Learn C++ by Example • Frances Buontempo & Matt Godbolt • GOTO 2026

This interview was recorded for the GOTO Book Club. #GOTOcon #GOTObookclub
http://gotopia.tech/bookclub

Check out more here:
https://gotopia.tech/episodes/426

Frances Buontempo - Consultant, Developer & Author of "Learn C++ by Example" @FrancesBuontempo 
Matt Godbolt - Low-level Latency Geek & Creator of Compiler Explorer @MattGodbolt 

RESOURCES
Frances
https://bsky.app/profile/fbuontempo.bsky.social
https://mastodon.social/@fbuontempo
https://x.com/fbuontempo
https://github.com/doctorlove
https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesbuontempo
https://about.me/frances_buontempo
https://buontempoconsulting.blogspot.com

Matt
https://bsky.app/profile/matt.godbolt.org
https://xania.org
https://github.com/mattgodbolt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/godbolt
https://twitter.com/mattgodbolt
https://godbolt.org

Links
https://cppinsights.io
https://youtu.be/9KljYagEPnE
https://youtu.be/HAFrggEDr5U
https://youtu.be/zztvhcgXQco
https://youtu.be/VopqaoGNyLE
https://youtu.be/7PFwUpXKLrg
https://youtu.be/mWfvi346puM
https://youtu.be/K2mx9ZaNDyE
https://youtu.be/L2Qu9rk05rE
https://youtu.be/-HNpim5x-IE
https://youtu.be/M3qQFBGC9tk
https://youtu.be/D43PlUr1x_E
https://youtu.be/wlsbg5q0hO0

DESCRIPTION
Matt Godbolt interviews Frances Buontempo about her book "Learn C++ by Example", a practical guide aimed at helping programmers relearn modern C++ features introduced since C++11. Frances shares her unique teaching philosophy, which emphasizes self-contained, playable examples like simple games that make complex concepts accessible and memorable.

Drawing on her background in mathematics and her father's work in teacher education, she explains how her approach—exemplified by her famous "X Out of a Y Paper Bag" series of talks—uses humor and practical scenarios to help learners understand challenging topics like coroutines, the spaceship operator, and the "almost always auto" style. The discussion touches on the evolution of C++, the upcoming reflection features in C++26, and Fran's current project: writing an introductory C++ book for complete beginners, despite finding concepts like "constant variable" challenging to explain even as an experienced author.

TIMECODES
00:00 Intro
01:48 Why modern C++ needs a new approach
07:03 Teaching through games & examples
11:41 Coroutines in C++
14:50 "almost always auto" & modern C++ style
22:04 Teaching & writing: A family tradition?
28:44 Outro

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Frances Buontempo • Learn C++ by Example • https://amzn.to/4rgxSZX
Frances Buontempo • Introducing C++ • https://amzn.to/40aHQQC
Frances Buontempo • Genetic Algorithms and Machine Learning for Programmers • https://amzn.to/3OLjXMV
Daniel Kusswurm • Modern Parallel Programming with C++ and Assembly Language • https://amzn.to/4o5J3SF

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#Cpp #CppProgramming #CppProgramminglanguage #Coroutines #ConstantVariable #Cpp26 #Compiler #AlmostAlwaysAuto #ModernCpp #CompilerExplorer #TodayInTech #SoftwareEngineering #Programming #FrancesBuontempo #MattGodbolt #BookClub

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