class definition recursion?

[SpreadTooThin]

I am having trouble getting a piece of code to compile on VC++ 6.0...
Compiles fine on MAC OS X under X-Code....
#include <list>
class myClass
{
private:
std::string name;
std::list<myCla ssobjects;

};
I tried putting class myClass; in front of the class definition but it
didn't help...

errors...
C:\program files\microsoft visual studio\vc98\inc lude\list(29) : error
C2079: '_Value' uses undefined class 'myClass'
C:\Documents and Settings\userna me\Desktop\dele teme
\deleteme.cpp(1 5) : see reference to class template instantiation
'std::list<clas s myClass,class std::allocator< class myClass' being
compiled
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\vc98\inc lude
\functional(185 ) : error C2079: 'value' uses undefined class 'myClass'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\vc98\inc lude
\list(285) : see reference to class template instantiation
'std::binder2nd <struct std::not_equal_ to<class myClass' being
compiled
C:\Documents and Settings\user\D esktop\deleteme
\deleteme.cpp(1 5) : see reference to class template instantiation
'std::list<clas s myClass,class std::allocator< class myClass' being
compiled

[Gavin Deane]

On 14 Jun, 20:59, Pete Becker <p...@versatile coding.comwrote :

Pete Becker wrote:

Gavin Deane wrote:

I thought there was a rule about not using incomplete types as
template arguments, but Comeau online compiled the OP's code with no
problem. That's not inconsistent with undefined behaviour, but the
only thing I can find in the standard (1998 version) is a note in
14.3.1/2 that says "a template type argument may be an incomplete
type". Have I missed something?

No, I missed a bit of precision: what I said about myClass above applies
to standard library components, not to templates in general.

Sorry, hit Send too soon. The behavior is undefined, which means that
there are no constraints imposed by the standard on what the
implementation does. Once thing it can do is compile the code in the way
you'd expect. But even if it does compile in this simple form, I'm
betting it won't if you add inline functions, defined in the class body,
that do things to myClass::object s that require knowing something about
myClass.

Thanks. In practice I couldn't work out what code like you suggest
could logically do so undefined behaviour isn't a surprise, but I'd
been trying to find the rule in the templates section of the standard.
Now you've told me where to look, I've found it. If anyone wants the
chapter and verse, it's 17.4.3.6/2.

Gavin Deane