> Many of those are ruled out as modern successors (in my mind, at least), when they continue to make “the billion dollar mistake” (to use its inventor’s own words[1]) of null references.
Well, you're in luck then! You don't even need a 'modern' successor, C++ (even the ancient versions) disallow null references.
Well, you're in luck then! You don't even need a 'modern' successor, C++ (even the ancient versions) disallow null references.