🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <DFv3rK.3wv@ukpsshp1.serigate.philips.nl>,
Stephen Baynes <baynes@ukpsshp1.serigate.philips.nl> wrote:
> Clive D.W. Feather (clive@stdc.demon.co.uk) wrote:
>: static int var_a = 1;      /* Internal linkage, definition */
>: static int var_a;          /* Remains internal linkage */
>: extern int var_a;          /* Remains internal linkage */
>: int var_a;                 /* Error - var_a has internal linkage */
> Just to clarify that I understand this. With particular reference to the last
> two lines of the example, adding "extern" means you are not worried about
> something being external and leaving "extern" out means that you want it 
> external. A bit counter intuitive!

Actually, adding extern means that this is not a definition but only a
declaration of something in another translation unit.

> Can anyone give the rationale for these rules? Or for why tentative
> definitions where introduced?

Tentative definitions allow you to have

    int i;

in several places in the same source file and get a definition.

-- 
Clive D.W. Feather                       | If you lie to the compiler,
clive@demon.net        (work, preferred) | it will get its revenge.
clive@stdc.demon.co.uk (home)            |   - Henry Spencer