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question about extern ?..

compiler g++ on linux

file.h has the following, int x=5;
and inside the main program file I can access "x" without declaring it
"extern x". Program compiles and runs fine....

also program compiles and runs fine with x declared as extern.

So is it necessary to declare x as extern if one get away without
declaring it extern ? What is the standard and good practice ?
Jul 22 '05
10 1923
Bill Seurer wrote:

Default User wrote:

I still believe that it should be explicitly declared at the point of
usage.


That is sort of what people used to do when C first came out, "extern
X"s and function declarations were scattered throughout their code.
Guess what happens when someone changes the definition of one of them?

The declarations should all be kept in one spot.

If the definition of a global variable changes, you've usually got
bigger problems than just the declarations.

I don't like globals and don't like globally declared globals (if that
makes sense).

Brian Rodenborn
Jul 22 '05 #11

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