gcc brace enclosed initializer problem

gcc brace enclosed initializer problem

[Jack Marr]

We are getting an error due to superfluous braces in an initializer with 
g++ 3.3.3.  The error is seen here:

% cat brace-enclosed-init.c
int main(void)
{
const char *menu[] =
            {
                    { "How now" },
                    { "Brown cow?" },
            };

            return 0;
}

% g++ -c brace-enclosed-init.c
brace-enclosed-init.c: In function `int main()':
brace-enclosed-init.c:7: error: brace-enclosed initializer used to
initialize `const char*'
brace-enclosed-init.c:7: error: brace-enclosed initializer used to
initialize `const char*'

We acknowledge that the braces are not needed, but it's not apparent why 
this should be an *error* rather than a mere warning as it is when the 
same code is compiled with gcc.  We've squinted at ISO 14882 section 
8.5.1 (dcl.init.aggr), but haven't seen why this should be an *error*. 
I understand that gcc/g++ is sometimes more standards compliant than 
other compilers, but we're not sure if this is the case here, and 
thought this might actually be a g++ bug.

-- 
      Jack Marr (marr@ugs.com)
      UGS -- Development Environment Tools
      Cypress, CA  "Ite Ursi"

Re: gcc brace enclosed initializer problem

[Nathan Sidwell]

Jack Marr wrote:

> We acknowledge that the braces are not needed, but it's not apparent why 
> this should be an *error* rather than a mere warning as it is when the 
> same code is compiled with gcc.  We've squinted at ISO 14882 section 
> 8.5.1 (dcl.init.aggr), but haven't seen why this should be an *error*. I 
> understand that gcc/g++ is sometimes more standards compliant than other 
> compilers, but we're not sure if this is the case here, and thought this 
> might actually be a g++ bug.

it is an error. EDG 3.4 rejects the code in strict mode, but gives warnings
in non-strict mode.
  8.5.1/2 applies recursively to give '{"how now"}' as an initializer for
a 'char const *' object. 8.5 does not give it as a valid initializer form.
The nearest one gets is /13 which allows an extra set at the top level.

If you feel strongly, submit a bug report.

nathan

-- 
Nathan Sidwell    ::   http://www.codesourcery.com   ::     CodeSourcery LLC
nathan@codesourcery.com    ::     http://www.planetfall.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk