Microsoft Reactor Redmond

Pure Virtual C++ is a free, one day, virtual conference for the whole C++ community. Join us for five talks on a range of C++ topics. Check back soon for speaker announcements and agenda!

| Session Title | Session Description | Speaker |
| ------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------- |
| Welcome to v1.0 of the meta::[[verse]]! | This talk will introduce what is (likely) the final version of the "Reflection" feature targeting C++26. 🙂 With a proposal slated to introduce reflection to C++26 (including the “std::meta” namespace) slated to be voted into the standard in June 2025, we can already start imagining a whole new world of possibilities. In this session, we will dive into reflection and its transformative potential within our codebases. We will start with an introduction of utilities from the reflection proposal. Then, we delve into practical applications and the power it holds. Last, we will look at impact on our codebases, and the way "Reflection" will impact how we code. Join us as we traverse the meta::[[verse]]! | Inbal Levi |
| Proxy: Next Generation Polymorphism | Modern C++ demands a rethinking of polymorphism that moves beyond the constraints of classical inheritance while preserving performance and safety. In this talk, I will introduce Proxy — an open-source header-only C++20 library for non-intrusive polymorphism designed and refined by Microsoft. Proxy leverages pointer-based lifetime management to offer a GC-like capability without incurring the overhead of a garbage collector. Please find more information from our GitHub repository: https://github.com/microsoft/proxy. The library’s design is a response to long-standing challenges in traditional polymorphic code. It provides an alternative to inheritance by allowing any expression, be it member functions, free functions, operators, or conversions, to participate in a unified abstraction. Developed with portability, efficiency, and ease-of-use in mind, Proxy is engineered as a freestanding solution that works consistently across platforms—from embedded systems to operating systems, where it has been deployed in production since 2022. Key points of discussion will include: Non-Intrusive Abstraction: How Proxy eliminates the need for inheritance, making polymorphic interfaces simpler yet powerful; Lifetime Management: The innovative approach to managing object lifetimes, which offers performance competitive with hand-crafted solutions while avoiding common pitfalls; Flexibility and Performance: Detailed considerations on balancing API accessibility and efficient resource handling in a modern C++ ecosystem; Real-World Impact: Lessons learned from using Proxy in a large-scale, production environment, and a comparison with alternative polymorphic programming techniques. Join me for an in-depth exploration of Proxy’s design decisions, practical applications, and potential future directions that reimagine polymorphism for the next generation of C++ development. | Mingxin Wang |
| Making unfamiliar C++ code familiar with GitHub Copilot | C++ development often presents challenges, requiring developers to manage multiple tasks and different levels of information simultaneously. In this new age, AI can be leveraged to assist with gritty programming tasks, allowing developers to focus on the important work. In this talk, we’ll showcase how GitHub Copilot is smarter than ever, tailored to C++, and can help you get ramped up to contribute in unfamiliar code as we discuss all the latest updates. | Sinem Akinci |
| C++ Modules Myth Busting | There has been a lot of talk about C++ modules. How they work, what performance you get, what footguns exist, etc. In this session, we will be walking through 3 common misconceptions about C++ modules and, hopefully, you can walk away with more confidence in C++ modules. | Cameron DaCamara |