The following code compiles but the linker balks at the use of one of the class variables used within a conditional expression:
------------------------------------------------------------------------ // simple.cpp class BiState { int state; public: static const int OFF = 0, ON = 1; BiState(): state(OFF) {} // This compiles and links void toggle_1() { if ( state == OFF ) state = ON; else state = OFF; } // This compiles and links void toggle_2() { state = (state == OFF) ? 1 : OFF; } // This compiles and links void toggle_3() { state = (state == OFF) ? ON : 0; } // This compiles but does not link // Linker error: BiState::ON and BiState::OFF are undefined references void toggle_4() { state = (state == OFF) ? ON : OFF; } }; int main() { BiState obj; obj.toggle_1(); obj.toggle_2(); obj.toggle_3(); obj.toggle_4(); } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Command line: g++ simple.cpp --- Platform: Debian 5.0 (Lenny), standard distribution gcc 4.3.2, x86 --- g++ -v: Using built-in specs. Target: i486-linux-gnu Configured with: ../src/configure -v --with-pkgversion='Debian 4.3.2-1.1' --with-bugurl=file:///usr/share/doc/gcc-4.3/README.Bugs --enable-languages=c,c++,fortran,objc,obj-c++ --prefix=/usr --enable-shared --with-system-zlib --libexecdir=/usr/lib --without-included-gettext --enable-threads=posix --enable-nls --with-gxx-include-dir=/usr/include/c++/4.3 --program-suffix=-4.3 --enable-clocale=gnu --enable-libstdcxx-debug --enable-objc-gc --enable-mpfr --enable-targets=all --enable-cld --enable-checking=release --build=i486-linux-gnu --host=i486-linux-gnu --target=i486-linux-gnu Thread model: posix gcc version 4.3.2 (Debian 4.3.2-1.1) --- Linker output: /tmp/ccOf6GeQ.o: In function `BiState::toggle_4()': simple.cpp:(.text._ZN7BiState8toggle_4Ev[BiState::toggle_4()]+0x10): undefined reference to `BiState::ON' simple.cpp:(.text._ZN7BiState8toggle_4Ev[BiState::toggle_4()]+0x1b): undefined reference to `BiState::OFF' collect2: ld returned 1 exit status -- Summary: Linker unable to resolve class variables used in a conditional expression Product: gcc Version: 4.3.2 Status: UNCONFIRMED Severity: normal Priority: P3 Component: c++ AssignedTo: unassigned at gcc dot gnu dot org ReportedBy: halterman at southern dot edu http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=42241