What We Learned from C++ Atomics and Memory Model Standardization

Explore the insights gained from C++ atomics and memory model standardization in this 22-minute ACM SIGPLAN conference talk. Delve into the evolution of thread support in C++11 and subsequent revisions, examining the unexpected prevalence of atomic operations in real-world code. Analyze the diminishing returns of weakly ordered atomics on modern CPUs and the challenges of implementability across various architectures. Investigate the out-of-thin-air problem, the complexities of memory model specifications, and the importance of standardizing atomic mappings as part of platform ABIs. Gain valuable perspectives on the practical implications and theoretical issues surrounding C++ memory models, including recent developments in RISC-V.