Modern hardware also has specific instructions to speed up C string operations for the common ways they are implemented. We rely on compiler optimisation for those as well. Why not do the same for floats?
Because the language already supports it. Its not a question of what modern hardware can do just backwards compatibility and not changing the language too much. There would be no point in adding these features because if you want them you can just use Modern C++. There is no need for two identical languages occupying the same niche.
I’m not arguing for C implementing classes and all other C++ features, only for a basic data type used in most programs. Backwards compatibility is also a pretty poor argument considering new versions of C are released every couple of years with new features, already breaking backwards compatibility. Why is this specific change too much?
Modern hardware also has specific instructions to speed up C string operations for the common ways they are implemented. We rely on compiler optimisation for those as well. Why not do the same for floats?
Because the language already supports it. Its not a question of what modern hardware can do just backwards compatibility and not changing the language too much. There would be no point in adding these features because if you want them you can just use Modern C++. There is no need for two identical languages occupying the same niche.
I’m not arguing for C implementing classes and all other C++ features, only for a basic data type used in most programs. Backwards compatibility is also a pretty poor argument considering new versions of C are released every couple of years with new features, already breaking backwards compatibility. Why is this specific change too much?