To Save C, We Must Save ABI

This technical article discusses Application Binary Interface (ABI) stability in C/C++ and its significant impact on software performance and design flexibility. The author argues that while ABI constraints have historically limited optimization opportunities and locked in legacy design decisions, abandoning ABI entirely is unrealistic given its foundational role in enterprise systems—instead, the focus should shift toward pragmatic strategies for evolving ABI without breaking existing implementations. For IT organizations, this means understanding that ABI compatibility decisions made today create long-term technical debt and performance trade-offs that directly impact application performance, modernization efforts, and the viability of standard library improvements.