diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 7648e54d3..395bc43d8 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,9 +16,7 @@ option(USE_XSDK_DEFAULTS "enable the XDSK v0.3.0 default configuration" NO)
 #requre c++11 without extensions
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED ON)
 set(CMAKE_CXX_EXTENSION OFF)
-if(NOT ENABLE_CGNS)
-  set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 11)
-endif()
+set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 11)
 
 xsdk_begin_package()
 bob_begin_package()
@@ -27,8 +25,7 @@ if(USE_XSDK_DEFAULTS)
   xsdk_compiler_flags()
 endif()
 
-# require c++14
-option(ENABLE_CGNS "Enable the CGNS reader: requires c++14 extensions" OFF)
+option(ENABLE_CGNS "Enable the CGNS reader" OFF)
 message(STATUS "ENABLE_CGNS: ${ENABLE_CGNS}")
 
 # Set some default compiler flags that should always be used
@@ -37,10 +34,7 @@ if(NOT USE_XSDK_DEFAULTS)
   bob_begin_cxx_flags()
   bob_end_cxx_flags()
   set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS}")
-  if(ENABLE_CGNS) #takes precedence over SCOREC_ENABLE_CXX11
-    message(STATUS "enabling cxx14")
-    bob_cxx14_flags()
-  elseif(SCOREC_ENABLE_CXX11)
+  if(SCOREC_ENABLE_CXX11)
     bob_cxx11_flags()
   endif()
 endif()
@@ -60,6 +54,8 @@ message(STATUS "IS_TESTING: ${IS_TESTING}")
 
 set(MESHES "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/pumi-meshes" CACHE STRING "Directory of test meshes")
 message(STATUS "MESHES: ${MESHES}")
+get_filename_component(MESHES ${MESHES} ABSOLUTE)
+message(STATUS "Using absolute file path MESHES: ${MESHES}")
 
 option(BUILD_EXES "Build executables" ON)
 message(STATUS "BUILD_EXES: ${BUILD_EXES}")
@@ -142,6 +138,14 @@ if(ENABLE_CGNS)
   set(SCOREC_USE_HDF5_DEFAULT ${ENABLE_CGNS})
   bob_public_dep(HDF5)
   add_definitions(-DHAVE_CGNS)
+else()
+  set(SCOREC_USE_CGNS_DEFAULT ${ENABLE_CGNS})
+  bob_public_dep(CGNS)
+  #CGNS does not provide cmake targets :(
+  include_directories(SYSTEM ${CGNS_INCLUDE_DIR})
+  set(SCOREC_USE_HDF5_DEFAULT ${ENABLE_CGNS})
+  bob_public_dep(HDF5)
+  add_definitions(-DHAVE_CGNS)
 endif()
 
 # Include the SCOREC project packages
@@ -172,8 +176,10 @@ add_library(core INTERFACE)
 target_link_libraries(core INTERFACE ${SCOREC_EXPORTED_TARGETS})
 if(ENABLE_CGNS)
   target_link_libraries(core INTERFACE ${CMAKE_DL_LIBS}) #HDF5 uses dlopen
-  target_compile_features(core INTERFACE cxx_std_14)
+  # target_compile_features(core INTERFACE cxx_std_14)
+  target_compile_features(core INTERFACE cxx_std_11)
 else()
+  target_link_libraries(core INTERFACE ${CMAKE_DL_LIBS}) #HDF5 uses dlopen
   target_compile_features(core INTERFACE cxx_std_11)
 endif()
 scorec_export_library(core)
diff --git a/apf/apfCGNS.cc b/apf/apfCGNS.cc
index 4debbb58b..d76757be0 100644
--- a/apf/apfCGNS.cc
+++ b/apf/apfCGNS.cc
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "apfNumberingClass.h"
 #include "apfShape.h"
 #include "apfFieldData.h"
+#include <functional>
 #include <pcu_util.h>
 #include <lionPrint.h>
 //
@@ -269,9 +270,16 @@ void WriteTags(const CGNS &cgns, const std::vector<std::vector<apf::MeshEntity *
   }
 }
 */
-void WriteFields(const CGNS &cgns, const std::vector<std::vector<apf::MeshEntity *>> &orderedEnts, const std::vector<std::pair<cgsize_t, cgsize_t>> &ranges, const std::vector<apf::MeshEntity *> &orderedVertices, const int &vStart, const int &vEnd, apf::Mesh *m)
+
+typedef std::vector<apf::MeshEntity *> VecMeshEntity_t;
+typedef std::pair<cgsize_t, cgsize_t> CGRange_t;
+
+void WriteFields(const CGNS &cgns, const std::vector<VecMeshEntity_t> &orderedEnts, const std::vector<CGRange_t> &ranges, const VecMeshEntity_t &orderedVertices, const int &vStart, const int &vEnd, apf::Mesh *m)
 {
-  const auto writeField = [&m, &cgns](apf::Field *f, const auto &orderedEnts, const int &solIndex, const auto &inner, const auto &post, const int &numComponents, const int &component, const std::string &fieldName, const int &start, const int &end, int &fieldIndex) {
+  typedef std::function<void (apf::MeshEntity *elem, apf::FieldDataOf<double> *fieldData, std::vector<double> &ddata, const int &numComponents, const int &component)>  innerLambda_t;
+  typedef std::function<void (const int &solIndex, std::vector<double> &ddata, const cgsize_t *rmin, const cgsize_t *rmax, const int &globalSize, const int &fieldIndex)> postLambda_t;
+
+  const auto writeField = [&m, &cgns](apf::Field *f, const VecMeshEntity_t  &orderedEnt, const int &solIndex, const innerLambda_t &inner, const postLambda_t &post, const int &numComponents, const int &component, const std::string &fieldName, const int &start, const int &end, int &fieldIndex) {
     std::vector<double> data;
 
     cgsize_t rmin[3];
@@ -281,7 +289,7 @@ void WriteFields(const CGNS &cgns, const std::vector<std::vector<apf::MeshEntity
     rmax[0] = end;
 
     apf::FieldDataOf<double> *fieldData = f->getData();
-    for (const auto &e : orderedEnts)
+    for (const auto &e : orderedEnt)
     {
       if (fieldData->hasEntity(e) && m->isOwned(e))
       {
@@ -310,7 +318,7 @@ void WriteFields(const CGNS &cgns, const std::vector<std::vector<apf::MeshEntity
     }
   };
 
-  const auto loopCellFields = [&m, &writeField](const auto &orderedEnts, const int &solIndex, const auto &inner, const auto &post, const auto &ranges) {
+  const auto loopCellFields = [&m, &writeField](const std::vector<VecMeshEntity_t> &orderedEnts, const int &solIndex, const innerLambda_t &inner, const postLambda_t &post, const std::vector<CGRange_t> &ranges) {
     for (int i = 0; i < m->countFields(); ++i)
     {
       apf::Field *f = m->getField(i);
@@ -335,7 +343,7 @@ void WriteFields(const CGNS &cgns, const std::vector<std::vector<apf::MeshEntity
     }
   };
 
-  const auto loopVertexFields = [&m, &writeField](const auto &orderedEnts, const int &solIndex, const auto &inner, const auto &post, const int &vStart, const int &vEnd) {
+  const auto loopVertexFields = [&m, &writeField](const VecMeshEntity_t &orderedVertices, const int &solIndex, const innerLambda_t &inner, const postLambda_t &post, const int &vStart, const int &vEnd) {
     for (int i = 0; i < m->countFields(); ++i)
     {
       apf::Field *f = m->getField(i);
@@ -352,12 +360,12 @@ void WriteFields(const CGNS &cgns, const std::vector<std::vector<apf::MeshEntity
           fieldNameNew += "_[" + std::to_string(component) + "]";
 
         //std::cout << "VERTEX " << fieldNameNew << " " << fieldName << " " << component << " " << numComponents << std::endl;
-        writeField(f, orderedEnts, solIndex, inner, post, numComponents, component, fieldNameNew, vStart, vEnd, fieldIndex);
+        writeField(f, orderedVertices, solIndex, inner, post, numComponents, component, fieldNameNew, vStart, vEnd, fieldIndex);
       }
     }
   };
 
-  const auto postLambda = [&cgns](const int &solIndex, std::vector<double> &ddata, const cgsize_t *rmin, const cgsize_t *rmax, const int &globalSize, const int &fieldIndex) {
+  const postLambda_t postLambda = [&cgns](const int &solIndex, std::vector<double> &ddata, const cgsize_t *rmin, const cgsize_t *rmax, const int &globalSize, const int &fieldIndex) {
     if (globalSize > 0)
     {
       if (cgp_field_write_data(cgns.index, cgns.base, cgns.zone, solIndex, fieldIndex, &rmin[0], &rmax[0],
@@ -366,7 +374,7 @@ void WriteFields(const CGNS &cgns, const std::vector<std::vector<apf::MeshEntity
     }
   };
 
-  const auto innerLambda = [](apf::MeshEntity *elem, apf::FieldDataOf<double> *fieldData, std::vector<double> &ddata, const int &numComponents, const int &component) {
+  const innerLambda_t innerLambda = [](apf::MeshEntity *elem, apf::FieldDataOf<double> *fieldData, std::vector<double> &ddata, const int &numComponents, const int &component) {
     std::vector<double> vals(numComponents, -12345);
     fieldData->get(elem, vals.data());
     //std::cout << numComponents << " " << component << " " << vals[0] << std::endl;
@@ -390,7 +398,7 @@ void WriteFields(const CGNS &cgns, const std::vector<std::vector<apf::MeshEntity
   }
 }
 
-auto WriteVertices(const CGNS &cgns, apf::Mesh *m, apf::GlobalNumbering *gvn)
+std::tuple<VecMeshEntity_t, int, int> WriteVertices(const CGNS &cgns, apf::Mesh *m, apf::GlobalNumbering *gvn)
 {
   int Cx = -1;
   int Cy = -1;
@@ -412,7 +420,7 @@ auto WriteVertices(const CGNS &cgns, apf::Mesh *m, apf::GlobalNumbering *gvn)
       cgp_error_exit();
   }
 
-  std::vector<apf::MeshEntity *> orderedVertices;
+  VecMeshEntity_t orderedVertices;
   cgsize_t vertexMin[3];
   cgsize_t vertexMax[3];
   cgsize_t contigRange = -1;
@@ -574,7 +582,10 @@ CellElementReturn WriteElements(const CGNS &cgns, apf::Mesh *m, apf::GlobalNumbe
 
 void AddBocosToMainBase(const CGNS &cgns, const CellElementReturn &cellResults, const int &cellCount, apf::Mesh *m, const apf::CGNSBCMap &cgnsBCMap, const std::map<apf::Mesh::Type, CGNS_ENUMT(ElementType_t)> &apf2cgns, apf::GlobalNumbering *gvn)
 {
-  const auto EdgeLoop = [&m](const auto &lambda, apf::MeshTag *edgeTag) {
+  typedef std::function<void(apf::MeshEntity*)> LambdaMeshEntity_t;
+  typedef std::vector<apf::CGNSInfo> VecCGNSInfo_t;
+
+  const auto EdgeLoop = [&m](const LambdaMeshEntity_t &lambda, apf::MeshTag *edgeTag) {
     apf::MeshIterator *edgeIter = m->begin(1);
     apf::MeshEntity *edge = nullptr;
     int vals[1];
@@ -591,7 +602,7 @@ void AddBocosToMainBase(const CGNS &cgns, const CellElementReturn &cellResults,
     m->end(edgeIter);
   };
 
-  const auto FaceLoop = [&m](const auto &lambda, apf::MeshTag *faceTag) {
+  const auto FaceLoop = [&m](const LambdaMeshEntity_t &lambda, apf::MeshTag *faceTag) {
     apf::MeshIterator *faceIter = m->begin(2);
     apf::MeshEntity *face = nullptr;
     int vals[1];
@@ -608,7 +619,8 @@ void AddBocosToMainBase(const CGNS &cgns, const CellElementReturn &cellResults,
     m->end(faceIter);
   };
 
-  const auto BCEntityAdder = [&apf2cgns, &m, &cgns, &gvn](const auto &Looper, const auto &bcGroup, int &startingLocation) {
+  
+  const auto BCEntityAdder = [&apf2cgns, &m, &cgns, &gvn](const std::function<void(LambdaMeshEntity_t, apf::MeshTag*)> &Looper, const apf::CGNSInfo &bcGroup, int &startingLocation) {
     std::map<apf::Mesh::Type, std::vector<apf::MeshEntity *>> bcEntTypes;
     for (const auto &r : apf2cgns)
       bcEntTypes.insert(std::make_pair(r.first, std::vector<apf::MeshEntity *>()));
@@ -715,7 +727,9 @@ void AddBocosToMainBase(const CGNS &cgns, const CellElementReturn &cellResults,
                    PCU_Get_Comm());
   };
 
-  const auto doVertexBC = [&](const auto &iter) {
+  typedef std::map<std::basic_string<char>, std::vector<apf::CGNSInfo>>::const_iterator  MapCGNSInfo_t;
+
+  const auto doVertexBC = [&](const MapCGNSInfo_t &iter) {
     for (const auto &p : iter->second)
     {
       std::vector<cgsize_t> bcList;
@@ -751,7 +765,7 @@ void AddBocosToMainBase(const CGNS &cgns, const CellElementReturn &cellResults,
     }
   };
 
-  const auto doEdgeBC = [&](const auto &iter, int &startingLocation) {
+  const auto doEdgeBC = [&](const MapCGNSInfo_t &iter, int &startingLocation) {
     for (const auto &p : iter->second)
     {
       const auto se = BCEntityAdder(EdgeLoop, p, startingLocation);
@@ -774,7 +788,7 @@ void AddBocosToMainBase(const CGNS &cgns, const CellElementReturn &cellResults,
     }
   };
 
-  const auto doFaceBC = [&](const auto &iter, int &startingLocation) {
+  const auto doFaceBC = [&](const MapCGNSInfo_t &iter, int &startingLocation) {
     for (const auto &p : iter->second)
     {
       const auto se = BCEntityAdder(FaceLoop, p, startingLocation);
@@ -797,7 +811,7 @@ void AddBocosToMainBase(const CGNS &cgns, const CellElementReturn &cellResults,
     }
   };
 
-  const auto doCellBC = [&](const auto &iter, const int &) {
+  const auto doCellBC = [&](const MapCGNSInfo_t &iter, const int &) {
     for (const auto &p : iter->second)
     {
       std::vector<cgsize_t> bcList;
@@ -1051,11 +1065,11 @@ void WriteCGNS(const char *prefix, apf::Mesh *m, const apf::CGNSBCMap &cgnsBCMap
   auto communicator = PCU_Get_Comm();
   cgp_mpi_comm(communicator);
   //
-  cgp_pio_mode(CGNS_ENUMV(CGP_INDEPENDENT));
+  cgp_pio_mode(CGP_INDEPENDENT);
 
   CGNS cgns;
   cgns.fname = std::string(prefix);
-  if (cgp_open(prefix, CGNS_ENUMV(CG_MODE_WRITE), &cgns.index))
+  if (cgp_open(prefix, CG_MODE_WRITE, &cgns.index))
     cgp_error_exit();
 
   {
diff --git a/mds/mdsCGNS.cc b/mds/mdsCGNS.cc
index acdef4aae..0d24e67ec 100644
--- a/mds/mdsCGNS.cc
+++ b/mds/mdsCGNS.cc
@@ -177,19 +177,19 @@ struct MeshDataGroup
     if (components.size() == 1)
     {
       std::cout << "Scalar Group has " << components.size() << " related componenets: " << std::endl;
-      for (const auto m : components)
+      for (const auto &m : components)
         std::cout << "Field " << m.second.name << " @ " << m.second.si << " " << m.second.fi << std::endl;
     }
     else if (components.size() == 3)
     {
       std::cout << "Vector Group has " << components.size() << " related componenets: " << std::endl;
-      for (const auto m : components)
+      for (const auto &m : components)
         std::cout << "Field " << m.second.name << " @ " << m.second.si << " " << m.second.fi << std::endl;
     }
     else if (components.size() == 9)
     {
       std::cout << "Matrix Group has " << components.size() << " related componenets: " << std::endl;
-      for (const auto m : components)
+      for (const auto &m : components)
         std::cout << "Field " << m.second.name << " @ " << m.second.si << " " << m.second.fi << std::endl;
     }
     else
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ void Kill(const int fid)
   }
 }
 
-auto ReadCGNSCoords(int cgid, int base, int zone, int ncoords, int nverts, const std::vector<cgsize_t> &, const apf::GlobalToVert &globalToVert)
+std::map<int, std::array<double, 3>> ReadCGNSCoords(int cgid, int base, int zone, int ncoords, int nverts, const std::vector<cgsize_t> &, const apf::GlobalToVert &globalToVert)
 {
   // Read min required as defined by consecutive range
   // make one based as ReadElements makes zero based
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ void SimpleElementPartition(std::vector<cgsize_t> &numberToReadPerProc, std::vec
 using Pair = std::pair<cgsize_t, cgsize_t>;
 using LocalElementRanges = std::vector<Pair>; // one based
 
-auto ReadElements(int cgid, int base, int zone, int section, int el_start /* one based */, int el_end, int numElements, int verticesPerElement, LocalElementRanges &localElementRanges)
+std::tuple<std::vector<cgsize_t>, cgsize_t> ReadElements(int cgid, int base, int zone, int section, int el_start /* one based */, int el_end, int numElements, int verticesPerElement, LocalElementRanges &localElementRanges)
 {
   std::vector<cgsize_t> numberToReadPerProc;
   std::vector<cgsize_t> startingIndex;
@@ -1056,8 +1056,8 @@ apf::Mesh2 *DoIt(gmi_model *g, const std::string &fname, apf::CGNSBCMap &cgnsBCM
   int cgid = -1;
   auto comm = PCU_Get_Comm();
   cgp_mpi_comm(comm);
-  cgp_pio_mode(CGNS_ENUMV(CGP_INDEPENDENT));
-  cgp_open(fname.c_str(), CGNS_ENUMV(CG_MODE_READ), &cgid);
+  cgp_pio_mode(CGP_INDEPENDENT);
+  cgp_open(fname.c_str(), CG_MODE_READ, &cgid);
 
   int nbases = -1;
   cg_nbases(cgid, &nbases);
diff --git a/test/cgns.cc b/test/cgns.cc
index 6f853d2e0..a3c57d777 100644
--- a/test/cgns.cc
+++ b/test/cgns.cc
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ pMesh toPumi(const std::string &prefix, gmi_model *g, apf::Mesh2 *mesh)
   return pm;
 }
 
-auto additional(const std::string &prefix, gmi_model *g, apf::Mesh2 *mesh)
+std::function<void()> additional(const std::string &prefix, gmi_model *g, apf::Mesh2 *mesh)
 {
   // seems essential to make pm first before calling balance or reorder...
   auto pm = toPumi(prefix, g, mesh);
diff --git a/test/testing.cmake b/test/testing.cmake
index 069006a26..ed5c92888 100644
--- a/test/testing.cmake
+++ b/test/testing.cmake
@@ -560,7 +560,7 @@ mpi_test(cgns_3d_2 ${numProcs}
 #
 # 3D BCS tests
 #
-set(numProcs 5)
+set(numProcs 4)
 #
 set(CGNSDIR ${MESHES}/cgns/withBCS/3D)
 #