The Rough Road Towards Upgrading to C++ Modules

Explore the challenges and potential benefits of upgrading to C++ Modules in this comprehensive conference talk from C++Now 2019. Delve into the newly introduced Modules feature in the C++ language specification, examining its promise for improved code organization, compartmentalization, and encapsulation. Discover the tangible issues that arise when attempting to migrate existing systems to Modules, including difficulties with forward declarations and the need to load larger codebases for compilation. Learn about a semi-automated tool developed to modularize existing projects, and understand the obstacles encountered during this process. Gain insights into the current model's limitations, software design considerations, and performance issues, while exploring existing and upcoming tools aimed at reducing compilation system requirements. Follow Richárd Szalay's journey in attempting automatic modularization and uncover valuable lessons for C++ developers considering the transition to Modules.