C++ compiler support (API/ABI)

Info

mp-units library tries to provide the best user experience possible with the C++ language. To achieve that, it extensively uses the latest C++ language features.

Even though the library benefits from the latest C++ versions (if available), C++20 is enough to compile and use all of the library's functionality. Newer features can be hidden behind some preprocessor macros providing a backward-compatible way to use them.

The table below provides the minimum compiler version required to compile the code using a specific C++ feature:

C++ Feature	C++ version	gcc	clang	apple-clang	MSVC
Minimum support	20	12	16	15	194
std::format	20	13	17	None	194
C++ modules	20	None	17	None	None
import std;	23	None	18	None	None
Static constexpr variables in constexpr functions	23	13	17	None	None
Explicit this parameter	23	14	18	None	None

MSVC bugs

MSVC still has a poor C++20 conformance. We had to make many workarounds to our codebase to make it compile on this compiler. Usage of such nasty preprocessor macros degrade the readability and maintainability of our code. This is why we've applied those patches to the main library code but not to unit tests and examples. Those still do not compile on MSVC.

Here is a list of the most important MSVC bugs:

• Discrepancy in Behavior of operator= and operator for Multiplying int and double at compile time
• Syntax error when using non-type template parameters in templated class member function
• Type always preferred over value when using qualified identifiers

Please upvote them so they get a higher fixing priority at Microsoft.

Important

Enabling/disabling features listed above may influence the API of the library and the ABI of the customers' projects.

std::format

• Provides powerful text formatting capabilities for C++.
• An alternative fmtlib library can be used instead if
  • the C++ language feature is not supported,
  • the customer's project did not switch to std::format yet (even when the compiler supports it).
• To write code with wide compatibility a dedicated macro may be used.
• Tested with __cpp_lib_format feature test macro.
• Related build options:
  • Conan: std_format
  • CMake: MP_UNITS_API_STD_FORMAT

C++ modules

• Provide new way to share declarations and definitions across translation units.
• If used, the library will distribute both "old-style" headers and module interface units
  • associated with the same CMake targets.
• Even with full compiler support, a user may still decide to not pay for C++ modules compilation if they are not needed by the customer's project.
• Feature test macro is not used for testing here because even if the compiler does not support the entire C++ feature (e.g. header units), it is enough to build modules for this library.
• Related build options:
  • Conan: cxx_modules
  • CMake: MP_UNITS_BUILD_CXX_MODULES

Note

More requirements for C++ modules support can be found in the CMake's documentation.

import std;

• If enabled, the library will obtain all the definitions from the std namespace via import std; instead of the "old-style" header includes.
• Related build options:
  • Conan: import_std
  • CMake: CMAKE_CXX_MODULE_STD

Static constexpr variables in constexpr functions

• Allows returning std::string_view from the unit_symbol() and dimension_symbol() functions
  • std::string_view type has a reference semantics so it has to point to a storage with a longer lifetime.
• If this feature is not available, the API returns mp_units::basic_fixed_string<CharT, N> instead.
• Tested as __cpp_constexpr >= 202211L feature test macro.
• Related build options:
  • Conan: string_view_ret
  • CMake: MP_UNITS_API_STRING_VIEW_RET

Explicit this parameter

• This feature removes the need for the usage of the CRTP idiom in the quantity_spec definitions.
• To write code with wide compatibility a dedicated macro may be used.
• Tested with __cpp_explicit_this_parameter feature test macro.
• Related build options:
  • Conan: no_crtp
  • CMake: MP_UNITS_API_NO_CRTP