The Safe C++ Extensions Proposal: Enhancing Code Safety in C++

Recent criticism against C++ and the C language by the White House due to memory safety concerns has sparked a debate in the software development community. In response, C++ founder Bjarne Stroustrup has defended the language, highlighting its strengths and resilience. However, the need for improved memory safety in C++ has led to the creation of the Safe C++ Extensions proposal.

The Safe C++ Extensions proposal aims to revolutionize C++ by providing developers with a Safe Standard Library that offers memory-safe implementations of essential data structures and algorithms. This initiative, spearheaded by industry experts like Falco, seeks to establish a rigorously safe subset of C++ that adheres to stringent safety guarantees. In essence, code written in this safe context would offer the same level of security as Rust, a language renowned for its robust safety features.

One of the key distinctions between ISO C++ and Safe C++ is the focus on soundness. In ISO C++, the ambiguity surrounding the enforcement of preconditions often results in soundness bugs. Safe C++, on the other hand, introduces a convention supported by the compiler, which eliminates confusion and enhances software quality.

The introduction to the proposal acknowledges the vulnerabilities present in C and C++ due to their memory-unsafe nature, especially in critical infrastructure. However, Safe C++ developers are required to adhere to strict guidelines to prevent undefined behaviors that compromise safety in terms of lifetime, type, and thread safety.

With the Safe C++ Extensions proposal, the software development community is paving the way for safer, more secure code in C++. By prioritizing memory safety and eliminating common pitfalls, the proposal aims to establish C++ as a language that combines power and performance with robust safety features.