C++ 17 may support headerless code. Will UE4, too?

[NegInfinity]

@;425583

We know that this header thing in C++, is an inherited problem from the programming language C. Which forces extra typing work, and causes slow compile time, as well as can cripple smooth IDE functionality. Sadly though, not even for C++ 17 it’s guaranteed that C++ is going to get a module system that would allow to ditch headers. It may be too early to ask whether UE4 will support this. But also UE4/Epic could provide another reason for those who implement new features into C++ 17? Or even a possible Visual Studio 2017*?

Wikipedia C++ 17
A Module System For C++

However, the PDF linked above, with the document number N4047, is aiming to introduce two new keywords which are ‘import’ and ‘module’. Seems that UE4 would need some changes, too.

So what’s Epic’s view on this? Needless to say, that if C++17/UE4/VS2017* could support headerless code in two years, it would also reduce the need for C# in UE4. Don’t get me wrong, I wold love to have C# in UE4, but how likely it that going to happen**?

• Or whatever the name of the VS2015 successor is going to be.
  ** You don’t have to answer this question. It was rhetorical.

Ditching headers is not a good thing, since the mechanism allows precise control over visibility of classes/variables/functions/etc in CPP files, unlike, say, C#, where declaring anything makes it visible in every file that has access to the same namespace which can result in clashes and namespace pollution. CPP files are isolated from each other and it is a GOOD thing.

Removing headers is shooting yourself in the foot. Not making programming easier.

Last time there was C++ standard upgrade it took several years to get major compilers to the point where they more or less supported new features. So, you should expect C++17 features to become widely available in 2021 or something like that.

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I’m against this feature. It makes programmer’s life harder and offers no benefits.