git:20260421.c6cba73 to git:20260503.f77bcc0

---

name: programming-cpp

title: "C++ Development"

description: "Modern C++20/23 conventions, RAII, smart pointers, CMake, sanitizers, and safe systems programming best practices. Auto-activates in C++ projects."

license: Apache-2.0

compatibility: "Requires C++ compiler (clang++ or g++) and a build system (CMake, Meson, or Make)."

domains: developer

rules:

- file(CMakeLists.txt)

- file(meson.build)

- file(conanfile.txt)

- file(conanfile.py)

- file(vcpkg.json)

- content(c++)

- content(cpp)

---

# C++ Development

## Conventions

- Modern C++ — default to C++20, C++23 features when project opts in

- RAII everywhere — all resources managed by constructor/destructor

- Smart pointers — `std::unique_ptr` by default, `std::shared_ptr` only for shared ownership

- NEVER raw `new`/`delete` — use `std::make_unique`, `std::make_shared`, containers

- `const` correctness — `const` on member functions, parameters, locals wherever possible

- Rule of 0 — prefer no custom destructor/copy/move; if you customize one, implement all 5

- `[[nodiscard]]` on functions where ignoring return is likely a bug

- `override` on ALL virtual overrides

## Memory Safety

- `std::unique_ptr` for exclusive ownership, `std::shared_ptr` for shared

- `std::string_view` / `std::span` for non-owning references — watch lifetime

- Never return references or `string_view` to locals or temporaries

- Always initialize variables — C++ does NOT zero-initialize locals

- `noexcept` on move constructors, move assignments, and destructors

## Modern Features

- Structured bindings: `auto [key, value] = pair;`

- `std::optional` for nullable, `std::variant` for sum types

- `std::expected` (C++23) for error handling without exceptions

- Concepts over SFINAE: `template<std::integral T>`

- Ranges: `std::ranges::sort(vec)`

- `std::format` / `std::print` over iostream

- `if constexpr` for compile-time branching

- `std::jthread` over `std::thread` (auto-joining)

## Error Handling

- Exceptions for truly exceptional cases

- `std::expected` (C++23) or Result-type for expected errors

- Error codes at API boundaries where exceptions can't cross

- RAII ensures cleanup regardless of error path

## Build System (CMake)

- Modern target-based: `target_link_libraries`, `target_include_directories`

- No global `include_directories()` or `link_libraries()`

- FetchContent or vcpkg/conan for dependencies

- `CMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS=ON` for tooling

- Minimum CMake 3.21+

## Testing & Sanitizers

- Google Test or Catch2 — both integrate with ctest

- Test with sanitizers enabled (ASan + UBSan)

- ASan: `-fsanitize=address` — buffer overflow, use-after-free, leaks

- UBSan: `-fsanitize=undefined` — signed overflow, null deref

- TSan: `-fsanitize=thread` — data races

- Compiler warnings: `-Wall -Wextra -Wpedantic -Werror`

## Common Pitfalls

- Dangling references: returning `string_view`/`const&` to temporaries

- Use-after-move: accessing objects after `std::move`

- Signed/unsigned mixing: `int` vs `size_t` comparison bugs

- Missing `virtual` destructor on polymorphic base classes

- Object slicing: passing derived by value to base parameter