There are more operating systems written in C++ than Go or Rust which you mention elsewhere. Microsoft Windows is the most popular operating system in the world and it's written in C++ primarily. C++ can be easily integrated anywhere C is used, provided hardware is good enough. System programmers are more likely to know C and C++ than Java, Go, or Rust. If a toaster has enough CPU to run Doom then I think your arguments against C++ "bloat" don't hold any water, and probably haven't made sense since the 90s.
As far as mentioning shell and Python, I don't consider those primary system programmer tools. You might need to know them to be a good generalist *nix system programmer, but it's really tangential to whether C++ has a place in systems programming. Python and shell are in competition with Perl and Tcl, not with C++. To say that they are is like saying a carpenter is in competition with a welder because they both build stuff.
Those are all gimmicks. They aren't really worth considering if talking about system programming. Again, if you want to be a system programmer, and you want to know what languages will get you there, then C++ isn't in that list. It's unimportant. Can you use it for system programming? -- Yes, if you don't have better things to do with your life. Will it be a good choice? -- No, for virtually any problem that exists in that domain there will be a better pick.
> Microsoft Windows is the most popular operating system in the world
No it's not. It's a very niche operating system. It's the most popular operating system in the world of desktops. But, if we are selecting arbitrary electronics form-factor, then any operating system can be made the most popular in the world. Pretty sure FreeBSD is the most popular operating system in the world, if you choose that the only computers that matter are those that run FreeNAS.
> C++ can be easily integrated anywhere C is used
And so are Python, JavaScript, Rust, Ada, PostScript, Awk, Forth and many, many other languages. What's your point?
> System programmers are more likely to know C and C++ than Java
Tell me you've never worked in the field of system programming without telling me you've never worked in the field of system programming. Java is a very popular pick for writing management components for enterprise-grade system products. I've seen multiple storage products where the part of the product that did the storage part was written in C, but the management was written in Java. I've seen this more often than I've seen any C++ used in system programming. The problem is more cultural, probably. The Visual C++ programmers usually don't have a good grasp of what good system programming tools / practices would be. Just the very mention of C++ in one's resume would often be enough for that person not being invited to an interview.
> I don't consider those primary system programmer tools.
Why should anyone care about what you consider? Are you an expert in this field? So far you've shown complete lack of expertise...
It's the most popular operating system except for on phones and it has been for decades.
>Why should anyone care about what you consider? Are you an expert in this field? So far you've shown complete lack of expertise...
I have over 20 years of experience writing C++ and I know it is used widely. Your characterization of it as niche in embedded or OS is completely wrong. I'm not going to say where I work but you've heard of it.
> The Visual C++ programmers usually don't have a good grasp of what good system programming tools / practices would be. Just the very mention of C++ in one's resume would often be enough for that person not being invited to an interview.
The fact you keep referring to "Visual C++" and make sweeping generalizations about C++, especially in a systems context, tells me you are severely lacking in expertise.
> Pretty sure FreeBSD is the most popular operating system in the world, if you choose that the only computers that matter are those that run FreeNAS.
This is such a mischaracterization that you should know better. Windows is on literally billions of computers and embedded things. FreeBSD is not even on most NAS devices.
>And so are Python, JavaScript, Rust, Ada, PostScript, Awk, Forth and many, many other languages. What's your point?
If you think any of those is as easy to integrate with a C operating system as C++, you're dangerously uneducated and have no place lecturing anybody about anything programming-related, especially systems programming. I don't enjoy being so blunt but you're wasting my time and yours and spreading silly anti-C++ propaganda.
As far as mentioning shell and Python, I don't consider those primary system programmer tools. You might need to know them to be a good generalist *nix system programmer, but it's really tangential to whether C++ has a place in systems programming. Python and shell are in competition with Perl and Tcl, not with C++. To say that they are is like saying a carpenter is in competition with a welder because they both build stuff.