API Design for C++ 2nd Edition

Grabs attention with a clear benefit, then shows why it’s essential.

API Design for C++ (2nd Edition) by Martin Reddy is a must-read for anyone serious about building robust, maintainable C++ libraries and services. Whether you’re a software engineer, library author, or technical lead, this updated edition delivers practical guidance on creating clear, consistent, and long-lived APIs that scale from single modules to cross-company platforms.

Explain what makes it valuable and trustworthy.

Reddy combines hard-won industry experience with concrete examples to demystify modern API challenges: designing expressive interfaces, ensuring ABI compatibility, managing ownership and lifetime, handling errors, and balancing performance with clarity. The book emphasizes real-world trade-offs and offers patterns and anti-patterns for versioning, header hygiene, and documenting behavior so teams can avoid costly refactors and compatibility headaches.

Create desire by showing outcomes and benefits.

Read it to reduce integration friction, shorten onboarding, and make your codebase easier to evolve. Practical checklists and design rules will help you produce APIs that are intuitive for users and resilient in production—benefits felt by startups and enterprise engineering teams across North America, Europe, and beyond.

Close with a clear next step.

If you build or maintain C++ interfaces, this second edition of API Design for C++ by Martin Reddy belongs on your shelf. Improve your design decisions, protect your investment in code, and ship cleaner libraries—order your copy today.

Note: eBooks do not include supplementary materials such as CDs, access codes, etc.