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World Congress 2026 Europe • Jul 9, 2026 • Session details

Programming with Contracts in C++26

Peter Bindels

C++26 Contracts replace risky assert macros with explicit, compiler-enforced function boundaries. Learn how to trap errors at the source and achieve zero-overhead performance.

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#1 about 3 min

The limitations of code comments for function boundaries

Exploring a mathematical function to demonstrate why standard code comments hide critical bounds from compilers.

#2 about 2 min

Syntax and boundary checks of C++26 contracts

Applying preconditions and postconditions on function declarations allows compilers to assume exact bounds.

#3 about 2 min

Contracts as guardrails for intended application execution

Design bounds do not alter normal execution but catch unintended code paths before they can be exploited.

#4 about 2 min

Handling contract violations through traps and termination

The compiler standard provides handler functions passing violation objects to trigger debuggers, logging, or process termination.

#5 about 2 min

Delaying process termination in mission-critical applications

Terminating failing processes automatically is not appropriate in strict safety contexts like algorithmic trading or self-driving cars.

#6 about 2 min

Semantic modes for managing variable contract checks

The C++ standard allows switching contract enforcement paths between ignore, observe, enforce, and quick enforce.

#7 about 2 min

Deciding between contract semantic evaluation modes

Standard code should apply enforce mode, utilizing observe for deployments and quick enforce for extreme security.

#8 about 3 min

Recognizing the functional limitations of legacy C asserts

The standard assert macro breaks on unparenthesized commas and often degrades in release builds by hiding functional drift.

#9 about 2 min

Fixing ad-hoc validation problems with contract asserts

Deploying contract assert establishes safe checks that parse accurately without actively hindering system performance thresholds.

#10 about 5 min

Enabling global optimization through local contract analysis

Structured declarations assist compilers in pruning unneeded runtime checks by successfully tracking local data flow.

#11 about 3 min

Adding labels and custom messages to contract checks

Future standard updates will introduce labeled error string configurations to trigger conditional violation routing handlers.

#12 about 2 min

Checking early compiler support for C++26 contracts

Access standard implementations today using early versions of GCC 16, Clang forks, and Ubuntu package managers.

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