TITLE: Non-type template arguments


PROBLEM: macron@xmission.com (Joe Schlimgen)

Recently, I tried to write a friend function of a template like so:

 ...

template<int max>
ostream& operator<< (ostream& os, const FString<max>& str)
  {
  os.write (str, len);
  return os;
  }

I can't remember if the arguments to os.write are correct or not but it 
doesn't matter. The Borland C++ 4.5 compiler complains about the template 
function with the following error (or something similar):

Can't have template function without class arguments


RESPONSE: clamage@Eng.Sun.COM (Steve Clamage), 24 Aug 95

Non-type arguments for function templates is a new language feature,
and few (if any) compilers support it yet.

That is, the rule has been that all arguments of a function template
have to be types, not values. Eventually your code will be supported.