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C++ Exceptions for Smaller Firmware - Khalil Estell - CppCon 2024

CppCon · talk · Watch on YouTube

C, C++, Rust, Go & systems languagesEmbedded systems & DIY electronicsSoftware performance & optimization

What it is

Khalil Estell's CppCon 2024 talk argues C++ exceptions can reduce binary size in firmware. He digs into how exceptions work and how to shrink their code footprint on embedded platforms.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Pointed to as the in-depth talk on exception mechanics and code size for embedded C++.

  • 5 people recommended it
  • 4 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2025, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “the whole presentation was excellent in my opinion”

    Deep dive into exception mechanics and code size

    inetknght, 2025-09 · Strong recommendation · in “How is Ultrassembler so fast?”

  2. “Khalil Estell has some great work on that.”

    Low-level technical look at how exceptions really work

    bluGill, 2025-02 · Recommendation · in “Software development topics I've changed my mind on”

  3. “A specific presentation I'd point to is Khalil Estell's presentation on reducing exception code size on embedded platforms”

    Reducing exception code size on embedded platforms

    mpyne, 2025-09 · Recommendation · in “How is Ultrassembler so fast?”

  4. “There was an interesting talk about C++ exceptions in smaller firmware at CppCon last year”

    Exception overhead likely less than manual error handling

    neonz80, 2025-11 · Recommendation · in “Async/Await is finally back in Zig”

  5. “he mentions that a lot of the bloat in exception handling is including printf”

    Explains bloat in exception handling for bare metal

    daemin, 2026-03 · Recommendation · in “Practical Guide to Bare Metal C++”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: c++, exceptions, firmware, binary size, embedded

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