Embracing Modern C++ Safely

Chapter 3. Unsafe Features

Caveat emptor. A few modern C++ language features provide potential value in a few fairly specific, niche use cases, yet expose even experienced engineers to ample opportunities for misuse, often with nonobvious, far-reaching, and sometimes dire consequences. This chapter introduces C++11 and C++14 features that in specific cases can be used profitably but at disproportionately high risk. Moreover, the effort required to understand these features, the subtleties surrounding their effective use, and the risks of misusing them go beyond what many organizations would consider cost effective. Though no modern feature of C++ is inherently “unsafe,” these few have an especially unattractive risk–reward ratio. An organization’s ...