CppCon 2016: David Sankel “Building Software Capital: How to write the highest quality code and why'

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This talk discusses the ins and outs of how to write software that is at such a high standard that it gets reused everywhere. It covers organization, design, infrastructure, testing, documentation, reviews, and general suggestions based on my experience in the industry.
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David Sankel
Bloomberg
New York, New York
David Sankel is a professional software developer/architect based in the USA and an active member of the C++ Standardization Committee. His prolific software developments have included CAD/CAM, computer graphics, visual programming languages, web applications, computer vision, and cryptography. He is a frequent speaker at the C++Now conferences and is especially well known for his advanced functional programming in C++ talks. David’s interests include large-scale development, dependently typed languages, semantic domains, EDSLs, and functional reactive programming. David's current research interests include dependently typed languages, semantic domains, EDSLs, and functional reactive programming. He currently works for Bloomberg.
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[barrettellisadair]

I wholeheartedly recommend this talk to any developer or stakeholder of software, regardless of programming experience. It would not be an exaggeration to say that I agreed with every sentence.

From a public speaking perspective, this was an *excellent* presentation. There is not an ounce of fluff, repetition, or hesitation, which is rare for a 60 minute technical presentation. David was very well-prepared; he delivered flawlessly.

The Q & A session is historically the most dreadful aspect of a C++ conference talk, yet David fielded the questions and comments with grace and confidence. By the way, you won't want to miss the comments from Dr. John Lakos near the end.

Interestingly, this talk is almost entirely devoid of C++ code or lingo (despite David's achievements in the field). This video will resonate with anyone who has ever developed software, and I hope this is shared far and wide. This is a real CppCon gem.

[magfal]

I credit this video as the most important video I've watched with an appreciable margin. It's lessons are among the key reasons that the company that I helped found is outclassing companies 100+ times our size whenever a customer has to choose between us or them. Reading the machine that changed the world is also a brilliant read if you understand the value of this talk.

[origamibulldoser]

"Watch the first 15 minutes of this talk" .. That's exactly what I would have done if I thought it possible to achieve in my current job.

[MrAbrazildo]

I guess it's important to start writing something, instead of just planning. And then sooner than later, make the software capital on top of a borning "debt".
57:05, sometimes the code is already nice, efficient and polished enough to not be touched.
57:40, there are hirable companies that make tons of tests, from the user perspective. You can earn a certificate from them, and then show it to other clients, when your app has less bugs than a certain margin.

[allopeth]

Amazing talk, really inspiring. Loved Lakos' intervention at the end =)

[Wimpielef]

@40:38 Which clang tool can be used to update your code to C++11?

[andik]

More nitpicking: 31:03 how can a void function return a value. Ok this was mentioned then ard 47:30. But too easily dismissed. It is actually a core problem. How do you sync contract and code; if it even cannot do in a presentation.

[bhardwajutkarsh]

@25:00: Did you not consider using policy design pattern. ;)

[qwertyuiop-cuve]

I don't fully agree with the innovation part. It has to be an actual improvement, or useful additional feature, not just a slightly different syntax.

[benoitjauvin-girard]

IT'S "PRINCIPLE", NOT "PRINCIPAL". Oh, that drives me nuts.

[Spiderboydk]

27:57 If a contract is violated, the entire contract it NOT automatically void.

[bthrkay]

Why does he pronounce "technical" like "tactical"? Is this a common pronunciation in some country?

[perfectionbox]

Just become a big company like MS or Adobe and then you can afford to create software capital.

[gasquakestudios]

This guy is very arrogant in the question portion of the talk.

[dimitrisbenis]

Well... This kind of talk should not be more that 15 minutes. All the rules were common sense and many times repeated in artircles, books, etc...- no rocket science:-) Anyway worths watching for entry level software engineers..

[videofountain]

Showing a picture of a baby and commenting on beauty is unnecessary and rude. Why would he have such a bizarre interest in that topic for a CppCon presentation?

[victorsavu]

It really pains me to hear "man" to refer to "developer" as if "adding more women" to the team was out of the question to begin with :( I only listened to the first 10 min yet. I hope there is a twist at some point where the speaker breaks the fourth wall and says: "Are your ears bleeding because of the utter ignorance with regards to the merits of having gender agnostic presentations? Good! Let's continue the talk in a considerate and inclusive tone to make everyone feel welcome and most importantly to let everyone who is listening know that they __are__ the target audience."