MCPInstall

cpp-templates

C++ template skill for reading template errors and optimizing compile times. Use when deciphering template error stacks, setting -ftemplate-backtrace-limit, writing concepts and requires-clauses, understanding SFINAE vs concepts, or profiling template instantiation bottlenecks with Templight. Activates on queries about C++ templates, template error messages, concepts, requires expressions, SFINAE, template metaprogramming, or slow template compilation.

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Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/mohitmishra786/low-level-dev-skills --skill cpp-templates
  1. 01

    Install

    Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.

  2. 02

    Describe the task

    Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads cpp-templates automatically when relevant.

  3. 03

    Review the result

    The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

C++ Templates

Purpose

Guide agents through reading and fixing template error messages, using concepts as cleaner constraints, understanding SFINAE vs concepts trade-offs, and profiling template instantiation depth and compile times with Templight.

Triggers

  • "How do I read this massive C++ template error?"
  • "How do I use concepts to constrain a template?"
  • "What's the difference between SFINAE and concepts?"
  • "My templates make compilation very slow"
  • "How do I write a requires-clause?"
  • "How do I profile template instantiation times?"

Workflow

1. Reading template error messages

Template errors print full instantiation chains. Strategy: read from the bottom up.

prog.cpp:25:5: error: no matching function for call to 'sort'
  std::sort(v.begin(), v.end());
  ^~~~~~~~~
/usr/include/c++/13/bits/stl_algo.h:4869:5: note: candidate:
    template<class _RAIter>
    void std::sort(_RAIter, _RAIter)
note: template argument deduction/substitution failed:
prog.cpp:25:5: note: 'MyType' is not a valid type for this template
                             ^~~~~~~~

Rules for reading:

  1. Find the first error line (top of output) — that's your code
  2. Skip all the note: lines until you find "required from here" or "in instantiation of"
  3. The bottom of the stack shows the type that failed substitution
# Limit backtrace depth to reduce noise
g++   -ftemplate-backtrace-limit=3  prog.cpp
clang -ftemplate-depth=32           prog.cpp   # default 1024

# Show simplified errors (GCC 12+)
g++ -fconcepts-diagnostics-depth=3  prog.cpp   # for concept failures

2. SFINAE — legacy constraint technique

SFINAE (Substitution Failure Is Not An Error) silently removes overloads that fail substitution:

#include <type_traits>

// Enable function only for arithmetic types
template <typename T,
    std::enable_if_t<std::is_arithmetic_v<T>, int> = 0>
T square(T x) { return x * x; }

// SFINAE with return type
template <typename T>
auto to_string(T x) -> std::enable_if_t<std::is_integral_v<T>, std::string> {
    return std::to_string(x);
}

// Void-t technique for detecting member existence
template <typename, typename = void>
struct has_size : std::false_type {};

template <typename T>
struct has_size<T, std::void_t<decltype(std::declval<T>().size())>>
    : std::true_type {};

SFINAE errors are cryptic. Prefer concepts (C++20) for new code.

3. Concepts — modern constraints (C++20)

#include <concepts>

// Define a concept
template <typename T>
concept Arithmetic = std::is_arithmetic_v<T>;

template <typename T>
concept Printable = requires(T x) {
    { std::cout << x } -> std::same_as<std::ostream&>;
};

template <typename T>
concept Container = requires(T c) {
    c.begin();
    c.end();
    c.size();
    typename T::value_type;
};

// Apply concept as constraint
template <Arithmetic T>
T square(T x) { return x * x; }

// Abbreviated function template (C++20)
auto square(Arithmetic auto x) { return x * x; }

// requires-clause (more complex conditions)
template <typename T>
    requires Arithmetic<T> && (sizeof(T) >= 4)
T big_square(T x) { return x * x; }

// Concept in auto parameter
void print_container(const Container auto& c) {
    for (const auto& elem : c) std::cout << elem << ' ';
}

4. Requires expressions

// requires { expression; } — checks expression is valid
// requires { expression -> type; } — checks type of expression

template <typename T>
concept HasPush = requires(T c, typename T::value_type v) {
    c.push_back(v);                          // must be valid
    { c.front() } -> std::same_as<typename T::value_type&>;  // type check
    { c.size() } -> std::convertible_to<std::size_t>;        // convertible
    requires std::default_initializable<T>;  // nested requirement
};

// Compound requires (all must hold)
template <typename T>
concept Sortable = requires(T a, T b) {
    { a < b } -> std::convertible_to<bool>;
    { a == b } -> std::convertible_to<bool>;
};

5. SFINAE vs concepts comparison

AspectSFINAEConcepts
SyntaxComplex, verboseClean, readable
Error messagesCryptic wall-of-textClear constraint failure
Compile timeCan be slow (many substitutions)Generally faster
C++ versionC++11C++20
Short-circuitNoYes (concept subsumption)
Use in if constexprAwkwardNatural
Overload rankingManually via priorityAutomatic by constraint specificity

Migration: replace enable_if with concept constraints; replace void_t helpers with requires.

6. Template instantiation profiling with Templight

# Install Templight (Clang-based profiler)
# https://github.com/mikael-s-persson/templight

# Build with Templight tracing
clang++ -Xtemplight -profiler -Xtemplight -memory \
        -std=c++17 prog.cpp -o prog

# Convert trace to visualizable format
templight-convert -f callgrind -o prof.out templight.pb

# View with KCachegrind
kcachegrind prof.out

# Find top template instantiation costs (without Templight)
# ClangBuildAnalyzer (easier)
ClangBuildAnalyzer --start /tmp/build
cmake --build build
ClangBuildAnalyzer --stop /tmp/build capture.bin
ClangBuildAnalyzer --analyze capture.bin | head -50

7. Reducing template compile times

// 1. Explicit instantiation — compile once, use everywhere
// header.h
template <typename T>
T transform(T x);

extern template int transform<int>(int);    // suppress instantiation

// impl.cpp
#include "header.h"
template int transform<int>(int);           // instantiate here only

// 2. Prefer function templates over class templates when possible
// (functions instantiate lazily; class templates instantiate eagerly)

// 3. Use concepts to short-circuit failed substitutions
// (concept check is faster than full substitution failure)

// 4. Split heavy template headers from lightweight ones
// - Put type definitions in forward_decls.h
// - Put template implementations in impl.h (include only where needed)

// 5. Use if constexpr instead of specialization
template <typename T>
void process(T x) {
    if constexpr (std::is_integral_v<T>) {
        handle_int(x);
    } else {
        handle_other(x);
    }
}

Related skills

  • Use skills/build-systems/build-acceleration for ccache and PCH to reduce overall compile time
  • Use skills/compilers/clang for Clang-specific diagnostics and concept error output
  • Use skills/low-level-programming/cpp-coroutines for another advanced C++20 feature

FAQ

What does the cpp-templates skill do?

C++ template skill for reading template errors and optimizing compile times. Use when deciphering template error stacks, setting -ftemplate-backtrace-limit, writing concepts and requires-clauses, understanding SFINAE vs concepts, or profiling template instantiation bottlenecks with Templight. Activates on queries about C++ templates, template error messages, concepts, requires expressions, SFINAE, template metaprogramming, or slow template compilation.

How do I install cpp-templates?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/mohitmishra786/low-level-dev-skills --skill cpp-templates in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/cpp-templates/ (personal) or .claude/skills/cpp-templates/ (project).

Which AI agents can use cpp-templates?

Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.

Is cpp-templates safe to install?

No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.

Who maintains cpp-templates?

It is published by mohitmishra786 in mohitmishra786/low-level-dev-skills. It has 532 recorded installs.

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