalRain5513@reddit
Learn both and understand the differences!
Cpp is complex because it has a lot of features. You can find a way you like to do something, the downside is that another dev might have chosen a different method and migjt not understand what you did at first glance.
Cpp is more mature and has huge code bases built on it, so many jobs will require you to know cpp.
Vova-Bazhenov@reddit
The same for rust. Rust also has many features with a lot more abstractions. In cpp it takes time to implement some rust's features for basic needs. I love both cpp and rust cause Cpp is used in many things and rust is memory safe and "modern".(I love rust's Tokio for async programing)
Severe_Adhesiveness3@reddit
Especially when the other dev leaves no comments
DoctorDabadedoo@reddit
Look in your area what the job pool looks like, if there are neither c++ or rust positions, does it even matter?
I would invest in something else, like typescript or go, but that highly depends on the answer from the question above. In terms of language, knowing the problems with c and c++ is valuable, rust is still a niche language, even though it's great.