Re: [sdcc-devel] syntax error with inline

[Jan W. <we...@ef...>]

> I don't think this is in the same category as unreachable code.

>From the point of the average, possibly non-C-expert _user_, it is.
Both are a mystery for them. One is a mysterious error, and the other is a
mysterious behaviour of the program he did not intend.

> I don't
> think inline is even a reserved word if you're not using C99, so for the
> compiler to check for it and give you a warning like "warning: inline
> keyword, use C99" would be a "preemptive strike".

It's the wording, which matters.
"Warning at line 5: inline is not a keyword if --c99 is not specified".
"Syntax error at line 5."

I feel this fully understandable and adequate; together with the option to
switch the warning - or all this class the warnings - off (which is an
another thing I'd like to see implemented in SDCC in a better way (#pragmas
per line)).

> It might help a few
> people, but the current error message points you in the right direction.

David, it was you who said in your previous post -  Syntax error somewhere
around that line, that's better than Error in this file somewhere - some
could say that the letter points you in the right direction, too.
I can't see a single reason why it could not be even more descriptive -
except the developer's time.
But, this is open source, isn't it. Why discouraging somebody who eventually
wants to make SDCC better?

Jan Waclawek