CppCast Reflection and C++26, with Herb Sutter
Oct 10, 2025
Herb Sutter, longtime ISO C++ convener and designer of key language features, discusses C++26’s big move toward static reflection. He covers constexpr debugging, splicers for compile-time generation, meta-classes and auto-generated types, automatic differentiation for AI, and cross-language bindings. Conversation also touches senders/receivers, contracts, and the committee’s direction.
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Debug Constexpr Code With IDE Constexpr Debuggers
- Use IDE support for constexpr debugging to inspect compile-time execution like call stacks, variables, and template arguments.
- Timo and Herb highlight CLion's preview constexpr debugger that lets you step, step-back, and view compile-time state to debug consteval andconstexpr code.
Master CMake Using Real World Project Tutorials
- Learn CMake from realistic, complex-project tutorials rather than toy examples to handle large builds.
- Timo highlighted a highly upvoted two-part tutorial using a complex game engine as a representative real-world CMake guide.
Safe C++ Proof Of Concept Was Paused
- Sean Baxter's Safe C++ proof-of-concept showed Rust-like checking for C++ but the author chose to stop working on it.
- Timo and Phil noted the project remains valuable as a proof-of-concept and other safety efforts continue in the committee.