I think the author is trying to map the way python works into C++, which doesn't make sense. The type of problems that he mentions with the preprocessor are ALR

I think the author is trying to map the way python works into C++, which doesn't make sense. The type of problems that he mentions with the preprocessor are ALREADY present with the compilation model used by C++. The solution is that each project needs to manage dependencies using Makefile or a similar tool. The process is not automatic as with python, but instead is managed according to the needs of each individual project.