Why Bjarne Stroustrup Calls C++20 the Biggest Release Since C++11

C++20 and the Ongoing Evolution of C++

Bjarne Stroustrup, the creator of C++, delivered a keynote at the Global C++ and System Software Conference, presenting the theme “C++20 and the Continuous Evolution of C++”. He detailed the main features of C++20, the roadmap for C++23, and emphasized that C++20 is the biggest release since C++11.

The new features such as Concepts, Ranges, Modules, and Coroutines are expected to have a significant impact on developers and the C++ ecosystem, especially for system‑level software development.

Stroustrup stresses that C++’s strength lies in its powerful, multi‑paradigm nature: compatibility with C, low‑level API access, object‑orientation, operator overloading, and templates.

He acknowledges that C++ is not perfect and advocates an incremental, improvement‑driven evolution rather than chasing an ideal language.

According to Stroustrup, language comparison is often meaningless; instead, C++ should aim for four goals:

Simple : Keep things simple without sacrificing performance.

Balanced : Find a balance between abstraction and performance, leaving choices to programmers.

Free : Provide great flexibility through multi‑paradigm design.

Friendly : Make the language increasingly approachable.

He describes C++ as a “bridge” that enables programmers to transition from traditional procedural code to data‑abstraction and object‑oriented designs, while also serving low‑level, high‑level, embedded, scientific, and general application domains.

Stability and standardization are crucial; the ANSI/ISO C++ standard ensures language and library stability across platforms.

For learning, Stroustrup recommends Stephen Prata’s “C++ Primer Plus (6th Edition)” as a comprehensive entry point, and his own book “The Design and Evolution of C++” for deeper insight into language design.

Overall, Stroustrup believes C++’s power comes from its broad applicability, solid design rules, and continuous improvement rather than being the best solution for any single problem.