We’ve previously announced keynotes by Bjarne Stroustrup on C++ Safety, Andrei Alexandrescu on AI and C++, Bret Brown and Bill Hoffman on Dependency Management, and Laura Savino on Other People’s Code.

We’re now pleased to announce the final of our five conference keynotes: Herb Sutter will be delivering a talk on the evolution of C++ that continues from his popular 2022 keynote “Can C++ be 10x simpler and safer?” last year.

From his talk description:

Cooperative C++ Evolution – Toward a Typescript for C++

C++23 is done. But C++ is not! In this talk I’ll give my personal perspectives on:

• C++’s ongoing and very active evolution;
• The latest progress updates on my cppfront experimental compiler, and what I’ve learned about modern ISO C++20 and C++23 in the experiment;
• Why compatibility (and what kind, and how much) is essential; and
• Why we should aim to keep bringing C++ forward successfully by cooperating and being part of C++’s ongoing true evolution via WG 21, even though that’s more work than pursuing a new fresh-but-competing evolutionary path.

Registration is now open so don’t miss out on CppCon 2023 this October 2-6. Register today!

We’ve previously announced keynotes by Bjarne Stroustrup on C++ Safety, Andrei Alexandrescu on AI and C++, and Bret Brown and Bill Hoffman on Dependency Management.

We’re now pleased to announce the fourth of our five conference keynotes: Laura Savino will be delivering a talk on something every software practitioner experiences – “other people’s code.” This talk encourages us to not to just consider it “someone else’s work” but also how to approach it with curiosity and a generous nature in order to learn and grow.

From her talk description:

Coping with Other People’s Code

Sometimes we’re fortunate enough to work with a small group of devs who share our coding values, and when we see their PRs come in, we nod along and say, “Yup, that’s what I would have done. Oh, nice, that one’s even better than my usual approach, I’d better tuck that idea away for next time.”

This perfect alignment is precious… and particularly elusive in C++. Most of us are living in codebases that are profitable, complex, and updated in ways with which we have legitimate beef. How can we keep a sense of curiosity, progress, and satisfaction amidst patterns we would never have chosen?

This presentation explores the often-overlooked social aspects of C++ development, offering both practical tools and light-hearted commiseration. We’ll draw from the field of behavior science to build strategies that address conflicting design patterns and the strong opinions that come with them.

Registration is now open so don’t miss out on CppCon 2023 this October 2-6. Register today!

We’ve previously announced keynotes by Bjarne Stroustrup on C++ Safety, and Andrei Alexandrescu on AI and C++. We’re now pleased to announce the third of our five conference keynotes: Bret Brown and Bill Hoffman will be delivering a talk on an important topic for all C++ projects… Dependency Management.

From their talk description:

A First Step Toward Standard C++ Dependency Management

Prebuilt libraries have existed for decades… they even predate C++! After all these years, techniques to use prebuilt libraries are still ad hoc and difficult to maintain. A root cause of this variety of techniques is the variety of things that are C++ libraries: header-only libraries, statically-linked archives, dynamically-linked binaries, and so on. The consuming projects need to build against these libraries in consistent ways or risk unproductive workflows – and potentially, even catastrophic failure in production environments. This lack of convergence creates enormous interoperability problems across broad portions of the worldwide programming ecosystem, not just the C++ parts of it.

This talk will explore the complexities of defining what is a “C++ library.” It will then present the joint work of Kitware, Bloomberg, and others toward a preliminary design for creating initial standards for dependency management in C++ – metadata files to describe prebuilt libraries. A roadmap for maturing the design will also be shared, including proposing a standard definition for C++ libraries, building on previous proposals such as P1313: Package Specification.

This talk is intended for anyone who produces, maintains, or consumes C++ libraries. Special knowledge of C++ tooling, build systems, or package managers is not required.

This talk is also the keynote talk for the Tooling Track.

Registration is now open so don’t miss out on CppCon 2023 this October 2-6. Register today!

The Main Program schedule for CppCon 2023 is now live! This year, CppCon is back to an all-onsite format for the conference program.

We’ll have over eighty breakout sessions delivered onsite by the best C++ presenters in the industry, many returning from previous years as well as some exciting new voices. We’ve already announced our onsite Opening Keynote on Safe C++ and one other plenary talk on AI and C++, and will be announcing our other three headline talks here in coming days.

This year’s Main Program features a broad and deep general program. Within the program are six dedicated topic tracks: The Back to Basics Track, the Embedded Track, the Software Design Track, the Scientific Computing Track and Tooling Track are back, and we have a new Robotics Track! These “tracks” are to help find talks in specific areas, but as always, there are lots of talks not assigned to a specific track covering a wide variety of important topics.

In addition to the Main Program, we’ll have at least two panels (one on Safety and Security for C++, and our annual Committee Fireside Chat), multiple sessions of lightning talks, Open Content talks, BOFs, exhibitors, social events, and pre/post-conference classes that attendees have enjoyed in past years.

Most of the program is published, but we are still working on a few surprises, so keep checking back to see any new additions or time slot adjustments.

We’d like to thank the Program Committee, our speakers, and the many professionals who proposed talks which we, unfortunately, just couldn’t squeeze in this year. Thank you for your hard work and enthusiastic support for this year’s program!

We hope to see you all in less than a month—so register now.

We are pleased to announce that Andrei Alexandrescu, one of the most popular presenters to ever appear at CppCon, will be appearing in person, in Aurora as a CppCon 2023 keynote presenter.

From his talk description:

Robots Are After Your Job (or at Least the Boring Parts of It): Exploring Generative AI for C++

Almost a year since the launch of ChatGPT – considered by many as the first truly compelling code generator that translates free-form human language into code – the C++ community continues to grapple with the implications. Reactions range from indifference or skepticism to genuine concern about the future of human programmers.

Although some advanced C++ techniques are already accessible to tools like ChatGPT, certain fundamental aspects remain outside the reach of current and possibly next-generation generative AI tools. This disparity raises pivotal questions: Which parts of the intricate C++ ecosystem can we confidently delegate to generative AI? What uniquely human skills must we retain and refine?

We’ll probe the potential and limits of contemporary AI, taking a novel look at the age-old binary search algorithm. Although this algorithm has long been held up as a paragon of efficiency, we challenge that notion. What would ChatGPT have to say about it, and how might it partner with us to refine this cornerstone of algorithmic logic? The conversation opens a window into a future where developers become the “one percenters” of programming—focusing solely on the most cerebral and high-level challenges, while AI takes care of the everyday tasks. Join us to explore this fascinating paradigm shift and reflect on what it means for your own work in and with C++.

Don’t miss this very timely presentation by one of the best.

Registration is now open so don’t miss out on CppCon 2023 this October 2-6. Register today!

CppCon 2023 will kick off on Monday, October 2 with Bjarne Stroustrup delivering the traditional opening keynote live in person in Aurora.

Bjarne’s annual opening keynote for CppCon is one of the most anticipated and most watched talks in C++. His talks are always among the most viewed presentations on the CppCon YouTube Channel.

From his talk description:

Delivering Safe C++

Type safety was one of the key initial C++ design ideals. We have evolved C++ to the point where we can write C++ with no violations of the type system, no resource leaks, no memory corruption, no garbage collector, no limitation of expressiveness or performance degradation compared to well-written modern C++.

We face three major challenges: To define what “safe” means in the context of various C++ uses, to guarantee such safety where guarantees are needed, and to get developers to write such verified safe code.

I outline an approach based on safety profiles to address these challenges, describe an approach to eliminate dangling pointers, and suggest how to eliminate all dangling pointers and all range errors. My aim for key applications is verified type-and-resource-safe C++. An emphasis is on minimizing costly run-time checks through the use of abstractions. I see the current emphasis on safety as an opportunity to complete one aspect of C++’s fundamental aims in real-world code.

Every year, Bjarne Stroustrup gives an important C++ talk in his CppCon opening keynote. Be at CppCon again this year as Bjarne Stroustrup flies us above this complex landscape of issues and shines a spotlight on the most important things to know, and to think about, in C++ in 2023. This year we aim to leave extra extended time for real-time questions and answers with the live audience. Come to the talk, bring your questions, and don’t miss out!

Registration is now open so don’t miss out on CppCon 2023 this October 2-6. Register today!

Registration is open for exciting CppCon Academy classes that will be held in the days before or after CppCon 2023.

Five classes are online and the rest will be offered to onsite attendees at the Gaylord Rockies in Aurora.

Read about all the offered classes on the CppCon Academy 2023 page. This year we are offering classes that range from those that are focused on updating you to the latest versions of C++, to those focusing on better code, testing, or design skills. This year we are offering classes on concurrency, one on embedded programming, and one on performance and efficiency (well, okay, they are all about performance and efficiency ultimately).

Online classes will be held either on the last three business days of the week before the conference or the first three business days of the week after the conference.

Onsite classes are held on the weekend days immediately before and after the conference.

Most of the classes feature two days (onsite) or three days (online) of class instruction. All classes feature hands-on opportunities to improve your programming skills.

CppCon instructors are selected from the best C++ instructors in the world. They feature rare combinations of deep technical knowledge, extensive development experience, and the ability to explain things in an approachable manner.

Register now!

The CppCon 2023 Field Trip will be a Wild Animal Sanctuary adventure.

Join Us on an Inspiring Journey to a Wild Animal Sanctuary!

We are thrilled to extend a warm invitation to all fellow conference attendees to join us on an extraordinary adventure beyond the conference venue. As part of our commitment to fostering a well-rounded experience, we have organized a visit to a remarkable wild animal sanctuary that promises to be both educational and awe-inspiring.

North of the conference hotel, the Wild Animal Sanctuary offers an incredible 1,214 acres (4.9 km^2) of natural habitats for rescued animals to enjoy. ​One of the largest carnivore sanctuaries in the world, designed and built like no other in existence. Everything about the facility is designed to ensure the animals’ welfare remains top priority, even with the numerous modern comforts provided to guests.

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The raised walkway gives an unmatched vantage to see great animals at ease, engaging in their large environments. During our visit, we will have the opportunity to witness firsthand the incredible conservation efforts that go into protecting and rehabilitating these remarkable animals. 

We sincerely hope that you will seize this opportunity to explore the wonders of the wild alongside your fellow conference attendees. Let us come together, learn from nature’s marvels, and create memories that will leave a lasting impact. Transportation and Lunch will be provided in a location to facilitate meeting your fellow conference attendees.

We look forward to sharing this remarkable experience with you!

Spend a fun-filled Sunday October 1st with fellow attendees to take a walk on the wild side.

If you are arriving for CppCon 2023 by Sunday morning, this is your opportunity to get to know some of your fellow attendees while experiencing an amazing wildlife experience.

See the CppCon 2023 Field Trip page for details.

Register here!

This year’s field trip is sponsored by the North Denver Metro C++ Meetup.