TITLE: Initialization of automatic aggregates


PROBLEM: Martin Lang <lang@ind.e-technik.uni-stuttgart.de>

I hope some other users of the HP C++ compiler (rel. 3.40) are listening and
can help me with some annoying internal errors. I tried for some
weeks no to get some answers from HP directly, but without success.
[...]
typedef struct {
	int a;
	char b;
	int c;
} Test;

main() {
static	Test s = { 1, 'a' , 2 };
	Test r = { 2, 'b' , 3 };
return 0;
}

The compiler gives an error message "sorry not implemented".
I think the message says all. So nothing can be done but
waiting for the next release and hoping; right?


RESPONSE: jamshid@ses.com (Jamshid Afshar), 25 Jul 94

Just to clarify, at least my Cfront 3.0.2 (distributed by Centerline)
complains:

	sorry, not implemented: initialization of r (automatic aggregate)

Cfront does allow the initialization of the static variable, but
because older C compilers can't handle the initialization of auto
aggregates, and because USL felt it wasn't worth the trouble to
implement it via some kind of translation, your code isn't allowed by
default.  This isn't such a bad decision because the workaround is
pretty easy.  Try using the +a1 option which tells Cfront that the C
compiler being used is ANSI C and Cfront will pass your initializer
straight through.  Hopefully your C compiler accepts the
initialization of auto aggregates.

Because there's so many other limitations and bugs in Cfront
(especially wrt templates), you should consider telling HP to use a
more robust and complete C++ front-end like Edison Design Group's
(jsa@edg.com).  Unfortunately, EDG do not make an "end-user"
compiler, only front-ends for other compilers.

[...]