Based on the few years I spent working in big C++ shops the obvious thing is that the popularity of C++ is largely based on previous popularity of C++ - interna

Based on the few years I spent working in big C++ shops the obvious thing is that the popularity of C++ is largely based on previous popularity of C++ - internal libraries, easily hired external developers etc. That, and the constant development of C++ - because the language is regularly getting new features (and cool features at that, I mean look at C++11) there is little incentive for folks to say "this language is dead, let's move somewhere else". With a large pre-existing C++ codebase you have a choice of writing SWIG wrappers, embarking on a quixotic task of rewriting core libraries natively in your language of choice or just going with the flow. The first thing destroys your soul and the second one is a career killer so I would expect C++ to have great many years ahead of it despite sometimes atrocious compilation times.