Initializing a static variable inside a namespace

[ik]

Hello All,
I am facing a problem as follows.

I have a header file called myNameSpace.h which as the following
contents.

//Header file .. myNameSpace.h

namespace myNameSpace {
static int iMyInt = 0;
};

And my source file, as follows.

// Source file myNameSpace.cpp

#include "myNameSpace.h"

myNameSpace::iMyInt = 0;

int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
return 0;
}

This gives me a compiler error.. on MingW.

D:/users/others/cpp_trials/SimplePrograms/myNameSpace.cpp:5: ISO C++
forbids declaration of `iMyInt' with no type
D:/users/others/cpp_trials/SimplePrograms/myNameSpace.cpp:5:
redefinition
of `int myNameSpace::iMyInt'
D:/users/others/cpp_trials/SimplePrograms/myNameSpace.h:5: `int
myNameSpace::iMyInt' previously defined here

at the same time ..

#include "myNameSpace.h"

int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
myNameSpace::iMyInt = 0;
return 0;
}

This compiles..

I understand it is true for any variable declaration, at the global
namespace. Once declared any other reinitalization, is taken as a
re-definition.
I would like to know what is the correct explanation to this ?
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks in Advance
~Ik

 

[John Harrison]

Hello All,
I am facing a problem as follows.

I have a header file called myNameSpace.h which as the following
contents.

//Header file .. myNameSpace.h

namespace myNameSpace {
static int iMyInt = 0;

This is dubious. If you include this header in more than one source file you
will get multiple variables. If you change the value of the variable in one
file you will not see the change in another file. Is that what you want? It
seems unlikely.

};

And my source file, as follows.

// Source file myNameSpace.cpp

#include "myNameSpace.h"

myNameSpace::iMyInt = 0;

This is wrong, you have missed out the type (int).

int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
return 0;
}

This gives me a compiler error.. on MingW.

D:/users/others/cpp_trials/SimplePrograms/myNameSpace.cpp:5: ISO C++
forbids declaration of `iMyInt' with no type
D:/users/others/cpp_trials/SimplePrograms/myNameSpace.cpp:5:
redefinition
of `int myNameSpace::iMyInt'
D:/users/others/cpp_trials/SimplePrograms/myNameSpace.h:5: `int
myNameSpace::iMyInt' previously defined here

at the same time ..

#include "myNameSpace.h"

int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
myNameSpace::iMyInt = 0;
return 0;
}

This compiles..

Because it is an assignment not a declaration.

I understand it is true for any variable declaration, at the global
namespace. Once declared any other reinitalization, is taken as a
re-definition.

I wouldn't know about that. I try to declare and initialise my variables
once only.

I would like to know what is the correct explanation to this ?
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks in Advance
~Ik

Here's what you should be doing (probably)

//Header file .. myNameSpace.h

namespace myNameSpace {
extern int iMyInt;
}

// Source file myNameSpace.cpp

#include "myNameSpace.h"

namespace myNameSpace {
int iMyInt = 0;
}

It's really just the same as global variables outside of a namespace.

john

 

[Sharad Kala]

Hello All,
I am facing a problem as follows.

I have a header file called myNameSpace.h which as the following
contents.

//Header file .. myNameSpace.h

namespace myNameSpace {
static int iMyInt = 0;

};

There should be no trailing semicolon after a namespace definition.

And my source file, as follows.

// Source file myNameSpace.cpp

#include "myNameSpace.h"

myNameSpace::iMyInt = 0;

int myNameSpace::iMyInt = 0; // Redefinition

If your intent was to give it a value then it should have been in a function
block. You can't have such floating expressions without a function body.

int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
return 0;
}

This gives me a compiler error.. on MingW.

D:/users/others/cpp_trials/SimplePrograms/myNameSpace.cpp:5: ISO C++
forbids declaration of `iMyInt' with no type

This is because you missed on the "int".

D:/users/others/cpp_trials/SimplePrograms/myNameSpace.cpp:5:
redefinition
of `int myNameSpace::iMyInt'

This is becuase you are redefining myNameSpace::iMyInt.

D:/users/others/cpp_trials/SimplePrograms/myNameSpace.h:5: `int
myNameSpace::iMyInt' previously defined here

at the same time ..

#include "myNameSpace.h"

int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
myNameSpace::iMyInt = 0;

Inside a function this is just an expression assigning 0 to
myNameSpace::iMyInt.

return 0;
}

Sharad