CppCon 2026

Embedded systems often operate under strict timing and reliability constraints, yet most existing file systems prioritize throughput and flexibility over predictability. This mismatch can lead to non-deterministic behavior, unbounded latency, and difficult-to-debug failures in resource-constrained environments. In resource-constrained environments such as automotive control units and aerospace flight systems.

This talk explores the design and implementation of a deterministic file system built specifically for embedded systems using modern C++. Rather than focusing on feature completeness, the system prioritizes predictable behavior through fixed block allocation, metadata-first layouts, and bounded operation times.

We will examine how determinism can be treated as a first-class design constraint, influencing everything from on-disk structure to API design. The talk will also highlight how modern C++ features—such as strong typing, RAII, and compile-time configuration—can be leveraged to enforce correctness and reduce runtime overhead without sacrificing clarity.

Attendees will gain insight into real-world tradeoffs required to achieve determinism, including limitations in flexibility and storage efficiency, as well as strategies for adapting the design across different hardware backends such as file-backed devices, SPI flash, and embedded Linux block devices.

This session is aimed at engineers building systems where predictability matters more than peak performance, and who want to apply modern C++ techniques to low-level, resource-constrained environments.

C++ is used in many fields. One that sticks out is the embedded domain. You're often working with tight constraints. Writing software is challenging and fun at the same time.

What has C++ done to support this field? What new options do you have to avoid undefined behavior and write more efficient and robust code?

In this talk, I will present various library elements as well as language improvements that make writing embedded software better.

We'll look at real-world tasks like turning raw byte blobs into usable data structures, aka type punning, of course, without triggering undefined behavior. C++23 supports you in a new way with std::start_lifetime_as .

Transferring data via a network comes with its challenges. You have to care about the byte order. Oh, and how can you make sure that there are no padding bytes included? Well, I have an answer for you.

And then there is a brand-new feature in C++26: static reflection. I will present examples of how and where reflection in C++ eases embedded development.

By the end of this talk, you know the most important improvements in C++ for embedded or similar environments.