Extending std::execution Further: Higher-Order Senders and the Shape of Asynchronous Programs

std::execution and the Senders & Receivers (S&R) model introduce a powerful new vocabulary for expressing asynchronous operations. While much of the focus has been on algorithmic composition, deeper expressiveness emerges when senders are treated as first-class values capable of being constructed, selected, and composed dynamically at runtime.

This talk explores the concept of higher-order senders: Senders which can be used to connect and start operations that produce other senders. Using an operation called branch, the talk demonstrates how to express runtime fan-out, control flow, and dynamic execution graph construction within the S&R framework. These patterns enable asynchronous programs to adapt their structure at runtime, while preserving composability and strong typing.

Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to use std::execution not just to implement asynchronous algorithms, but to structure asynchronous programs that respond to real-world conditions with flexible, runtime-driven behavior.