I have some simple code for a template class. If I define the class and implement it in one file, everything compiles fine. If I put the class definition in a .h and the implementation in a .cpp file, I get errors.
For example, with the files test1a.h: #ifndef _TEST1A_ #define _TEST1A_ #include <iostream> template <class T> class X { public: X() {std::cout << "Constructor" << std::endl;} ~X() {std::cout << "Destructor" << std::endl;} }; #endif test1.cpp: #include "test1a.h" int main() { X<int> Y; } I then compile as g++ -c test1.cpp g++ test1.o -o test1 Running the program produces Constructor Destructor as expected. Now, consider the following files. test2a.h: #ifndef _TEST2A_ #define _TEST2A_ template <class T> class X { public: X(); ~X(); }; #endif test2a.cpp: #include "test2a.h" #include <iostream> template <class T> X<T>::X() {std::cout << "Constructor" << std::endl;} template <class T> X<T>::~X() {std::cout << "Destructor" << std::endl;} test2.cpp: #include "test2a.h" int main() { X<int> Y; } I try to compile as g++ -c test2.cpp g++ -c test2a.cpp g++ test2.o test2a.o -o test2 and I get test2.o(.text+0x24): In function `main': : undefined reference to `X<int>::X()' test2.o(.text+0x33): In function `main': : undefined reference to `X<int>::~X()' collect2: ld returned 1 exit status Is this a bug, or am I missing something simple here? Results of gcc -v (cclnx01)[tmp](63)gcc -v Reading specs from /usr/lib/gcc/i386-redhat-linux/3.4.3/specs Configured with: ../configure --prefix=/usr --mandir=/usr/share/man -- infodir=/usr/share/info --enable-shared --enable-threads=posix --disable- checking --with-system-zlib --enable-__cxa_atexit --disable-libunwind- exceptions --enable-java-awt=gtk --host=i386-redhat-linux Thread model: posix gcc version 3.4.3 20041212 (Red Hat 3.4.3-9.EL4) Thanks, Greg -- Summary: Problem with undefined references for templates Product: gcc Version: 3.4.3 Status: UNCONFIRMED Severity: normal Priority: P2 Component: c++ AssignedTo: unassigned at gcc dot gnu dot org ReportedBy: gregory dot a dot bakken at pfizer dot com CC: gcc-bugs at gcc dot gnu dot org http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=23685