While writing C++ sometimes one wishes that one could squeeze a little more out of the type system. In this particular case, Zack Weinberg (layout-refactorer extraordinaire), wanted to make sure that certain methods always get overridden in derived classes. Unfortunately, in that particular design, those methods were not pure-virtual. At this point most C++ hackers would cry a little and move on without any compiler assistance.

Instead of crying, Zack added a NS_MUST_OVERRIDE attribute to methods along with a matching Dehydra script. See the source code and the bug for how simple it can be to extend C++ with a useful new check.

Nothing makes me happier than seeing developers land big code changes and accompany them with compiler checks instead of relying on programming folklore to maintain important invariants.