diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml b/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
index 5db2eeb..009c1ab 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
@@ -9,12 +9,12 @@ on:
 jobs:
   build:
 
-    runs-on: ubuntu-16.04
+    runs-on: ubuntu-20.04
 
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
     - name: Install Dependencies
-      run: sudo apt install cmake libboost-filesystem-dev libboost-test-dev gcc
+      run: sudo apt install cmake libboost-all-dev libboost-test-dev gcc
     - name: Print System Information
       run: |
         cmake --version
diff --git a/.github/workflows/example.yml b/.github/workflows/example.yml
index 0eae955..2667b06 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/example.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/example.yml
@@ -9,12 +9,12 @@ on:
 jobs:
   build:
 
-    runs-on: ubuntu-16.04
+    runs-on: ubuntu-20.04
 
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
     - name: Install Dependencies
-      run: sudo apt install cmake libboost-filesystem-dev libboost-test-dev gcc
+      run: sudo apt install cmake libboost-all-dev gcc
     - name: Print System Information
       run: |
         cmake --version
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ jobs:
         export CXX=g++
         export CC=gcc
         mkdir build && cd build
-        cmake .. 
+        cmake .. -DBUILD_TEST=OFF
         cmake --build . --target inotify_example
     - name: Run example
       run: |
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 7bf025c..61c3e77 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -9,4 +9,5 @@ test/unit/testDirectory/
 install_manifest.txt
 .idea/
 **/build/
-cmake-build-debug/
\ No newline at end of file
+cmake-build-debug/
+.vscode
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 06c3a1f..3f71bae 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ the implementation of a simple filesystem event watcher for the commandline.
   ```c++
 #include <inotify-cpp/NotifierBuilder.h>
 
-#include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
+#include <filesystem>
 
 #include <iostream>
 #include <thread>
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
     }
 
     // Parse the directory to watch
-    boost::filesystem::path path(argv[1]);
+    std::filesystem::path path(argv[1]);
 
     // Set the event handler which will be used to process particular events
     auto handleNotification = [&](Notification notification) {
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ cmake --build . --target inotify_example
 ## Dependencies ##
  + lib
    + boost 1.54.0
-   + c++11
+   + c++17
    + linux 2.6.13
  + build
    + cmake 3.8  
diff --git a/example/CMakeLists.txt b/example/CMakeLists.txt
index 3ca9ef4..a689c16 100644
--- a/example/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/example/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ endif()
 ###############################################################################
 find_package(
         Boost 1.54.0
-        COMPONENTS unit_test_framework system filesystem
+        COMPONENTS unit_test_framework system
         REQUIRED
 )
 
@@ -26,10 +26,8 @@ find_package(Threads)
 # Target
 ###############################################################################
 add_executable(inotify_example main.cpp)
+target_compile_features(inotify_example PRIVATE cxx_std_17)
 target_link_libraries(inotify_example
         PRIVATE
         inotify-cpp::inotify-cpp
-        Boost::unit_test_framework
-        Boost::system
-        Boost::filesystem
         ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT})
diff --git a/example/main.cpp b/example/main.cpp
index 957f549..fd27494 100644
--- a/example/main.cpp
+++ b/example/main.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include <inotify-cpp/NotifierBuilder.h>
 
-#include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
+#include <filesystem>
 
 #include <iostream>
 #include <thread>
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
     }
 
     // Parse the directory to watch
-    boost::filesystem::path path(argv[1]);
+    std::filesystem::path path(argv[1]);
 
     // Set the event handler which will be used to process particular events
     auto handleNotification = [&](Notification notification) {
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 27b840f..3ec517d 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ include(GNUInstallDirs)
 # dependencies
 find_package(
         Boost 1.54.0
-        COMPONENTS system filesystem
         REQUIRED
 )
 
@@ -40,8 +39,7 @@ macro(configure_target target)
         target_include_directories(${target} PUBLIC
                 $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/include>
                 $<INSTALL_INTERFACE:include>)
-        target_link_libraries(${target}
-                INTERFACE Boost::system Boost::filesystem)
+        target_compile_features(${target} PRIVATE cxx_std_17)
 endmacro(configure_target target)
 
 # library definition
diff --git a/src/FileSystemEvent.cpp b/src/FileSystemEvent.cpp
index 9991bb0..db5a309 100644
--- a/src/FileSystemEvent.cpp
+++ b/src/FileSystemEvent.cpp
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ namespace inotify {
 FileSystemEvent::FileSystemEvent(
     const int wd,
     uint32_t mask,
-    const boost::filesystem::path& path,
+    const std::filesystem::path& path,
     const std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point& eventTime)
     : wd(wd)
     , mask(mask)
diff --git a/src/Inotify.cpp b/src/Inotify.cpp
index bbce3b4..62605ea 100644
--- a/src/Inotify.cpp
+++ b/src/Inotify.cpp
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
 
 #include <inotify-cpp/Inotify.h>
 
+#include <iostream>
+#include <optional>
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
-#include <iostream>
 
 #include <sys/epoll.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 
-namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+namespace fs = std::filesystem;
 
 namespace inotify {
 
@@ -97,14 +98,15 @@ Inotify::~Inotify()
  */
 void Inotify::watchDirectoryRecursively(fs::path path)
 {
-    std::vector<boost::filesystem::path> paths;
+    std::vector<std::filesystem::path> paths;
 
     if (fs::exists(path)) {
         paths.push_back(path);
 
         if (fs::is_directory(path)) {
-            boost::system::error_code ec;
-            fs::recursive_directory_iterator it(path, fs::symlink_option::recurse, ec);
+            std::error_code ec;
+            fs::recursive_directory_iterator it(
+                path, fs::directory_options::follow_directory_symlink, ec);
             fs::recursive_directory_iterator end;
 
             for (; it != end; it.increment(ec)) {
@@ -234,7 +236,7 @@ void Inotify::setEventTimeout(
  * @return A new FileSystemEvent
  *
  */
-boost::optional<FileSystemEvent> Inotify::getNextEvent()
+std::optional<FileSystemEvent> Inotify::getNextEvent()
 {
     std::vector<FileSystemEvent> newEvents;
 
@@ -245,7 +247,7 @@ boost::optional<FileSystemEvent> Inotify::getNextEvent()
     }
 
     if (mStopped) {
-        return boost::none;
+        return std::nullopt;
     }
 
     auto event = mEventQueue.front();
diff --git a/src/Notification.cpp b/src/Notification.cpp
index 2b0c85f..de4ebd9 100644
--- a/src/Notification.cpp
+++ b/src/Notification.cpp
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ namespace inotify {
 
 Notification::Notification(
     const Event& event,
-    const boost::filesystem::path& path,
+    const std::filesystem::path& path,
     std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point time)
     : event(event)
     , path(path)
diff --git a/src/NotifierBuilder.cpp b/src/NotifierBuilder.cpp
index e30a3e5..95e2647 100644
--- a/src/NotifierBuilder.cpp
+++ b/src/NotifierBuilder.cpp
@@ -13,31 +13,31 @@ NotifierBuilder BuildNotifier()
     return {};
 }
 
-auto NotifierBuilder::watchPathRecursively(boost::filesystem::path path) -> NotifierBuilder&
+auto NotifierBuilder::watchPathRecursively(std::filesystem::path path) -> NotifierBuilder&
 {
     mInotify->watchDirectoryRecursively(path);
     return *this;
 }
 
-auto NotifierBuilder::watchFile(boost::filesystem::path file) -> NotifierBuilder&
+auto NotifierBuilder::watchFile(std::filesystem::path file) -> NotifierBuilder&
 {
     mInotify->watchFile(file);
     return *this;
 }
 
-auto NotifierBuilder::unwatchFile(boost::filesystem::path file) -> NotifierBuilder&
+auto NotifierBuilder::unwatchFile(std::filesystem::path file) -> NotifierBuilder&
 {
     mInotify->unwatchFile(file);
     return *this;
 }
 
-auto NotifierBuilder::ignoreFileOnce(boost::filesystem::path file) -> NotifierBuilder&
+auto NotifierBuilder::ignoreFileOnce(std::filesystem::path file) -> NotifierBuilder&
 {
     mInotify->ignoreFileOnce(file.string());
     return *this;
 }
 
-auto NotifierBuilder::ignoreFile(boost::filesystem::path file) -> NotifierBuilder&
+auto NotifierBuilder::ignoreFile(std::filesystem::path file) -> NotifierBuilder&
 {
     mInotify->ignoreFile(file.string());
     return *this;
diff --git a/src/include/inotify-cpp/FileSystemEvent.h b/src/include/inotify-cpp/FileSystemEvent.h
index 8e71c83..2bd2de6 100644
--- a/src/include/inotify-cpp/FileSystemEvent.h
+++ b/src/include/inotify-cpp/FileSystemEvent.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #pragma once
-#include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
+#include <filesystem>
 
 #include <chrono>
 #include <string>
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ class FileSystemEvent {
     FileSystemEvent(
         int wd,
         uint32_t mask,
-        const boost::filesystem::path& path,
+        const std::filesystem::path& path,
         const std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point& eventTime);
 
     ~FileSystemEvent();
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class FileSystemEvent {
   public:
     int wd;
     uint32_t mask;
-    boost::filesystem::path path;
+    std::filesystem::path path;
     std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point eventTime;
 };
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/include/inotify-cpp/Inotify.h b/src/include/inotify-cpp/Inotify.h
index abffe0e..348171f 100644
--- a/src/include/inotify-cpp/Inotify.h
+++ b/src/include/inotify-cpp/Inotify.h
@@ -6,23 +6,23 @@
  **/
 #pragma once
 #include <assert.h>
-#include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
-#include <boost/optional.hpp>
+#include <atomic>
 #include <boost/bimap.hpp>
+#include <chrono>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <exception>
+#include <filesystem>
 #include <map>
 #include <memory>
+#include <optional>
 #include <queue>
 #include <sstream>
 #include <string>
-#include <sys/inotify.h>
 #include <sys/epoll.h>
+#include <sys/inotify.h>
+#include <thread>
 #include <time.h>
 #include <vector>
-#include <chrono>
-#include <thread>
-#include <atomic>
 
 #include <inotify-cpp/FileSystemEvent.h>
 
@@ -79,20 +79,20 @@ class Inotify {
  public:
   Inotify();
   ~Inotify();
-  void watchDirectoryRecursively(boost::filesystem::path path);
-  void watchFile(boost::filesystem::path file);
-  void unwatchFile(boost::filesystem::path file);
-  void ignoreFileOnce(boost::filesystem::path file);
-  void ignoreFile(boost::filesystem::path file);
+  void watchDirectoryRecursively(std::filesystem::path path);
+  void watchFile(std::filesystem::path file);
+  void unwatchFile(std::filesystem::path file);
+  void ignoreFileOnce(std::filesystem::path file);
+  void ignoreFile(std::filesystem::path file);
   void setEventMask(uint32_t eventMask);
   uint32_t getEventMask();
   void setEventTimeout(std::chrono::milliseconds eventTimeout, std::function<void(FileSystemEvent)> onEventTimeout);
-  boost::optional<FileSystemEvent> getNextEvent();
+  std::optional<FileSystemEvent> getNextEvent();
   void stop();
   bool hasStopped();
 
 private:
-  boost::filesystem::path wdToPath(int wd);
+  std::filesystem::path wdToPath(int wd);
   bool isIgnored(std::string file);
   bool isOnTimeout(const std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point &eventTime);
   void removeWatch(int wd);
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ class Inotify {
   std::vector<std::string> mIgnoredDirectories;
   std::vector<std::string> mOnceIgnoredDirectories;
   std::queue<FileSystemEvent> mEventQueue;
-  boost::bimap<int, boost::filesystem::path> mDirectorieMap;
+  boost::bimap<int, std::filesystem::path> mDirectorieMap;
   int mInotifyFd;
   std::atomic<bool> mStopped;
   int mEpollFd;
diff --git a/src/include/inotify-cpp/Notification.h b/src/include/inotify-cpp/Notification.h
index c156e95..eb14529 100644
--- a/src/include/inotify-cpp/Notification.h
+++ b/src/include/inotify-cpp/Notification.h
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 #include <inotify-cpp/Event.h>
 
-#include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
+#include <filesystem>
 
 #include <chrono>
 
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ class Notification {
   public:
     Notification(
         const Event& event,
-        const boost::filesystem::path& path,
+        const std::filesystem::path& path,
         std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point time);
 
   public:
     const Event event;
-    const boost::filesystem::path path;
+    const std::filesystem::path path;
     const std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point time;
 };
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/include/inotify-cpp/NotifierBuilder.h b/src/include/inotify-cpp/NotifierBuilder.h
index 108532c..bf3dfdb 100644
--- a/src/include/inotify-cpp/NotifierBuilder.h
+++ b/src/include/inotify-cpp/NotifierBuilder.h
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #include <inotify-cpp/Inotify.h>
 #include <inotify-cpp/Notification.h>
 
-#include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
+#include <filesystem>
 
 #include <memory>
 #include <string>
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@ class NotifierBuilder {
     auto run() -> void;
     auto runOnce() -> void;
     auto stop() -> void;
-    auto watchPathRecursively(boost::filesystem::path path) -> NotifierBuilder&;
-    auto watchFile(boost::filesystem::path file) -> NotifierBuilder&;
-    auto unwatchFile(boost::filesystem::path file) -> NotifierBuilder&;
-    auto ignoreFileOnce(boost::filesystem::path file) -> NotifierBuilder&;
-    auto ignoreFile(boost::filesystem::path file) -> NotifierBuilder&;
+    auto watchPathRecursively(std::filesystem::path path) -> NotifierBuilder&;
+    auto watchFile(std::filesystem::path file) -> NotifierBuilder&;
+    auto unwatchFile(std::filesystem::path file) -> NotifierBuilder&;
+    auto ignoreFileOnce(std::filesystem::path file) -> NotifierBuilder&;
+    auto ignoreFile(std::filesystem::path file) -> NotifierBuilder&;
     auto onEvent(Event event, EventObserver) -> NotifierBuilder&;
     auto onEvents(std::vector<Event> event, EventObserver) -> NotifierBuilder&;
     auto onUnexpectedEvent(EventObserver) -> NotifierBuilder&;
diff --git a/test/unit/CMakeLists.txt b/test/unit/CMakeLists.txt
index 279b496..806e8ed 100644
--- a/test/unit/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/unit/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ endif()
 ###############################################################################
 find_package(
         Boost 1.54.0
-        COMPONENTS unit_test_framework system filesystem
+        COMPONENTS unit_test_framework
         REQUIRED
 )
 
@@ -26,12 +26,11 @@ find_package(Threads)
 # Test
 ###############################################################################
 add_executable(inotify_unit_test main.cpp NotifierBuilderTests.cpp EventTests.cpp)
+target_compile_features(inotify_unit_test PRIVATE cxx_std_17)
 target_link_libraries(inotify_unit_test
         PRIVATE
           inotify-cpp::inotify-cpp
           Boost::unit_test_framework
-          Boost::system
-          Boost::filesystem
           ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT})
 
 add_test(NAME inotify_unit_test COMMAND inotify_unit_test)
diff --git a/test/unit/NotifierBuilderTests.cpp b/test/unit/NotifierBuilderTests.cpp
index 154108d..4d4a4eb 100644
--- a/test/unit/NotifierBuilderTests.cpp
+++ b/test/unit/NotifierBuilderTests.cpp
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 using namespace inotify;
 
-void openFile(const boost::filesystem::path& file)
+void openFile(const std::filesystem::path& file)
 {
     std::ifstream stream;
     stream.open(file.string(), std::ifstream::in);
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ void openFile(const boost::filesystem::path& file)
     stream.close();
 }
 
-void createFile(const boost::filesystem::path& file)
+void createFile(const std::filesystem::path& file)
 {
-    boost::filesystem::ofstream stream(file);
+    std::ofstream stream(file);
 }
 
 struct NotifierBuilderTests {
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ struct NotifierBuilderTests {
         , createdFile_(testDirectory_ / "created.txt")
         , timeout_(1)
     {
-        boost::filesystem::create_directories(testDirectory_);
-        boost::filesystem::create_directories(recursiveTestDirectory_);
+        std::filesystem::create_directories(testDirectory_);
+        std::filesystem::create_directories(recursiveTestDirectory_);
 
         createFile(testFile_);
         createFile(recursiveTestFile_);
@@ -41,14 +41,14 @@ struct NotifierBuilderTests {
 
     ~NotifierBuilderTests()
     {
-        boost::filesystem::remove_all(testDirectory_);
+        std::filesystem::remove_all(testDirectory_);
     }
 
-    boost::filesystem::path testDirectory_;
-    boost::filesystem::path recursiveTestDirectory_;
-    boost::filesystem::path testFile_;
-    boost::filesystem::path recursiveTestFile_;
-    boost::filesystem::path createdFile_;
+    std::filesystem::path testDirectory_;
+    std::filesystem::path recursiveTestDirectory_;
+    std::filesystem::path testFile_;
+    std::filesystem::path recursiveTestFile_;
+    std::filesystem::path createdFile_;
 
     std::chrono::seconds timeout_;
 
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ BOOST_FIXTURE_TEST_CASE(shouldNotifyOnCombinedEvent, NotifierBuilderTests)
 
     std::thread thread([&notifier]() { notifier.runOnce(); });
 
-    boost::filesystem::create_directories(testDirectory_ / "test");
+    std::filesystem::create_directories(testDirectory_ / "test");
 
     auto futureCombinedEvent = promisedCombinedEvent_.get_future();
     BOOST_CHECK(futureCombinedEvent.wait_for(timeout_) == std::future_status::ready);