Modern C++
Guide for writing modern C++ using C++20, C++23, and C++26 idioms. Focuses on patterns that eliminate vulnerability classes and reduce boilerplate, with a security emphasis from Trail of Bits.
When to Use This Skill
- Writing new C++ functions, classes, or libraries
- Modernizing existing C++ code (pre-C++20 patterns)
- Choosing between legacy and modern approaches
- Working on security-critical or safety-sensitive C++
- Reviewing C++ code for modern idiom adoption
When NOT to Use This Skill
- User explicitly requires older standard: Respect constraints (embedded, legacy ABI)
- Pure C code: This skill is C++-specific
- Build system questions: CMake, Meson, Bazel configuration is out of scope
- Non-C++ projects: Mixed codebases where C++ isn't primary
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
See anti-patterns.md for the full table (30+ patterns).
Decision Tree
Feature Tiers
Features are ranked by practical usability today, not by standard version.
Tier 1: Use Today (C++20/23, solid compiler support)
See cpp20-features.md and cpp23-features.md.
Tier 2: Deploy Now (no standard bump needed)
These improve safety without changing your C++ standard version:
- Compiler hardening flags —
-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=3,-fstack-protector-strong,-ftrivial-auto-var-init=zero - Hardened libc++ —
-D_LIBCPP_HARDENING_MODE=_LIBCPP_HARDENING_MODE_FASTfor ~0.3% overhead bounds-checking - Sanitizers in CI — ASan + UBSan as minimum; TSan for concurrent code
- Warning flags —
-Wall -Wextra -Wpedantic -Werror
See compiler-hardening.md.
Tier 3: Plan For (C++26, worth restructuring around)
Reflection is the single most transformative C++26 feature. It eliminates:
- Serialization boilerplate (one generic function replaces per-struct
to_json) - Code generators (protobuf codegen, Qt MOC)
- Macro-based registration and enum-to-string hacks
GCC 16 (April 2026) has reflection merged. Plan new code to benefit from it.
Tier 4: Watch (C++26, needs maturation)
- Contracts (
pre/post/contract_assert) — Better thanassert(), but no virtual function support and limited compiler support. Adopt cautiously for new API boundaries. - std::execution (senders/receivers) — Powerful async framework, but steep learning curve, no scheduler ships with it, and poor documentation. Wait for ecosystem maturity.
See cpp26-features.md.
Compiler Hardening Quick Reference
Essential Flags (GCC + Clang)
Clang-Specific
Hardened libc++ (Clang/libc++ only)
Google deployed this across Chrome and their server fleet: ~0.3% overhead, 1000+ bugs found, 30% reduction in production segfaults.
See compiler-hardening.md for the full guide.
Rationalizations to Reject
Best Practices Checklist
- Use smart pointers for ownership, raw pointers only for non-owning observation
- Prefer
std::spanover pointer + length for function parameters - Use
std::expectedfor functions that can fail with typed errors - Constrain templates with concepts, not SFINAE
- Enable compiler hardening flags and hardened libc++ in all builds
- Run ASan + UBSan in CI; add TSan for concurrent code
- Use
constexpr/constevalwhere possible (UB-free by design) - Mark functions
[[nodiscard]]when ignoring the return value is likely a bug - Prefer value semantics; use
std::variantoverunion,enum classoverenum - Initialize all variables at declaration
Read Next
- anti-patterns.md — Full legacy-to-modern migration table (30+ patterns)
- cpp20-features.md — Concepts, ranges, span, format, coroutines
- cpp23-features.md — expected, print, deducing this, flat_map
- cpp26-features.md — Reflection, contracts, memory safety improvements
- compiler-hardening.md — Flags, sanitizers, hardened libc++
- safe-idioms.md — Security patterns by vulnerability class


