CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++arraysdesignated-initializer
Constantinos Glynos
Constantinos Glynos

Reputation: 3186

Why has Clang decided to allow designated initializers in C++?

I thought that designated initializers were discontinued in C++ and only worked in C. However, I came across a simple example which compiled and worked fine with clang++. 

int main()
{
    int a[6] = { [4] = 29, [2] = 15 };
}

g++: https://rextester.com/AXIZ79197 (Error)

clang++: https://rextester.com/UYVHHP56966 (Works)

vc++: https://rextester.com/UCBEU10658 (Error)

Both g++ and vc++ failed to compile whereas clang++ worked just fine. It is also worth mentioning that g++ and vc++ gave different error messages. vc++ confused the designated initializers with lambda expressions. I guess I could blaim this on the fact that g++ is an older compiler, but I'm not sure tbh.

Questions:

  1. Why has clang decided to allow designated initializers when g++ and vc++ didn't?
  2. Is this just a compiler bug or is there another reason for this?

Upvotes: 4

Views: 3780

Answers (1)

taskinoor
taskinoor

Reputation: 46027

When compiled with -pedantic these warnings are generated:

source_file.cpp:3:18: warning: designated initializers are a C99 feature [-Wc99-extensions]
    int a[6] = { [4] = 29, [2] = 15 };
                 ^~~~~~~~
source_file.cpp:3:28: warning: designated initializers are a C99 feature [-Wc99-extensions]
    int a[6] = { [4] = 29, [2] = 15 };

It is clear that clang++ by default enables c99-extensions.

This is not a bug as compilers may choose to provide additional feature. clang++ developers simply decided to keep it enabled. It is better to use -pedantic if we don't want those features.

Interestingly, while searching for related information I came upon C++ Support in Clang page where "Designated initializers" is listed as partially supported via extension for upcoming proposals:

experimental support for some proposed features of the C++ standard following C++17, provisionally named C++2a

This is the exact proposal for upcoming standard. So there might be designated initializers in future C++.

Upvotes: 10

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