diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b40f725..efb7ee1 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 .vscode/
+.cache
 devel/
 logs/
 build/
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index ccd4336..9037385 100755
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -6,10 +6,9 @@ if(NOT CMAKE_C_STANDARD)
   set(CMAKE_C_STANDARD 99)
 endif()
 
-# Default to C++14
-if(NOT CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD)
-  set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 14)
-endif()
+# Enforce C++17 or higher
+set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17) # or 14 or 17, etc.
+set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED ON) # Ensure the standard is enforced
 
 if(CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNUCXX OR CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID MATCHES "Clang")
   add_compile_options(-Wall -Wextra -Wpedantic)