diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d1aa9cc09..c1d8aac3a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ $(libcppdir)/symboldatabase.o: lib/symboldatabase.cpp lib/astutils.h lib/color.h
 $(libcppdir)/templatesimplifier.o: lib/templatesimplifier.cpp lib/color.h lib/config.h lib/errorlogger.h lib/errortypes.h lib/importproject.h lib/library.h lib/mathlib.h lib/platform.h lib/settings.h lib/standards.h lib/suppressions.h lib/templatesimplifier.h lib/token.h lib/tokenize.h lib/tokenlist.h lib/utils.h lib/vfvalue.h
 	$(CXX) ${INCLUDE_FOR_LIB} $(CPPFLAGS) $(CXXFLAGS) -c -o $@ $(libcppdir)/templatesimplifier.cpp
 
-$(libcppdir)/timer.o: lib/timer.cpp lib/config.h lib/timer.h
+$(libcppdir)/timer.o: lib/timer.cpp lib/config.h lib/timer.h lib/utils.h
 	$(CXX) ${INCLUDE_FOR_LIB} $(CPPFLAGS) $(CXXFLAGS) -c -o $@ $(libcppdir)/timer.cpp
 
 $(libcppdir)/token.o: lib/token.cpp lib/astutils.h lib/config.h lib/errortypes.h lib/importproject.h lib/library.h lib/mathlib.h lib/platform.h lib/settings.h lib/smallvector.h lib/sourcelocation.h lib/standards.h lib/suppressions.h lib/symboldatabase.h lib/templatesimplifier.h lib/token.h lib/tokenlist.h lib/tokenrange.h lib/utils.h lib/valueflow.h lib/vfvalue.h
diff --git a/cli/cmdlineparser.cpp b/cli/cmdlineparser.cpp
index 54a2e8af7..a40ad42fd 100644
--- a/cli/cmdlineparser.cpp
+++ b/cli/cmdlineparser.cpp
@@ -1418,5 +1418,5 @@ void CmdLineParser::printHelp()
 bool CmdLineParser::isCppcheckPremium() const {
     if (mSettings.cppcheckCfgProductName.empty())
         mSettings.loadCppcheckCfg();
-    return mSettings.cppcheckCfgProductName.compare(0, 16, "Cppcheck Premium") == 0;
+    return startsWith(mSettings.cppcheckCfgProductName, "Cppcheck Premium");
 }
diff --git a/gui/checkthread.cpp b/gui/checkthread.cpp
index 0a8fbf346..f59897897 100644
--- a/gui/checkthread.cpp
+++ b/gui/checkthread.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "settings.h"
 #include "standards.h"
 #include "threadresult.h"
+#include "utils.h"
 
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <cstddef>
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ static bool executeCommand(std::string exe, std::vector<std::string> args, std::
     } else
         output = process.readAllStandardOutput().toStdString();
 
-    if (redirect.compare(0,3,"2> ") == 0) {
+    if (startsWith(redirect, "2> ")) {
         std::ofstream fout(redirect.substr(3));
         fout << process.readAllStandardError().toStdString();
     }
@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@ void CheckThread::runAddonsAndTools(const ImportProject::FileSettings *fileSetti
             if (!fileSettings)
                 continue;
 
-            if (!fileSettings->cfg.empty() && fileSettings->cfg.compare(0,5,"Debug") != 0)
+            if (!fileSettings->cfg.empty() && !startsWith(fileSettings->cfg,"Debug"))
                 continue;
 
             QStringList args;
diff --git a/lib/astutils.cpp b/lib/astutils.cpp
index 82fcb2ecf..462e862b5 100644
--- a/lib/astutils.cpp
+++ b/lib/astutils.cpp
@@ -2407,7 +2407,7 @@ bool isVariableChangedByFunctionCall(const Token *tok, int indirect, const Setti
         return false; // not a function => variable not changed
     if (Token::simpleMatch(tok, "{") && isTrivialConstructor(tok))
         return false;
-    if (tok->isKeyword() && !isCPPCastKeyword(tok) && tok->str().compare(0,8,"operator") != 0)
+    if (tok->isKeyword() && !isCPPCastKeyword(tok) && !startsWith(tok->str(),"operator"))
         return false;
     // A functional cast won't modify the variable
     if (Token::Match(tok, "%type% (|{") && tok->tokType() == Token::eType && astIsPrimitive(tok->next()))
diff --git a/lib/checkleakautovar.cpp b/lib/checkleakautovar.cpp
index 5589760a2..b2c9d0872 100644
--- a/lib/checkleakautovar.cpp
+++ b/lib/checkleakautovar.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "symboldatabase.h"
 #include "token.h"
 #include "tokenize.h"
+#include "utils.h"
 #include "vfvalue.h"
 
 #include <algorithm>
@@ -824,7 +825,7 @@ const Token * CheckLeakAutoVar::checkTokenInsideExpression(const Token * const t
                 } else if (rhs->str() == "(" && !mSettings->library.returnValue(rhs->astOperand1()).empty()) {
                     // #9298, assignment through return value of a function
                     const std::string &returnValue = mSettings->library.returnValue(rhs->astOperand1());
-                    if (returnValue.compare(0, 3, "arg") == 0) {
+                    if (startsWith(returnValue, "arg")) {
                         int argn;
                         const Token *func = getTokenArgumentFunction(tok, argn);
                         if (func) {
@@ -850,7 +851,7 @@ const Token * CheckLeakAutoVar::checkTokenInsideExpression(const Token * const t
             alloc.status = VarInfo::NOALLOC;
         functionCall(tok, openingPar, varInfo, alloc, nullptr);
         const std::string &returnValue = mSettings->library.returnValue(tok);
-        if (returnValue.compare(0, 3, "arg") == 0)
+        if (startsWith(returnValue, "arg"))
             // the function returns one of its argument, we need to process a potential assignment
             return openingPar;
         return isCPPCast(tok->astParent()) ? openingPar : openingPar->link();
diff --git a/lib/checkunusedvar.cpp b/lib/checkunusedvar.cpp
index b853785eb..a8ab5b0f5 100644
--- a/lib/checkunusedvar.cpp
+++ b/lib/checkunusedvar.cpp
@@ -1273,7 +1273,7 @@ void CheckUnusedVar::checkFunctionVariableUsage()
                     (!op1Var->valueType() || op1Var->valueType()->type == ValueType::Type::UNKNOWN_TYPE)) {
                     // Check in the library if we should bailout or not..
                     std::string typeName = op1Var->getTypeName();
-                    if (typeName.compare(0, 2, "::") == 0)
+                    if (startsWith(typeName, "::"))
                         typeName.erase(typeName.begin(), typeName.begin() + 2);
                     switch (mSettings->library.getTypeCheck("unusedvar", typeName)) {
                     case Library::TypeCheck::def:
diff --git a/lib/clangimport.cpp b/lib/clangimport.cpp
index 2742eb5c9..0b7e9d4e9 100644
--- a/lib/clangimport.cpp
+++ b/lib/clangimport.cpp
@@ -412,9 +412,9 @@ std::string clangimport::AstNode::getSpelling() const
             return "";
     }
     const std::string &str = mExtTokens[typeIndex - 1];
-    if (str.compare(0,4,"col:") == 0)
+    if (startsWith(str,"col:"))
         return "";
-    if (str.compare(0,8,"<invalid") == 0)
+    if (startsWith(str,"<invalid"))
         return "";
     if (nodeType == RecordDecl && str == "struct")
         return "";
@@ -499,9 +499,9 @@ void clangimport::AstNode::dumpAst(int num, int indent) const
 void clangimport::AstNode::setLocations(TokenList *tokenList, int file, int line, int col)
 {
     for (const std::string &ext: mExtTokens) {
-        if (ext.compare(0, 5, "<col:") == 0)
+        if (startsWith(ext, "<col:"))
             col = strToInt<int>(ext.substr(5, ext.find_first_of(",>", 5) - 5));
-        else if (ext.compare(0, 6, "<line:") == 0) {
+        else if (startsWith(ext, "<line:")) {
             line = strToInt<int>(ext.substr(6, ext.find_first_of(":,>", 6) - 6));
             const auto pos = ext.find(", col:");
             if (pos != std::string::npos)
@@ -542,7 +542,7 @@ const ::Type * clangimport::AstNode::addTypeTokens(TokenList *tokenList, const s
         return addTypeTokens(tokenList, str.substr(0, str.find("\':\'") + 1), scope);
     }
 
-    if (str.compare(0, 16, "'enum (anonymous") == 0)
+    if (startsWith(str, "'enum (anonymous"))
         return nullptr;
 
     std::string type;
@@ -943,7 +943,7 @@ Token *clangimport::AstNode::createTokens(TokenList *tokenList)
     }
     if (nodeType == DeclRefExpr) {
         int addrIndex = mExtTokens.size() - 1;
-        while (addrIndex > 1 && mExtTokens[addrIndex].compare(0,2,"0x") != 0)
+        while (addrIndex > 1 && !startsWith(mExtTokens[addrIndex],"0x"))
             --addrIndex;
         const std::string addr = mExtTokens[addrIndex];
         std::string name = unquote(getSpelling());
@@ -985,7 +985,7 @@ Token *clangimport::AstNode::createTokens(TokenList *tokenList)
     }
     if (nodeType == EnumDecl) {
         int colIndex = mExtTokens.size() - 1;
-        while (colIndex > 0 && mExtTokens[colIndex].compare(0,4,"col:") != 0 && mExtTokens[colIndex].compare(0,5,"line:") != 0)
+        while (colIndex > 0 && !startsWith(mExtTokens[colIndex],"col:") && !startsWith(mExtTokens[colIndex],"line:"))
             --colIndex;
         if (colIndex == 0)
             return nullptr;
@@ -1131,10 +1131,10 @@ Token *clangimport::AstNode::createTokens(TokenList *tokenList)
         Token *s = getChild(0)->createTokens(tokenList);
         Token *dot = addtoken(tokenList, ".");
         std::string memberName = getSpelling();
-        if (memberName.compare(0, 2, "->") == 0) {
+        if (startsWith(memberName, "->")) {
             dot->originalName("->");
             memberName = memberName.substr(2);
-        } else if (memberName.compare(0, 1, ".") == 0) {
+        } else if (startsWith(memberName, ".")) {
             memberName = memberName.substr(1);
         }
         if (memberName.empty())
@@ -1150,7 +1150,7 @@ Token *clangimport::AstNode::createTokens(TokenList *tokenList)
             return nullptr;
         const Token *defToken = addtoken(tokenList, "namespace");
         const std::string &s = mExtTokens[mExtTokens.size() - 2];
-        const Token* nameToken = (s.compare(0, 4, "col:") == 0 || s.compare(0, 5, "line:") == 0) ?
+        const Token* nameToken = (startsWith(s, "col:") || startsWith(s, "line:")) ?
                                  addtoken(tokenList, mExtTokens.back()) : nullptr;
         Scope *scope = createScope(tokenList, Scope::ScopeType::eNamespace, children, defToken);
         if (nameToken)
diff --git a/lib/cppcheck.cpp b/lib/cppcheck.cpp
index 481617d34..0feb733bf 100644
--- a/lib/cppcheck.cpp
+++ b/lib/cppcheck.cpp
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ static std::string executeAddon(const AddonInfo &addonInfo,
                 break;
             }
 #endif
-            if (executeCommand(py_exe, split("--version"), redirect, out) && out.compare(0, 7, "Python ") == 0 && std::isdigit(out[7])) {
+            if (executeCommand(py_exe, split("--version"), redirect, out) && startsWith(out, "Python ") && std::isdigit(out[7])) {
                 pythonExe = py_exe;
                 break;
             }
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ static std::string executeAddon(const AddonInfo &addonInfo,
     std::istringstream istr(result);
     std::string line;
     while (std::getline(istr, line)) {
-        if (line.compare(0,9,"Checking ", 0, 9) != 0 && !line.empty() && line[0] != '{') {
+        if (!startsWith(line,"Checking ") && !line.empty() && line[0] != '{') {
             result.erase(result.find_last_not_of('\n') + 1, std::string::npos); // Remove trailing newlines
             throw InternalError(nullptr, "Failed to execute '" + pythonExe + " " + args + "'. " + result);
         }
@@ -834,7 +834,7 @@ unsigned int CppCheck::checkFile(const std::string& filename, const std::string
             std::string code;
             const std::list<Directive> &directives = preprocessor.getDirectives();
             for (const Directive &dir : directives) {
-                if (dir.str.compare(0,8,"#define ") == 0 || dir.str.compare(0,9,"#include ") == 0)
+                if (startsWith(dir.str,"#define ") || startsWith(dir.str,"#include "))
                     code += "#line " + std::to_string(dir.linenr) + " \"" + dir.file + "\"\n" + dir.str + '\n';
             }
             Tokenizer tokenizer2(&mSettings, this);
@@ -883,7 +883,7 @@ unsigned int CppCheck::checkFile(const std::string& filename, const std::string
                 std::string codeWithoutCfg = preprocessor.getcode(tokens1, mCurrentConfig, files, true);
                 t.stop();
 
-                if (codeWithoutCfg.compare(0,5,"#file") == 0)
+                if (startsWith(codeWithoutCfg,"#file"))
                     codeWithoutCfg.insert(0U, "//");
                 std::string::size_type pos = 0;
                 while ((pos = codeWithoutCfg.find("\n#file",pos)) != std::string::npos)
@@ -1456,7 +1456,7 @@ void CppCheck::executeAddons(const std::vector<std::string>& files)
         const bool misraC2023 = mSettings.premiumArgs.find("--misra-c-2023") != std::string::npos;
 
         while (std::getline(istr, line)) {
-            if (line.compare(0,1,"{") != 0)
+            if (!startsWith(line,"{"))
                 continue;
 
             picojson::value res;
@@ -1486,7 +1486,7 @@ void CppCheck::executeAddons(const std::vector<std::string>& files)
             }
 
             errmsg.id = obj["addon"].get<std::string>() + "-" + obj["errorId"].get<std::string>();
-            if (misraC2023 && errmsg.id.compare(0, 12, "misra-c2012-") == 0)
+            if (misraC2023 && startsWith(errmsg.id, "misra-c2012-"))
                 errmsg.id = "misra-c2023-" + errmsg.id.substr(12);
             const std::string text = obj["message"].get<std::string>();
             errmsg.setmsg(text);
diff --git a/lib/errorlogger.cpp b/lib/errorlogger.cpp
index af322cb02..27f7765c9 100644
--- a/lib/errorlogger.cpp
+++ b/lib/errorlogger.cpp
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ ErrorMessage::ErrorMessage(const ErrorPath &errorPath, const TokenList *tokenLis
 
         std::string info = e.second;
 
-        if (info.compare(0,8,"$symbol:") == 0 && info.find('\n') < info.size()) {
+        if (startsWith(info,"$symbol:") && info.find('\n') < info.size()) {
             const std::string::size_type pos = info.find('\n');
             const std::string &symbolName = info.substr(8, pos - 8);
             info = replaceStr(info.substr(pos+1), "$symbol", symbolName);
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ void ErrorMessage::setmsg(const std::string &msg)
     if (pos == std::string::npos) {
         mShortMessage = replaceStr(msg, "$symbol", symbolName);
         mVerboseMessage = replaceStr(msg, "$symbol", symbolName);
-    } else if (msg.compare(0,8,"$symbol:") == 0) {
+    } else if (startsWith(msg,"$symbol:")) {
         mSymbolNames += msg.substr(8, pos-7);
         setmsg(msg.substr(pos + 1));
     } else {
diff --git a/lib/importproject.cpp b/lib/importproject.cpp
index a27b3a493..f7d20d132 100644
--- a/lib/importproject.cpp
+++ b/lib/importproject.cpp
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ void ImportProject::FileSettings::setIncludePaths(const std::string &basepath, c
     for (const std::string &ipath : copyIn) {
         if (ipath.empty())
             continue;
-        if (ipath.compare(0,2,"%(")==0)
+        if (startsWith(ipath,"%("))
             continue;
         std::string s(Path::fromNativeSeparators(ipath));
         if (!found.insert(s).second)
@@ -298,9 +298,9 @@ void ImportProject::FileSettings::parseCommand(const std::string& command)
         if (F=='D') {
             std::string defval = readUntil(command, &pos, " ");
             defs += fval;
-            if (defval.size() >= 3 && defval.compare(0,2,"=\"")==0 && defval.back()=='\"')
+            if (defval.size() >= 3 && startsWith(defval,"=\"") && defval.back()=='\"')
                 defval = "=" + unescape(defval.substr(2, defval.size() - 3));
-            else if (defval.size() >= 5 && defval.compare(0, 3, "=\\\"") == 0 && endsWith(defval, "\\\""))
+            else if (defval.size() >= 5 && startsWith(defval, "=\\\"") && endsWith(defval, "\\\""))
                 defval = "=\"" + unescape(defval.substr(3, defval.size() - 5)) + "\"";
             if (!defval.empty())
                 defs += defval;
@@ -313,32 +313,9 @@ void ImportProject::FileSettings::parseCommand(const std::string& command)
                 i = unescape(i.substr(1, i.size() - 2));
             if (std::find(includePaths.cbegin(), includePaths.cend(), i) == includePaths.cend())
                 includePaths.push_back(std::move(i));
-        } else if (F=='s' && fval.compare(0,2,"td") == 0) {
+        } else if (F=='s' && startsWith(fval,"td")) {
             ++pos;
-            const std::string stdval = readUntil(command, &pos, " ");
-            standard = stdval;
-            // TODO: use simplecpp::DUI::std instead of specifying it manually
-            if (standard.compare(0, 3, "c++") || standard.compare(0, 5, "gnu++")) {
-                const std::string stddef = simplecpp::getCppStdString(standard);
-                if (stddef.empty()) {
-                    // TODO: log error
-                    continue;
-                }
-
-                defs += "__cplusplus=";
-                defs += stddef;
-                defs += ";";
-            } else if (standard.compare(0, 1, "c") || standard.compare(0, 3, "gnu")) {
-                const std::string stddef = simplecpp::getCStdString(standard);
-                if (stddef.empty()) {
-                    // TODO: log error
-                    continue;
-                }
-
-                defs += "__STDC_VERSION__=";
-                defs += stddef;
-                defs += ";";
-            }
+            standard = readUntil(command, &pos, " ");
         } else if (F == 'i' && fval == "system") {
             ++pos;
             std::string isystem = readUntil(command, &pos, " ");
@@ -459,9 +436,9 @@ bool ImportProject::importSln(std::istream &istr, const std::string &path, const
         return false;
     }
 
-    if (line.find("Microsoft Visual Studio Solution File") != 0) {
+    if (!startsWith(line, "Microsoft Visual Studio Solution File")) {
         // Skip BOM
-        if (!std::getline(istr, line) || line.find("Microsoft Visual Studio Solution File") != 0) {
+        if (!std::getline(istr, line) || !startsWith(line, "Microsoft Visual Studio Solution File")) {
             printError("Visual Studio solution file header not found");
             return false;
         }
@@ -473,7 +450,7 @@ bool ImportProject::importSln(std::istream &istr, const std::string &path, const
     bool found = false;
 
     while (std::getline(istr,line)) {
-        if (line.compare(0,8,"Project(")!=0)
+        if (!startsWith(line,"Project("))
             continue;
         const std::string::size_type pos = line.find(".vcxproj");
         if (pos == std::string::npos)
@@ -1302,7 +1279,7 @@ void ImportProject::selectOneVsConfig(cppcheck::Platform::Type platform)
         }
         const ImportProject::FileSettings &fs = *it;
         bool remove = false;
-        if (fs.cfg.compare(0,5,"Debug") != 0)
+        if (!startsWith(fs.cfg,"Debug"))
             remove = true;
         if (platform == cppcheck::Platform::Type::Win64 && fs.platformType != platform)
             remove = true;
diff --git a/lib/library.cpp b/lib/library.cpp
index 15d649171..4c886f699 100644
--- a/lib/library.cpp
+++ b/lib/library.cpp
@@ -1174,7 +1174,7 @@ const Library::Container* Library::detectContainerInternal(const Token* const ty
         if (container.startPattern.empty())
             continue;
 
-        const int offset = (withoutStd && container.startPattern2.find("std :: ") == 0) ? 7 : 0;
+        const int offset = (withoutStd && startsWith(container.startPattern2, "std :: ")) ? 7 : 0;
 
         // If endPattern is undefined, it will always match, but itEndPattern has to be defined.
         if (detect != IteratorOnly && container.endPattern.empty()) {
@@ -1754,7 +1754,7 @@ std::shared_ptr<Token> createTokenFromExpression(const std::string& returnValue,
 
     // set varids
     for (Token* tok2 = tokenList->front(); tok2; tok2 = tok2->next()) {
-        if (tok2->str().compare(0, 3, "arg") != 0)
+        if (!startsWith(tok2->str(), "arg"))
             continue;
         nonneg int const id = strToInt<nonneg int>(tok2->str().c_str() + 3);
         tok2->varId(id);
diff --git a/lib/path.cpp b/lib/path.cpp
index 078c6997d..74e6f3f46 100644
--- a/lib/path.cpp
+++ b/lib/path.cpp
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ bool Path::isAbsolute(const std::string& path)
         return false;
 
     // On Windows, 'C:\foo\bar' is an absolute path, while 'C:foo\bar' is not
-    return nativePath.compare(0, 2, "\\\\") == 0 || (std::isalpha(nativePath[0]) != 0 && nativePath.compare(1, 2, ":\\") == 0);
+    return startsWith(nativePath, "\\\\") || (std::isalpha(nativePath[0]) != 0 && nativePath.compare(1, 2, ":\\") == 0);
 #else
     return !nativePath.empty() && nativePath[0] == '/';
 #endif
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ bool Path::acceptFile(const std::string &path, const std::set<std::string> &extr
 bool Path::isHeader(const std::string &path)
 {
     const std::string extension = getFilenameExtensionInLowerCase(path);
-    return (extension.compare(0, 2, ".h") == 0);
+    return startsWith(extension, ".h");
 }
 
 std::string Path::getAbsoluteFilePath(const std::string& filePath)
diff --git a/lib/preprocessor.cpp b/lib/preprocessor.cpp
index a2058de4b..aa572cb5c 100644
--- a/lib/preprocessor.cpp
+++ b/lib/preprocessor.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "settings.h"
 #include "standards.h"
 #include "suppressions.h"
+#include "utils.h"
 
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <array>
@@ -370,7 +371,7 @@ static const simplecpp::Token *gotoEndIf(const simplecpp::Token *cmdtok)
     int level = 0;
     while (nullptr != (cmdtok = cmdtok->next)) {
         if (cmdtok->op == '#' && !sameline(cmdtok->previous,cmdtok) && sameline(cmdtok, cmdtok->next)) {
-            if (cmdtok->next->str().compare(0,2,"if")==0)
+            if (startsWith(cmdtok->next->str(),"if"))
                 ++level;
             else if (cmdtok->next->str() == "endif") {
                 --level;
@@ -755,7 +756,7 @@ void Preprocessor::reportOutput(const simplecpp::OutputList &outputList, bool sh
     for (const simplecpp::Output &out : outputList) {
         switch (out.type) {
         case simplecpp::Output::ERROR:
-            if (out.msg.compare(0,6,"#error")!=0 || showerror)
+            if (!startsWith(out.msg,"#error") || showerror)
                 error(out.location.file(), out.location.line, out.msg);
             break;
         case simplecpp::Output::WARNING:
diff --git a/lib/suppressions.cpp b/lib/suppressions.cpp
index eac6ae6cf..10b5fa7a0 100644
--- a/lib/suppressions.cpp
+++ b/lib/suppressions.cpp
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ std::vector<Suppressions::Suppression> Suppressions::parseMultiSuppressComment(c
                 break;
             if (word.find_first_not_of("+-*/%#;") == std::string::npos)
                 break;
-            if (word.compare(0, 11, "symbolName=") == 0) {
+            if (startsWith(word, "symbolName=")) {
                 s.symbolName = word.substr(11);
             } else {
                 if (errorMessage && errorMessage->empty())
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ bool Suppressions::Suppression::parseComment(std::string comment, std::string *e
             break;
         if (word.find_first_not_of("+-*/%#;") == std::string::npos)
             break;
-        if (word.compare(0,11,"symbolName=")==0)
+        if (startsWith(word,"symbolName="))
             symbolName = word.substr(11);
         else if (errorMessage && errorMessage->empty())
             *errorMessage = "Bad suppression attribute '" + word + "'. You can write comments in the comment after a ; or //. Valid suppression attributes; symbolName=sym";
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ std::string Suppressions::Suppression::getText() const
         ret += " symbolName=" + symbolName;
     if (hash > 0)
         ret += " hash=" + std::to_string(hash);
-    if (ret.compare(0,1," ")==0)
+    if (startsWith(ret," "))
         return ret.substr(1);
     return ret;
 }
diff --git a/lib/symboldatabase.cpp b/lib/symboldatabase.cpp
index 9628dc0c6..3225ef2cf 100644
--- a/lib/symboldatabase.cpp
+++ b/lib/symboldatabase.cpp
@@ -2389,7 +2389,7 @@ static bool isOperator(const Token *tokenDef)
     if (tokenDef->isOperatorKeyword())
         return true;
     const std::string &name = tokenDef->str();
-    return name.size() > 8 && name.compare(0,8,"operator")==0 && std::strchr("+-*/%&|~^<>!=[(", name[8]);
+    return name.size() > 8 && startsWith(name,"operator") && std::strchr("+-*/%&|~^<>!=[(", name[8]);
 }
 
 Function::Function(const Tokenizer *mTokenizer,
diff --git a/lib/symboldatabase.h b/lib/symboldatabase.h
index fc7554a70..b620313c7 100644
--- a/lib/symboldatabase.h
+++ b/lib/symboldatabase.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "mathlib.h"
 #include "sourcelocation.h"
 #include "token.h"
+#include "utils.h"
 
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <cctype>
@@ -1061,7 +1062,7 @@ public:
 
     bool isAnonymous() const {
         // TODO: Check if class/struct is anonymous
-        return className.size() > 9 && className.compare(0,9,"Anonymous") == 0 && std::isdigit(className[9]);
+        return className.size() > 9 && startsWith(className,"Anonymous") && std::isdigit(className[9]);
     }
 
     const Enumerator * findEnumerator(const std::string & name) const {
diff --git a/lib/timer.cpp b/lib/timer.cpp
index 4e04b5819..73bb3f024 100644
--- a/lib/timer.cpp
+++ b/lib/timer.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 
 #include "timer.h"
 
+#include "utils.h"
+
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <iostream>
 #include <utility>
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@ void TimerResults::showResults(SHOWTIME_MODES mode) const
         bool hasParent = false;
         {
             // Do not use valueFlow.. in "Overall time" because those are included in Tokenizer already
-            if (iter->first.compare(0,9,"valueFlow") == 0)
+            if (startsWith(iter->first,"valueFlow"))
                 hasParent = true;
 
             // Do not use inner timers in "Overall time"
diff --git a/lib/tokenize.cpp b/lib/tokenize.cpp
index cc4f3cfa0..aaa7d599a 100644
--- a/lib/tokenize.cpp
+++ b/lib/tokenize.cpp
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ bool Tokenizer::duplicateTypedef(Token **tokPtr, const Token *name, const Token
             if (end)
                 end = end->next();
         } else if (end->str() == "(") {
-            if (tok->previous()->str().compare(0, 8, "operator")  == 0)
+            if (startsWith(tok->previous()->str(), "operator"))
                 // conversion operator
                 return false;
             if (tok->previous()->str() == "typedef")
@@ -8124,7 +8124,7 @@ static bool isNonMacro(const Token* tok)
         return true;
     if (cAlternativeTokens.count(tok->str()) > 0)
         return true;
-    if (tok->str().compare(0, 2, "__") == 0) // attribute/annotation
+    if (startsWith(tok->str(), "__")) // attribute/annotation
         return true;
     if (Token::simpleMatch(tok, "alignas ("))
         return true;
@@ -8236,7 +8236,7 @@ void Tokenizer::reportUnknownMacros() const
                 continue;
             if (cAlternativeTokens.count(tok->linkAt(2)->next()->str()) > 0)
                 continue;
-            if (tok->next()->str().compare(0, 2, "__") == 0) // attribute/annotation
+            if (startsWith(tok->next()->str(), "__")) // attribute/annotation
                 continue;
             unknownMacroError(tok->next());
         }
@@ -8990,7 +8990,7 @@ void Tokenizer::simplifyCppcheckAttribute()
         if (!tok->previous())
             continue;
         const std::string &attr = tok->previous()->str();
-        if (attr.compare(0, 11, "__cppcheck_") != 0) // TODO: starts_with("__cppcheck_")
+        if (!startsWith(attr, "__cppcheck_"))
             continue;
         if (attr.compare(attr.size()-2, 2, "__") != 0) // TODO: ends_with("__")
             continue;
@@ -8998,7 +8998,7 @@ void Tokenizer::simplifyCppcheckAttribute()
         Token *vartok = tok->link();
         while (Token::Match(vartok->next(), "%name%|*|&|::")) {
             vartok = vartok->next();
-            if (Token::Match(vartok, "%name% (") && vartok->str().compare(0,11,"__cppcheck_") == 0)
+            if (Token::Match(vartok, "%name% (") && startsWith(vartok->str(),"__cppcheck_"))
                 vartok = vartok->linkAt(1);
         }
 
@@ -10471,7 +10471,7 @@ bool Tokenizer::hasIfdef(const Token *start, const Token *end) const
     assert(mPreprocessor);
 
     return std::any_of(mPreprocessor->getDirectives().cbegin(), mPreprocessor->getDirectives().cend(), [&](const Directive& d) {
-        return d.str.compare(0, 3, "#if") == 0 &&
+        return startsWith(d.str, "#if") &&
         d.linenr >= start->linenr() &&
         d.linenr <= end->linenr() &&
         start->fileIndex() < list.getFiles().size() &&
diff --git a/lib/utils.h b/lib/utils.h
index 46ee7d698..690a47c10 100644
--- a/lib/utils.h
+++ b/lib/utils.h
@@ -80,6 +80,17 @@ struct EnumClassHash {
     }
 };
 
+inline bool startsWith(const std::string& str, const char start[], std::size_t startlen)
+{
+    return str.compare(0, startlen, start) == 0;
+}
+
+template<std::size_t N>
+bool startsWith(const std::string& str, const char (&start)[N])
+{
+    return startsWith(str, start, N - 1);
+}
+
 inline bool endsWith(const std::string &str, char c)
 {
     return !str.empty() && str.back() == c;
diff --git a/lib/valueflow.cpp b/lib/valueflow.cpp
index 3036bdc42..a6e5311dc 100644
--- a/lib/valueflow.cpp
+++ b/lib/valueflow.cpp
@@ -4494,7 +4494,7 @@ static void valueFlowLifetimeFunction(Token *tok, TokenList &tokenlist, ErrorLog
         valueFlowForwardLifetime(tok->next(), tokenlist, errorLogger, settings);
     } else {
         const std::string& retVal = settings->library.returnValue(tok);
-        if (retVal.compare(0, 3, "arg") == 0) {
+        if (startsWith(retVal, "arg")) {
             std::size_t iArg{};
             try {
                 iArg = strToInt<std::size_t>(retVal.substr(3));
diff --git a/test/cli/test-more-projects.py b/test/cli/test-more-projects.py
index 6269d64a5..b2945df77 100644
--- a/test/cli/test-more-projects.py
+++ b/test/cli/test-more-projects.py
@@ -224,4 +224,31 @@ def test_project_missing_subproject(tmpdir):
     ret, stdout, stderr = cppcheck(['--project=' + project_file, '--template=cppcheck1'])
     assert ret == 1, stdout
     assert stdout == "cppcheck: error: failed to open project '{}/dummy.json'. The file does not exist.\n".format(str(tmpdir).replace('\\', '/'))
-    assert stderr == ''
\ No newline at end of file
+    assert stderr == ''
+
+
+def test_project_std(tmpdir):
+    with open(os.path.join(tmpdir, 'bug1.cpp'), 'wt') as f:
+        f.write("""
+                #if __cplusplus == 201402L
+                int x = 123 / 0;
+                #endif
+                """)
+
+    compile_commands = os.path.join(tmpdir, 'compile_commands.json')
+
+    compilation_db = [
+        {
+            "directory": str(tmpdir),
+            "command": "c++ -o bug1.o -c bug1.cpp -std=c++14",
+            "file": "bug1.cpp",
+            "output": "bug1.o"
+        }
+    ]
+
+    with open(compile_commands, 'wt') as f:
+        f.write(json.dumps(compilation_db))
+
+    ret, stdout, stderr = cppcheck(['--project=' + compile_commands, '--enable=all', '-rp=' + str(tmpdir), '--template=cppcheck1'])
+    assert ret == 0, stdout
+    assert (stderr == '[bug1.cpp:3]: (error) Division by zero.\n')
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/testcmdlineparser.cpp b/test/testcmdlineparser.cpp
index 1eede5650..d1f41d455 100644
--- a/test/testcmdlineparser.cpp
+++ b/test/testcmdlineparser.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include "suppressions.h"
 #include "fixture.h"
 #include "timer.h"
+#include "utils.h"
 
 #include <cstdint>
 #include <cstdio>
@@ -272,7 +273,7 @@ private:
         const char * const argv[] = {"cppcheck"};
         ASSERT(parser->parseFromArgs(1, argv));
         ASSERT_EQUALS(true, parser->getShowHelp());
-        ASSERT(GET_REDIRECT_OUTPUT.find("Cppcheck - A tool for static C/C++ code analysis") == 0);
+        ASSERT(startsWith(GET_REDIRECT_OUTPUT, "Cppcheck - A tool for static C/C++ code analysis"));
     }
 
     void helpshort() {
@@ -280,7 +281,7 @@ private:
         const char * const argv[] = {"cppcheck", "-h"};
         ASSERT(parser->parseFromArgs(2, argv));
         ASSERT_EQUALS(true, parser->getShowHelp());
-        ASSERT(GET_REDIRECT_OUTPUT.find("Cppcheck - A tool for static C/C++ code analysis") == 0);
+        ASSERT(startsWith(GET_REDIRECT_OUTPUT, "Cppcheck - A tool for static C/C++ code analysis"));
     }
 
     void helplong() {
@@ -288,7 +289,7 @@ private:
         const char * const argv[] = {"cppcheck", "--help"};
         ASSERT(parser->parseFromArgs(2, argv));
         ASSERT_EQUALS(true, parser->getShowHelp());
-        ASSERT(GET_REDIRECT_OUTPUT.find("Cppcheck - A tool for static C/C++ code analysis") == 0);
+        ASSERT(startsWith(GET_REDIRECT_OUTPUT, "Cppcheck - A tool for static C/C++ code analysis"));
     }
 
     void showversion() {
@@ -1594,7 +1595,7 @@ private:
         const char * const argv[] = {"cppcheck", "--doc"};
         ASSERT(parser->parseFromArgs(2, argv));
         ASSERT(parser->exitAfterPrinting());
-        ASSERT(GET_REDIRECT_OUTPUT.find("## ") == 0);
+        ASSERT(startsWith(GET_REDIRECT_OUTPUT, "## "));
     }
 
     void showtime() {
diff --git a/test/testsimplifyusing.cpp b/test/testsimplifyusing.cpp
index 32287681a..02cc14aaf 100644
--- a/test/testsimplifyusing.cpp
+++ b/test/testsimplifyusing.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "fixture.h"
 #include "token.h"
 #include "tokenize.h"
+#include "utils.h"
 
 #include <simplecpp.h>
 
@@ -1391,7 +1392,7 @@ private:
                             "STAMP(B, A);\n"
                             "STAMP(C, B);\n";
         tok(code, cppcheck::Platform::Type::Native, /*debugwarnings*/ true, /*preprocess*/ true);
-        ASSERT_EQUALS(errout.str().compare(0, 64, "[test.cpp:6]: (debug) Failed to parse 'using C = S < S < S < int"), 0);
+        ASSERT(startsWith(errout.str(), "[test.cpp:6]: (debug) Failed to parse 'using C = S < S < S < int"));
     }
 
     void scopeInfo1() {
diff --git a/test/testutils.cpp b/test/testutils.cpp
index bdc095f54..3c2a7a960 100644
--- a/test/testutils.cpp
+++ b/test/testutils.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ private:
         TEST_CASE(isCharLiteral);
         TEST_CASE(strToInt);
         TEST_CASE(id_string);
+        TEST_CASE(startsWith);
     }
 
     void isValidGlobPattern() const {
@@ -345,6 +346,19 @@ private:
             ASSERT_EQUALS(std::string(16,'f'), id_string_i(~0ULL));
         }
     }
+
+    void startsWith() const
+    {
+        ASSERT(::startsWith("test", "test"));
+        ASSERT(::startsWith("test2", "test"));
+        ASSERT(::startsWith("test test", "test"));
+        ASSERT(::startsWith("test", "t"));
+        ASSERT(!::startsWith("2test", "test"));
+        ASSERT(!::startsWith("", "test"));
+        ASSERT(!::startsWith("tes", "test"));
+        ASSERT(!::startsWith("2test", "t"));
+        ASSERT(!::startsWith("t", "test"));
+    }
 };
 
 REGISTER_TEST(TestUtils)
diff --git a/tools/dmake.cpp b/tools/dmake.cpp
index bc0c7a064..388efd50d 100644
--- a/tools/dmake.cpp
+++ b/tools/dmake.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 
 static std::string builddir(std::string filename)
 {
-    if (filename.compare(0,4,"lib/") == 0)
+    if (startsWith(filename,"lib/"))
         filename = "$(libcppdir)" + filename.substr(3);
     return filename;
 }
@@ -77,13 +77,13 @@ static void getDeps(const std::string &filename, std::vector<std::string> &depfi
          * Files are searched according to the following priority:
          * [test, tools] -> cli -> lib -> externals
          */
-        if (filename.compare(0, 4, "cli/") == 0)
+        if (startsWith(filename, "cli/"))
             getDeps("lib" + filename.substr(filename.find('/')), depfiles);
-        else if (filename.compare(0, 5, "test/") == 0)
+        else if (startsWith(filename, "test/"))
             getDeps("cli" + filename.substr(filename.find('/')), depfiles);
-        else if (filename.compare(0, 6, "tools/") == 0)
+        else if (startsWith(filename, "tools/"))
             getDeps("cli" + filename.substr(filename.find('/')), depfiles);
-        else if (filename.compare(0, 4, "lib/") == 0) {
+        else if (startsWith(filename, "lib/")) {
             for (const std::string & external : externalfolders)
                 getDeps(external + filename.substr(filename.find('/')), depfiles);
         }
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ static void getDeps(const std::string &filename, std::vector<std::string> &depfi
 static void compilefiles(std::ostream &fout, const std::vector<std::string> &files, const std::string &args)
 {
     for (const std::string &file : files) {
-        const bool external(file.compare(0,10,"externals/") == 0);
+        const bool external(startsWith(file,"externals/"));
         fout << objfile(file) << ": " << file;
         std::vector<std::string> depfiles;
         getDeps(file, depfiles);