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Title: C++ Best Practice - Designing Header Files
Proposer: Alan Griffiths
Type: Tutorial
Duration: 90 mins
Description:
C++, shares information between translation units with a directive to insert text from a header file. This text is inserted with no regard for the surrounding context and, as a result, successful the use of header files relies on a number of conventions.

Novice developers rarely understand these conventions or the reasons for them. Most developers learn the conventions by a process of trial, error and imitation without always understanding the rationale.

Experienced developers rarely think about these conventions or whether they are being met in an effective manner.

Both novices and experts can benefit from a considered examination of:

the forces being balanced when designing a header file;
the resulting conventions; and,
the different ways these can be realized.