The following code, which compiles fine on gcc 4.1.2 and I believe is valid, fails on an up-to-date checkout from the 4.2 branch:
-------------------------------------- class foo { }; namespace { extern foo foo1; foo foo1; } template< foo * > class bar { }; bar< &foo1 > bar1; --------------------------------------- giving the error: test.cc:12: error: '&<unnamed>::foo1' is not a valid template argument of type 'foo*' because '<unnamed>::foo1' does not have external linkage test.cc:12: error: invalid type in declaration before ';' token ... which I would only expect if "foo1" were declared "static". If I remove the line with the "extern" declaration, the code compiles again on 4.2. -- Summary: [4.2 regression] extern declaration of variable in anonymous namespace prevents use of its address as template argument Product: gcc Version: 4.2.0 Status: UNCONFIRMED Severity: normal Priority: P3 Component: c++ AssignedTo: unassigned at gcc dot gnu dot org ReportedBy: zak at transversal dot com GCC build triplet: x86_64-pc-linux-gnu GCC host triplet: x86_64-pc-linux-gnu GCC target triplet: x86_64-pc-linux-gnu http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=31187