Re: [boost] inline specifier within in class definition

Subject: Re: [boost] inline specifier within in class definition
From: Mathias Gaunard (mathias.gaunard_at_[hidden])
Date: 2009-05-05 09:39:44

Simonson, Lucanus wrote:

> If, by some strange coincidence, you happen to be implementing a non-template class and leave out the inline keyword when defining a static member function in the header file as part of the class definition, or any other kind of function, for that matter, you end up with a multiple function definition link-time error when the header is included in multiple execution units.  Specifying the inline keyword forces the compiler to make the function signature a weak symbol and eliminates the link time error.

Defining member functions directly within the class definition already 
has that effect.
Such functions are implicitly inline according to the C++ standard.

The "inline" keyword is useless there as far as the C++ standard is 
concerned.
Now, maybe some compilers consider specifying it explicitly an 
additional hint with regards to inlining, and that's the real question 
of that thread.