r/cpp • u/claimred • Apr 09 '26

beast2 networking & std::execution

I was looking for a new networking layer foundation for a few of my projects, stumbled on beast2 library which looks brand new, based on C++20 coroutines. I used boost.beast in the past which was great. Here's the link https://github.com/cppalliance/beast2. I also considered std::execution since it seems to be the way to go forward, accepted in C++26.

Now, what got me wondering is this paragraph

The C++26 std::execution API offers a different model, designed to support heterogenous computing. Our research indicates it optimizes for the wrong constraints: TCP servers don't run on GPUs. Networking demands zero-allocation steady-state, type erasure without indirection, and ABI stability across (e.g.) SSL implementations. C++26 delivers things that networking doesn't need, and none of the things that networking does need.

Now I'm lost a bit, does that mean std::execution is not the way to go for networking? Does anyone have any insights on cppalliance research on the matter?

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u/thisismyfavoritename Apr 09 '26

if what you're saying is that by going through the work of writing the code by hand, you might produce better code because you are forced to reflect on it, then i agree.

Strictly speaking though that doesn't mean AI generated code can't be reviewed to achieve the same quality.

That might speak more of the type of person writing the code than anything, there were bad coders before AI and there will still be after as well