The article examines how the C++ Standard Library has been deprecating its own features over the past 15 years, with std::function being the latest example as it's being replaced by std::copyable_function in C++26. The author categorizes these changes into three tiers: formal deprecations, commonly avoided features, and those locked in by ABI compatibility. The piece serves as a catalog of these changes, highlighting the language's evolution and the challenges of maintaining backward compatibility.
Background
C++ is a widely-used programming language that has evolved significantly over decades, with its standard library undergoing numerous changes and improvements. The C++ Standards Committee regularly updates the language specification, which sometimes leads to deprecation of older features in favor of better alternatives.
- Source
- Lobsters
- Published
- Jun 4, 2026 at 03:52 PM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10