C or C++

Hello.

I am writing a library and wondering whether to write it in C or C++. Previously I knew only C but now I got introduced to the many conveniences of C++ I am loth to give them up. I also feel C++ is a cleaner language than C (for whatever reason).

OTOH I am thinking maybe if I write in C many more programmers will be able to use it - C programmers as well as C++ programmers, whereas if I write in C++ only C++ programmers can use it (i.e. if the API contains any C++-specific items [or even if otherwise?]).

I would like the list's opinion on whether it is worth sacrificing the advantages of C++ to capture more "clients".

A voice inside tells me -- Qt and KDE are pure C++, yet they are among the hugest-used (if there is such a word) libraries... But another voice tells me -- there is GTK, GNOME and so many other libraries which I do not know which may be having many users precisely because they are in pure C...

So I don't want to be like the frog in the well (who did not know there was such a thing as an ocean) and so I am asking you.

Namaste.

Shriramana Sharma.