Implicit declaration when using a function before it is defined in C, why can't the compiler figure this out?
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Published on 2011-01-10T09:40:49Z
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2011/01/10
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As the title says, I know what causes this error but I want to know why the compiler gives it in this circumstance.
Eg :
main.c
void test(){
test1();
}
void test1(){
...
}
Would give an implicit declaration warning as the compiler would reach the call to test1() before it has read its declaration, I can see the obvious problems with this (not knowing return type etc), but why can't the compiler do a simple pass to get all function declarations, then compile the code removing these errors? It just seems so simple to do and I don't believe I've seen similar warnings in other languages.
Does anyone know if there is a specific purpose for this warning in this situation that I am overlooking?
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