C++ Under the Hood is a one-day onsite training course with programming examples, taught by Assaf Tzur-El.  It is offered at the Gaylord Rockies from 09:00 to 17:00 Aurora time (MDT) on Sunday, September 13th, 2025 (immediately prior to the conference). Lunch is included.

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Course Description

Dive deep into C++’s internal mechanisms in this full-day workshop.

While most C++ courses focus on how to write code, we’ll explore what happens after you write it. You’ll learn how your source code transforms into machine code, how the compiler makes decisions, and how your data is actually stored and manipulated in memory.

Through a combination of theory and hands-on exercises, you’ll examine the compilation pipeline, memory layout, object internals, and runtime mechanisms. You’ll use professional tools to inspect generated assembly code, investigate memory layouts, and understand how high-level C++ features are implemented under the hood. By the end of the day, you’ll have a solid understanding of how C++ really works, enabling you to write more efficient code and debug complex issues more effectively.

Prerequisites

Participants should be comfortable with C++ programming, including object-oriented features and templates. Basic familiarity with assembly language concepts is helpful but not required.

Presenter will use Visual Studio to demonstrate compilation, assembly, memory, etc. While participants might use other tools, such as Compiler Explorer, it is highly recommended that they install VS (there’s a free version!).

Course Topics

1. Introduction
2. Build pipeline
3. Memory layout
4. Runtime
5. Templates and generated code
6. Advanced topics

Course Instructor