Lapo, I don't have a reference to std iostreams handy, but having seen errors like this many times before, I can tell you what's up.
Even though it looks like there is an error in a system/standard header, it is actually an indication of where the compiler ended up after parsing/preprocessing when it discovered an error. The best way that I figured out to decipher these types of errors is to ignore all the template stuff (replace with "XXX") and read the errors themselves: In copy constructor XXX: XXX is private XXX within this context (repeated) >From this, I concluded that the template/class is using the common practice of "hiding" the copy constructor by making it private (See Scott Meyers "Effective C++" I believe). This is to enforce that the class isn't meant to be copied. There are a few different scenarios when a copy constructor is called. Meyers provides a good description of this practice in "Item 27: Explicitly disallow use of implicitly generated member functions you don't want" and "Item 45: Know what functions C++ silently writes and calls". I also recommend reading "Effective STL", which has "Item 49: Learn to decipher STL-related compiler diagnostics", with some useful information on deciphering template errors. I don't know what the solution in your case is without looking at your code. You are using a subclass of std::basic_ios, most likely std::basic_ostream, std::basic_istream or one of their fstream counterparts. Try experimenting with using references if you are passing around an instance like this. For example: void readSomething(std::istream & in) { // ... some stuff to read from the stream } int main(int argc, char ** argv) { std::ifstream fin(argv[0]); readSomething(fin); } -Abe ----- Original Message ----- > That's the error.. but seems strange to me that a system header has a > problem, anyone has an idea? > > $ make > g++ -ggdb -c -o icse.o icse.cc > /usr/include/c++/3.2/bits/ios_base.h: In copy constructor > `std::basic_ios<char, > > std::char_traits<char> >::basic_ios(const std::basic_ios<char, > std::char_traits<char> >&)': > /usr/include/c++/3.2/bits/ios_base.h:421: `std::ios_base::ios_base(const > std::ios_base&)' is private > /usr/include/c++/3.2/iostream:62: within this context > /usr/include/c++/3.2/streambuf: In copy constructor > `std::basic_filebuf<char, > std::char_traits<char> >::basic_filebuf(const std::basic_filebuf<char, > std::char_traits<char> >&)': > /usr/include/c++/3.2/streambuf:486: `std::basic_streambuf<_CharT, > _Traits>::basic_streambuf(const std::basic_streambuf<_CharT, _Traits>&) > [with _CharT = char, _Traits = std::char_traits<char>]' is private > /usr/include/c++/3.2/iostream:62: within this context > make: *** [icse.o] Error 1 -- Unsubscribe info: http://cygwin.com/ml/#unsubscribe-simple Bug reporting: http://cygwin.com/bugs.html Documentation: http://cygwin.com/docs.html FAQ: http://cygwin.com/faq/