PayloadOffset_t: A small type design challenge
Recently, I had to make a relatively small design decision – which type to use for a small range of values. As usual in C++, there were a number of […]
Clean Code
Writing maintainable, easy-to-read code
Core Guidelines are not Rules
There is a difference between guidelines and rules. Boiling down guidelines to one-sentence rules has drawbacks that make your code harder to understand.
isValid()? Establish invariants and avoid zombie objects
When classes have an “isValid” method or similar, the code using them often is less clear and harder to maintain. If possible, validity should be an invariant that can not […]
Multiple dispatch over covariant functions
Today we have another guest post by Alfredo Correa. In his previous article, Functions of variants are covariant, Alfredo described the concept of a covariant function, that is, how a […]
algorithms and the KISS principle
You’ve probably heard about the rule to prefer standard algorithms over raw for loops. The major reason is that those algorithms say what is happening in the name and encapsulate […]
Macro Evil in C++ Code
Today, I am happy to announce a guest post by Andrey Karpov about the evil of macros. Andrey is a Microsoft MVP in the “Developer Technologies” category and one of […]
The pImpl Idiom
The pImpl idiom is a useful idiom in C++ to reduce compile-time dependencies. Here is a quick overview of what to keep in mind when we implement and use it.
Simple data structures
Keep simple data structures simple! There’s no need for artificial pseudo-encapsulation when all you have is a bunch of data.
std::string is not a Container for Raw Data
Sometimes we need unformatted data, simple byte sequences. At first glance, std::string might be a fitting data structure for that, but it is not.
Calling C Code from C++ With ‘extern “C”‘
Now and then we have the need to call functionality that was written in C from our C++ programs. For that, we need to use and understand extern “C”.