Bjarne Stroustrup, creator of C++, advises developers to prioritize RAII (Resource Acquisition Is Initialization) patterns to eliminate memory leaks. He stresses that manual memory management with `new` and `delete` is error-prone, advocating instead for smart pointers like `std::unique_ptr` and `std::shared_ptr` introduced in C++11. Stroustrup notes these tools automate memory cleanup, reducing leaks by tying resource ownership to object lifetimes.

The C++ Core Guidelines expand on this, recommending strict avoidance of raw pointers in favor of container-based solutions. Stroustrup highlights that modern C++ libraries, such as the standard template library (STL), handle memory allocation internally, making leaks rare when using abstractions like `std::vector` instead of raw arrays. He warns that even experienced developers overlook these practices, leading to silent memory corruption.

Stroustrup’s Technical FAQ emphasizes debugging tools like Valgrind and AddressSanitizer to detect leaks post-hoc, but insists prevention is superior. He references WG21 (C++ standards committee) work on memory safety features, though acknowledges compiler support remains nascent. The ISO C++ standard’s evolution toward safer memory handling, including upcoming reference counting enhancements, aligns with his philosophy.

Ultimately, Stroustrup’s guidance underscores that C++ memory management success hinges on embracing language features designed to enforce safety. His words remain foundational: "If you manage memory yourself, you will make mistakes."