microsoft/GSL

GSL is a header-only C++ library that provides types and functions recommended by the C++ Core Guidelines.

The library addresses the gap between modern C++ best practices and what the standard library offers. It implements guidelines from the C++ Core Guidelines maintained by the Standard C++ Foundation, offering developers practical tools to write safer and more maintainable code. The implementation is entirely inline in headers, with the main entry point being gsl/gsl, though individual components like gsl/span can be included separately. The project requires C++14 support and is designed to work across multiple platforms.

Developers should adopt this library when working on projects that prioritize adherence to C++ Core Guidelines or when seeking to reduce common sources of bugs through guideline-enforced patterns. It suits teams that want to incrementally adopt safer coding practices without major architectural changes, since the library integrates as a lightweight header-only dependency. The tool is particularly valuable for codebases where manual bounds checking and pointer safety are concerns, as it provides standardized abstractions that the guidelines community has vetted.

The project maintains active continuous integration across multiple compilers and is packaged in vcpkg for straightforward dependency management. Development is open to community contributions, with a formal contribution process documented in the repository. The maintainers actively encourage improvements and ports to additional platforms.