Expert · Module 15 · Lesson 2 of 4
Modules: Compiled Interfaces Beyond Header Inclusion
Define an exported C++ module interface, separate public API from implementation, and understand what modules do and do not solve.
Pro — members onlyAbout 10 minutes
By the end you can
- Distinguish a module interface from a textual header
- Explain export and import boundaries
- Identify build-system and ABI concerns that remain after adopting modules
Builds on Build Systems and Toolchains: CMake Basics.
01 · A question first
A widely included header forces thousands of files to reparse after one small edit. Can the compiler cache a typed interface instead of pasting text into every translation unit, and what public names should cross that boundary?
Make a guess before you read on.
02 · The idea
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What's inside
- Start with the problem
- How the idea works
- Why it is correct
- What it costs
- Pitfalls and variations
- Production guidance
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