7.3 Why C++?

Why did we choose to implement GiNaC in C++ instead of Java or any other language? C++ is not perfect: type checking is not strict (casting is possible), separation between interface and implementation is not complete, object oriented design is not enforced. The main reason is the often scolded feature of operator overloading in C++. While it may be true that operating on classes with a + operator is rarely meaningful, it is perfectly suited for algebraic expressions. Writing 3x+5y as 3*x+5*y instead of x.times(3).plus(y.times(5)) looks much more natural. Furthermore, the main developers are more familiar with C++ than with any other programming language.