Basic C++

Make Simple Tasks Simple!

Stroustrup on working in modern C++ (keynote CppCon 2014). Actual presentation starts at minute 7.
22:30: a good example of why we want to simplify code

Writing good C++14

Stroustrup, keynote at cppcon 15. A short overview of the state of the language and an introduction on the Cpp Core Guidelines and the GSL (guideline support library)

Cpp Core Guidelines

The aim is to help people to use modern C++ effectively. By "modern C++" we mean C++11 and C++14 (and soon C++17). In other words, what would you like your code to look like in 5 years' time, given that you can start now? In 10 years' time?

Cpp Core Guidelines - parameter passing

Recommendations on how to pass arguments and return results

Simplify C++ - Simple and Clean Code vs. Performance

Performance and simplicity don't always contradict each other!

Simplify C++ - New C++ features - auto for variables

A short and good introduction for using auto for variable declarations

Almost always auto

Herb Sutter - his view on using auto

[SO] When should static_cast, dynamic_cast, const_cast and reinterpret_cast be used?

A good description on the types of type conversions in C++ (and why you shouldn't use C-style casts)

[SO] Why should C++ programmers minimize use of 'new'?

An overview of the C++ memory model

[SO] Why is iostream::eof inside a loop condition considered wrong

Using good (as in working) style for input operations

[SO] What is the difference between a definition and a declaration?

A simple introduction to the difference between definitions and declarations.

[PS] Are data type declarators like int and char stored in RAM when a C program executes?

Not really C++-specific, but a short overview of how data is stored

[SO] What are the evaluation order guarantees introduced by C++17?

We will (finally) have defined evaluation order in more places

Understanding the meaning of lvalues and rvalues in C++

A ground-up discussion on lvalues and rvalues (value categories) with lots of examples

Building Intuition on Value Categories

Another take on value categories

Classes and operators

Simplify C++: C++ is NOT an object-oriented language

Sure, we support OO, but that doesn't make it an OO language.

ISO C++ FAQ: Additions regarding classes in C++11

Simplify C++: Modern C++ features - Inheriting and delegating constructors

Having constructors calling other constructors

Simplify C++: Modern C++ features - Default initializers for member variables

If you only want to set default values in your constructor, let the compiler do it!

Simplify C++: Fun with(out) keyword explicit

A type converting function may give you alot of unforseen errors without explicit declarations.

ISO C++ FAQ: Guidelines for operator overloading

Some rules of thumb for operator overloading for your own classes

Simplify C++ - R-value references and move semantics

• Modern C++ features - Move semantics
• Modern C++ features - Move constructor and move assignment
• Modern C++ features - R-value references

SO: What are Aggregates and PODs and how/why are they special?

The first answer is a great overview of POD and aggregates

cppreference: RAII

A short introduction to RAII

Stroustrup: Why RAII

A short example on RAII

/r/cpp: Can I always depend on return value optimization as part of the standard, or do I need to think about it more?

A good thread about (N)RVO vs. move semantics and their interplay

Effective Modern C++, Item 17: Understand special member function generation

A good discussion on when and why a member function is generated

Polymorphism and Inheritance

Simplify C++: Levels of exception safety

On why you should think about exception safety levels

Simplify C++: Modern C++ Features - override and final

Why you should use the new "keywords" (identifiers with special meaning) override and final

Simplify C++: Modern C++ Features - keyword `noexcept`

The noexcept specifier

CppCoreGuidelines: virtual destructor

The entire chapter C is really good here, but C35 is very important! (C120-152 is about class hierarchies)

Simplify C++: Constructor Failures

A note on how to handle erorrs during construction. Also an introduction to function-try-blocks.

CppCon 2015: Richard Powell "Intro to the C++ object model" [47min]

An intro into how the compiler sees your objects.

CppCon 2014: Michael VanLoon "Anatomy of a smart pointer" [11min]

modernes C++: "C++ Core Guidelines: Class Hierarchies"

A summary of the C++ Core Guidelines rules for class hierarchies
part 2

Pacific++ 2017: Jason Turner "Rethinking Exceptions" [1h 23min]

On how to use exceptions and noexcept in a good way (please do!)

Templates

C++ Templates are Turing Complete - Todd L. Veldhuizen

Proof that templates are Turing Complete.

[SO] C++ templates Turing-complete?

A discussion on the Turing-completeness of C++ templates.

To SFINAE or not to SFINAE @ Flaming Dangerzone

An overview of SFINAE vs tag dispatch and traits

[SO] What are unevaluated contexts in C++?

The first answer presents all the unevaluated contexts available in C++. For templates, decltype is really useful

[SO] Is it possible to write a C++ template to check for a function's existence?

Using SFINAE with C++11 to select implementation based on presence of a specific member

[SO] SFINAE:: enable_if as a function argument

An example of incorrect usage of std::enable_if and how to fix it

Simplify C++: Modern C++ Features - templated rvalue References and std::forward

An overview on perfect forwarding, reference collapsing, decltype and auto in templates

[SO] What is the difference between a trait and a policy

Explains both differences and the interaction between traits and policies

Polymorphic wrapper

An alternative to the clone pattern to create copies of a polymorphic class heirarchy

CppCon 2014: Walter E. Brown "Modern Template Metaprogramming: A compendium, Part I"

Some really nice template tricks and techniques. Also continue with part II

A flexible lexicographical comparator for C++ structs

Using templates and pointers to members to create a comparator for structs

Doing folds with help of variadic templates

A solution to get folds working without the tools available in C++17 fold expressions

Why typename?

A short presentation on why we need the typename declaration and where to use it

Type erasure

A short example of type erasure to store objects unrelated classes (i.e. not having the same base) in a genaral way.

Why template parameters of dependent type names cannot be deduced, and what to do about it

A good descussion on dependent names