Real question: You specifically wrote <<C++ is still often the best or only way to write performant code on embedded platforms>>. To be clear, I am not an embedded systems programmer (nor an HN troll!): Does C also qualify? I heard that sometimes embedded engineers are forced to choose C where the C++ compiler is poor or does not exist. Can you please also share your platform(s) and compiler(s)? I am curious to learn more from an industry insider!
Maybe 10-15 years ago, C was the best option for some microprocessors. These days, good C++ support is pretty universal.
There is always a compiler available from the manufacturer, and often a gcc target.
The AVR family of processors, for example, are supported by the manufacturer's IAR compiler, the ImageCraft ICCAVR compiler, AVR-GCC and several others. IAR produces the fastest / most compact code in many scenarios, but costs $thousands. The ICCAVR compiler and IDE is much cheaper and preferred by many developers. Personally, I tend to avoid pushing the limits of a processor, so the GCC toolchain is most often good enough.
