#008 – Choosing your language standard

As part of configuring our compiler, we can select the language standard or version. Recall that various versions exist including C++98, C++03, C++11, C++14, C++17, C++20, C++23.

Which language standard should you choose?

Whilst you might think to choose the latest standard, it’s recommended to choose a version that is 1-2 versions older than the latest.

This allows the compiler manufacturers iron out defects and provide excellent support for that standard.

This also helps ensure better cross-platform compatibility, as compilers on some platforms may not provide full support for newer language standards immediately.

Changing C++ standard on VSCode

Navigate to tasks.json.

Place the appropriate language standard flag (including the double quotes and comma) in the args section, on its own line before ${file}. See below

// tasks.json
{
    "tasks": [
        {
            "type": "cppbuild",
            "label": "C/C++: g++.exe build active file",
            "command": "C:\\\\msys64\\\\ucrt64\\\\bin\\\\g++.exe",
            "args": [
                "-std=c++20", // Insert it here
                "-fdiagnostics-color=always",
                "-g",
                "${file}",
                "-o",
                "${fileDirname}\\\\${fileBasenameNoExtension}.exe"
            ],
      // ...

Let’s also configure IntelliSense to use the same language standard. Go to c_cpp_properties.json. This is the file to configure IntelliSense.

Update the cppStandard key

// c_cpp_properties.json
{
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "Win32",
            "includePath": [
                "${workspaceFolder}/**"
            ],
            "defines": [
                "_DEBUG",
                "UNICODE",
                "_UNICODE"
            ],
            "compilerPath": "C:\\\\msys64\\\\ucrt64\\\\bin\\\\gcc.exe",
            "cStandard": "c23",
            "cppStandard": "c++20", // Update this line
            "intelliSenseMode": "windows-gcc-x64"
        }
    ],
    "version": 4
}