UC3M gathers the world’s C++ programming elite
3/13/26
The 10th edition of the “using std::cpp 2026” conference is taking place from March 16 to 18 at the School of Engineering (EPS) of the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M). The event features international experts led by Bjarne Stroustrup, a professor at Columbia University, recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from UC3M, and the creator of the C++ programming language. This year’s edition, which is already at full capacity, will donate all proceeds to the UC3M Alumni Scholarship program and has also focused on closing the gender gap in the technology sector.
In the early 1980s, Bjarne Stroustrup created C++, a high-performance programming language that combines efficiency and direct hardware control with generic programming, allowing for the development of fast, robust, and scalable software. Since then, the language has been used across numerous sectors, ranging from telecommunications and finance to alarm centers and railway signaling, among others. Furthermore, it stands out for its environmental impact, as its energy consumption is up to 20 times lower than that of other widely used languages.
The “using std::cpp” conference—promoted by José Daniel García, a professor in the UC3M Department of Computer Science and Engineering and chair of the Spanish subcommittee for programming language standards—has been held at the university's EPS since 2013 (with the exception of the interruption caused by COVID-19). "In this time, it has evolved from an initially national conference into a top-tier international event where the most interesting innovations for software developers are presented each year and experiences are exchanged between engineers from different sectors," explains José Daniel García.This year’s edition consolidates the event’s status as a global benchmark, with high attendance demand that saw registration fill up in record time and a lineup of 22 presentations by leading professionals. Attendees include 10 members of the international committee (ISO C++), who will define the next version of the language (C++26) at a key meeting in London just one week after the event in Leganés.
This year has also seen a push for the participation of female experts in the language, such as Daniela Engert and Frances Buontempo, as well as developers like Berill Farkas, who at just 18 years old will share her programming experience. The event will also serve as a reunion for internationally successful UC3M alumni, such as Javier López (Zimperium, USA) and Gonzalo Juarez (Bolsas y Mercados Españoles).
For the fourth consecutive year, all registration proceeds will go toward funding a full UC3M Alumni Scholarship, enabling a student with an excellent academic record and limited financial resources to cover their tuition costs at UC3M.
The conference will be inaugurated by Luis Enrique García, Vice Rector for Research and Transfer at UC3M; César Huete, Director of the UC3M School of Engineering; and José Daniel García, UC3M Professor and Conference Chair. The event is supported by technology sponsors such as the C++ Alliance, Sea++ software, Qualcomm, JFrog Conan, and Verisure, as well as the Spanish Association for Standardization (UNE)
Further information and full program at:
https://eventos.uc3m.es/go/usingstdcpp-2026
