The next iteration of the C++ standard passed the ISO technical committee review earlier this year and is scheduled to be approved this fall. This version of the specification is now referred to as C++11 (a reference to the year it will be approved). Jim Humelsine recently sent me the following link that provides a neat table of the new features of C++11, along with the status of their implementation in the gcc compiler. This resource was put together by George Flanagin and provides a succinct overview of the new features of C++11 as well as a great reference for those interested in trying some of these out in their own code. As I describe in my book, many of these new features allow for better C++ API designs.

• http://www.georgeflanagin.com/c++11/c++11.features/

The Boost libraries are a collection of open-source libraries that extend the functionality of C++. Many of the Boost founders are active in the C++ standards committee and as a result several of the Boost libraries have been included in the new C++ ISO standard (C++0x), including smart pointers, function object binders, type traits, and tuples. You’d have to go a long way before you find better examples of modern C++ API design.

• http://www.boost.org/

You can also find a good overview of the Boost libraries on Wikipedia.