diff --git a/.github/workflows/debian-bookworm.yml b/.github/workflows/debian-bookworm.yml
index fb95bb4..06d0f84 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/debian-bookworm.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/debian-bookworm.yml
@@ -21,17 +21,17 @@ jobs:
     - name: bootstrap
       run: ./bootstrap.sh
     - name: configure
-      run: ./configure --enable-warnings CXXFLAGS=-std=c++11
+      run: ./configure --enable-warnings CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: make
       run: make
     - name: make check
       run: make check
     - name: make distcheck
-      run: make distcheck CXXFLAGS=-std=c++11
+      run: make distcheck CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: build with hardened build flags
       run: |
         make clean
-        eval $(DEB_BUILD_MAINT_OPTIONS="hardening=+all qa=+all,-canary reproducible=+all" dpkg-buildflags --export=sh)
+        eval $(DEB_CXXFLAGS_APPEND=-std=c++17 DEB_BUILD_MAINT_OPTIONS="hardening=+all qa=+all,-canary reproducible=+all" dpkg-buildflags --export=sh)
         ./configure
         make
         make check
diff --git a/.github/workflows/debian-bullseye.yml b/.github/workflows/debian-bullseye.yml
index 5860fde..f1087bb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/debian-bullseye.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/debian-bullseye.yml
@@ -21,17 +21,17 @@ jobs:
     - name: bootstrap
       run: ./bootstrap.sh
     - name: configure
-      run: ./configure --enable-warnings CXXFLAGS=-std=c++11
+      run: ./configure --enable-warnings CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: make
       run: make
     - name: make check
       run: make check
     - name: make distcheck
-      run: make distcheck CXXFLAGS=-std=c++11
+      run: make distcheck CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: build with hardened build flags
       run: |
         make clean
-        eval $(DEB_BUILD_MAINT_OPTIONS="hardening=+all qa=+all,-canary reproducible=+all" dpkg-buildflags --export=sh)
+        eval $(DEB_CXXFLAGS_APPEND=-std=c++17 DEB_BUILD_MAINT_OPTIONS="hardening=+all qa=+all,-canary reproducible=+all" dpkg-buildflags --export=sh)
         ./configure
         make
         make check
diff --git a/.github/workflows/debian-trixie.yml b/.github/workflows/debian-trixie.yml
index d56e9f7..f13b320 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/debian-trixie.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/debian-trixie.yml
@@ -21,17 +21,17 @@ jobs:
     - name: bootstrap
       run: ./bootstrap.sh
     - name: configure
-      run: ./configure --enable-warnings CXXFLAGS=-std=c++11
+      run: ./configure --enable-warnings CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: make
       run: make
     - name: make check
       run: make check
     - name: make distcheck
-      run: make distcheck CXXFLAGS=-std=c++11
+      run: make distcheck CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: build with hardened build flags
       run: |
         make clean
-        eval $(DEB_BUILD_MAINT_OPTIONS="hardening=+all qa=+all,-canary reproducible=+all" dpkg-buildflags --export=sh)
+        eval $(DEB_CXXFLAGS_APPEND=-std=c++17 DEB_BUILD_MAINT_OPTIONS="hardening=+all qa=+all,-canary reproducible=+all" dpkg-buildflags --export=sh)
         ./configure
         make
         make check
diff --git a/.github/workflows/deterministic.yml b/.github/workflows/deterministic.yml
index f30580e..9cf4ef1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deterministic.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deterministic.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ on:
 jobs:
   build:
     name: Runs the deterministic operation test
-    runs-on: ubuntu-20.04
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
 
     steps:
     - name: checkout
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: bootstrap
       run: ./bootstrap.sh
     - name: configure
-      run: ./configure
+      run: ./configure CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: make
       run: make
     - name: run determinism test
diff --git a/.github/workflows/fedora-40.yml b/.github/workflows/fedora-40.yml
index 2570d08..ebc004d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/fedora-40.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/fedora-40.yml
@@ -21,13 +21,13 @@ jobs:
     - name: bootstrap
       run: ./bootstrap.sh
     - name: configure
-      run: ./configure --enable-warnings CXXFLAGS=-std=c++11
+      run: ./configure --enable-warnings CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: make
       run: make -j $(nproc)
     - name: make check
       run: make check
     - name: make distcheck
-      run: make distcheck CXXFLAGS=-std=c++11
+      run: make distcheck CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: store the logs as an artifact
       if: ${{ always() }}
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
diff --git a/.github/workflows/fedora-41.yml b/.github/workflows/fedora-41.yml
index 2da0ff2..572ad5c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/fedora-41.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/fedora-41.yml
@@ -21,13 +21,13 @@ jobs:
     - name: bootstrap
       run: ./bootstrap.sh
     - name: configure
-      run: ./configure --enable-warnings CXXFLAGS=-std=c++11
+      run: ./configure --enable-warnings CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: make
       run: make -j $(nproc)
     - name: make check
       run: make check
     - name: make distcheck
-      run: make distcheck CXXFLAGS=-std=c++11
+      run: make distcheck CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: store the logs as an artifact
       if: ${{ always() }}
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
diff --git a/.github/workflows/gcc10.yml b/.github/workflows/gcc10.yml
index 3bc67f7..ad9412e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/gcc10.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/gcc10.yml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: bootstrap
       run: ./bootstrap.sh
     - name: configure
-      run: ./configure CXX=g++-10
+      run: ./configure CXX=g++-10 CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: build
       run: make
     - name: check
diff --git a/.github/workflows/gcc11.yml b/.github/workflows/gcc11.yml
index dbce946..57b5623 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/gcc11.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/gcc11.yml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: bootstrap
       run: ./bootstrap.sh
     - name: configure
-      run: ./configure CXX=g++-11
+      run: ./configure CXX=g++-11 CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: build
       run: make
     - name: check
diff --git a/.github/workflows/gcc12.yml b/.github/workflows/gcc12.yml
index f466ba1..42f4f51 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/gcc12.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/gcc12.yml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: bootstrap
       run: ./bootstrap.sh
     - name: configure
-      run: ./configure CXX=g++-12
+      run: ./configure CXX=g++-12 CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: build
       run: make
     - name: check
diff --git a/.github/workflows/gcc13.yml b/.github/workflows/gcc13.yml
index 14ab5c6..3a228e7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/gcc13.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/gcc13.yml
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: bootstrap
       run: ./bootstrap.sh
     - name: configure
-      run: ./configure CXX=g++-13
+      run: ./configure CXX=g++-13 CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: build
       run: make
     - name: check
diff --git a/.github/workflows/gcc14.yml b/.github/workflows/gcc14.yml
index 5a1c45e..5712790 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/gcc14.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/gcc14.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: bootstrap
       run: ./bootstrap.sh
     - name: configure
-      run: ./configure CXX=g++-14
+      run: ./configure CXX=g++-14 CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: build
       run: make
     - name: check
diff --git a/.github/workflows/gcc9.yml b/.github/workflows/gcc9.yml
index c2a9b6b..f4fd4f6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/gcc9.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/gcc9.yml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: bootstrap
       run: ./bootstrap.sh
     - name: configure
-      run: ./configure CXX=g++-9
+      run: ./configure CXX=g++-9 CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: build
       run: make
     - name: check
diff --git a/.github/workflows/mac.yml b/.github/workflows/mac.yml
index 6f487db..0e07f73 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/mac.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/mac.yml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: bootstrap
       run: ./bootstrap.sh
     - name: configure
-      run: ./configure --enable-warnings CXXFLAGS="-std=c++11 -I$(brew --prefix nettle)/include -L$(brew --prefix nettle)/lib"
+      run: ./configure --enable-warnings CXXFLAGS="-std=c++17 -I$(brew --prefix nettle)/include -L$(brew --prefix nettle)/lib"
     - name: make
       run: make
 # tests fail because readlink does not understand -f on mac      
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ubuntu-default.yml b/.github/workflows/ubuntu-default.yml
index e3ccd14..6902b4a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ubuntu-default.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ubuntu-default.yml
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ jobs:
     - name: bootstrap
       run: ./bootstrap.sh
     - name: configure
-      run: ./configure --enable-warnings CXXFLAGS=-std=c++11
+      run: ./configure --enable-warnings CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
     - name: make
       run: make
     - name: make check
       run: make check
     - name: make distcheck
-      run: make distcheck CXXFLAGS=-std=c++11
+      run: make distcheck CXXFLAGS=-std=c++17
diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index d72bf82..c33dd4d 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+next
+requires a C++17 capable compiler.
 1.6.0
 supports sha512
 1.4.0alpha
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 49e3bc6..d05a9ee 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ If you are on Mac, you can install through
  - [MacPorts](https://www.macports.org/) (direct link to [Portfile](https://github.com/macports/macports-ports/blob/master/sysutils/rdfind/Portfile)). 
  - [brew](https://brew.sh/) direct link to [homebrew formulae](https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/rdfind)
 
-If you want to compile the source yourself, that is fine. Rdfind is written in C++11 and should compile under any \*nix.
+If you want to compile the source yourself, that is fine. Rdfind is written in C++17 and should compile under any \*nix.
 
 ### Windows
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index a9068fc..58a37fc 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -60,11 +60,11 @@ AC_CHECK_FUNC(stat,,AC_MSG_ERROR(oops! no stat ?!?))
 dnl check for 64 bit support
 AC_SYS_LARGEFILE
 
-dnl make sure we have c++11 or better,
-AC_MSG_CHECKING([for C++11 support or better])
-AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM([int f() { auto a=1;return a;}])],
+dnl make sure we have c++17 or better,
+AC_MSG_CHECKING([for C++17 support or better])
+AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM([int f() { if constexpr(true) {auto a=1;return a;} else {return 2;}}])],
                   [AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])],
-		  [AC_MSG_ERROR([no c++11 support, please set CXXFLAGS properly])])
+		  [AC_MSG_ERROR([no c++17 support, please set CXXFLAGS properly])])
 
 AC_SUBST(VERSION)
 
diff --git a/cppcheck/run_cppcheck.sh b/cppcheck/run_cppcheck.sh
index b1f93e3..523c01b 100755
--- a/cppcheck/run_cppcheck.sh
+++ b/cppcheck/run_cppcheck.sh
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ me=$(basename $0)
 
 mkdir -p $outdir
 
-args="--enable=all --inconclusive --std=c++11 -I . --quiet --suppress=missingIncludeSystem"
+args="--enable=all --inconclusive --std=c++17 -I . --quiet --suppress=missingIncludeSystem"
 
 # cppcheck can not produce an xml report and a reulgar text file at the same time, so run twice
 cppcheck $args *.cc *.hh --template='{severity}:{file}:{line}:{message}' 2>$outdir/cppcheck.out
diff --git a/do_quality_checks.sh b/do_quality_checks.sh
index da0a71d..4d8166f 100755
--- a/do_quality_checks.sh
+++ b/do_quality_checks.sh
@@ -100,15 +100,15 @@ compile_and_test() {
    #this is the test program to compile, so we know the compiler and standard lib
    #works. clang 4 with c++2a does not.
    /bin/echo -e "#include <iostream>">x.cpp
-   #does the compiler understand c++11? That is mandatory.
-   if ! $1 -c x.cpp -std=c++11 >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then
-      echo $me: this compiler $1 does not understand c++11
+   #does the compiler understand c++17? That is mandatory.
+   if ! $1 -c x.cpp -std=c++17 >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then
+      echo $me: this compiler $1 does not understand c++17
       return 0
    fi
 
-   #loop over all standard flags>=11 and try those which work.
+   #loop over all standard flags>=17 and try those which work.
    #use the code words.
-   for std in 11 1y 1z 2a 2b ; do
+   for std in 1z 2a 2b ; do
       if ! $1 -c x.cpp -std=c++$std >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then
          echo $me: compiler does not understand c++$std, skipping this combination.
       else
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ run_with_sanitizer() {
 
    start_from_scratch
    ./bootstrap.sh >bootstrap.log
-   ./configure $ASSERT CXX=$latestclang CXXFLAGS="-std=c++1y $1"   >configure.log
+   ./configure $ASSERT CXX=$latestclang CXXFLAGS="-std=c++17 $1"   >configure.log
    make > make.log 2>&1
    export UBSAN_OPTIONS="halt_on_error=true exitcode=1"
    export ASAN_OPTIONS="halt_on_error=true exitcode=1"
@@ -197,11 +197,11 @@ run_with_libcpp() {
    int main() { std::cout<<\"libc++ works!\"<<std::endl;}" >x.cpp
    get_latest_clang
    if [ ! -z $latestclang ] ; then
-      if ! $latestclang -std=c++11 -stdlib=libc++ -lc++abi x.cpp >/dev/null 2>&1 || [ ! -x ./a.out ] || ! ./a.out ; then
+      if ! $latestclang -std=c++17 -stdlib=libc++ -lc++abi x.cpp >/dev/null 2>&1 || [ ! -x ./a.out ] || ! ./a.out ; then
          echo $me: "debug: $latestclang could not compile with libc++ - perhaps uninstalled."
          continue
       fi
-      compile_and_test_standard $latestclang c++11 "-stdlib=libc++ -D_LIBCPP_DEBUG=1"
+      compile_and_test_standard $latestclang c++17 "-stdlib=libc++ -D_LIBCPP_DEBUG=1"
       return
    fi
    # we will get here if no clang could be found. that is not an error,
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ verify_self_contained_headers() {
    fi
    for header in *.hh ; do
       cp $header tmp.cc
-      if ! g++ -std=c++11 -I. -c tmp.cc -o /dev/null >header.log 2>&1 ; then
+      if ! g++ -std=c++17 -I. -c tmp.cc -o /dev/null >header.log 2>&1 ; then
          echo "$me: found a header which is not self contained: $header."
          echo "$me: see header.log for details"
          exit 1
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ run_with_debian_buildflags
 
 #make a test build with debug iterators
 ASSERT="--enable-assert"
-compile_and_test_standard g++ c++11 "-D_GLIBCXX_DEBUG"
+compile_and_test_standard g++ c++17 "-D_GLIBCXX_DEBUG"
 
 #test run with clang/libc++
 ASSERT="--enable-assert"
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ run_with_libcpp
 if which valgrind >/dev/null; then
    echo $me: running unit tests through valgrind
    ASSERT="--disable-assert"
-   compile_and_test_standard g++ c++11 "-O3"
+   compile_and_test_standard g++ c++17 "-O3"
    VALGRIND=valgrind make check >make-check.log
 fi
 
diff --git a/rdfind.cc b/rdfind.cc
index a83ea03..84e3f68 100644
--- a/rdfind.cc
+++ b/rdfind.cc
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@
 
 #include "config.h" //header file from autoconf
 
+static_assert(__cplusplus >= 201703L,
+              "this code requires a C++17 capable compiler!");
+
 // std
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <iostream>