I am launching an open-source project into a space where a lot of the development is still done Linux-kernel-style, i.e. C-language with a low-level mindset.

There are multiple benefits to C++ in our space but I fear those used to working in C will be scared off. How can I make the case for the benefits of C++?

Specifically, the following C++ attributes are very valuable:

• concept of objects and reference-counting pointers - really don't want to have to malloc(sizeof(X)) or memcpy() structs
• templates for specialising whole bodies of code with specific performance optimizations and for avoiding duplication of code.
• template metaprogramming related to the above
• syntactic sweetness available (e.g. operator overloading, to be used in very small doses)
• STL
• Boost libraries

Many of the knee-jerk negative reactions to C++ are illfounded. Performance does not suffer: modern compilers can flatten dozens of call stack levels and avoid bloat through wide use of template specializations. Granted, when using metaprogramming and building multiple specializations of a large call tree, compile time is slower but there are ways to mitigate this.

How can I sell C++?