Move semantics, introduced with C++11, has become a hallmark of modern C++ programming. However, it also complicates the language in many ways. After several years of support of move semantics experienced programmers struggle with all the details of move semantics. Even for trivial classes, style guides give conflicting or inappropriate advice on how to benefit from move semantics. Time to explain all aspects of C++ move semantics in detail.

This book teaches C++ move semantics. Starting from the basic principles, it motivates and explains all the corner cases of move semantics so that as a programmer, you can use move semantics correctly. The book is valuable for those who are just starting to learn about move semantics and is essential for those who are using it already.

You will learn:

• The motivation for and terminology of move semantics
• How and why you benefit implicitly from move semantics
• How to benefit explicitly from move semantics
• All the traps involved in move semantics and how to deal with them
• All the consequences of move semantics for your programming style

As usual for books by Nicolai Josuttis, the focus lies on the application of the described features in practice. Compelling examples and useful background information help to understand and improve code, from trivial classes up to generic foundation libraries and frameworks.

Testimonials:

"Sometimes I think I have a better grasp on entanglement & quantum teleportation than I do in some weird C++ move semantics. To paraphrase Feynman: If you think you understand C++ move semantics, you don't understand C++ move semantics. Read this book." _{Victor Ciura}

"This is the book I’ve needed for a long time." _{Rob Bernstein}

"I thought I understood move semantics but I didn't really! I learnt a lot in your book." _{Jonathan Boccara}

Buy early, pay less, free updates

Note that this book is published step-by-step. It started with 110 pages first published in January 2020. Since then, the content grows with new chapters, examples, and caveats about the features of move semantics and I integrate all feedback I get for the pages already published.

Currently, the book is feature complete (all language features are described).

Only the use of move semantics in the C++ standard library and the final proof reading (yes, I am not a native English writer) is missing.

See www.cppmove.com for a detailed list of covered topics.

As written, once you bought it you will get all updates for free.

There is not errata yet, but I welcome all feedback to improve the current version.

Look at http://www.cppmove.com/feedback.html.

PDF versus Other Formats

I write the book in LaTeX and generate PDF from it (the way I wrote my other books). The other formats (epub, mobi, and online reading) come from the leanpub markdown interface, for which I generate the necessary input from LaTeX by script.

Thus, the PDF layout has a better quality than the other formats. For example, the syntax highlighting rules for the formats other than PDF have to get fixed as soon as possible and the index is missing yet. Leanpub and me are working on corresponding improvements.

I hope you enjoy and benefit.

Nico

#movetcg