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From: kanner@apple.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++
Subject: Static class members
Message-ID: <722@apple.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 5-May-87 17:37:30 EDT
Article-I.D.: apple.722
Posted: Tue May  5 17:37:30 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 7-May-87 04:06:42 EDT
Organization: Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, USA
Lines: 18
Keywords: class static

Section 8.5.1 of the C++ Reference Manual (page 275) states: "A data
member of a class may be *static*.  ...  No initializer can be
specified for a static member, and it cannot be of a class with a
constructor."

I have difficulty understanding the significance and/or motivation for
that last sentence above.  With respect to initializers:  I have been
unable to find an instance of a (non-static) class data member with an
initializer;  Stroustrup appears universally to initialize via a
constructor in the examples in his book.  So, what would an explicit
initializer do?  With respect to a static member of a class that has a
constructor:  what could be wrong with that as long as the constructor
does not assign to the static member?  Why not have a constructor for
allocation and/or initialization of other non-static member?
-- 
Herb Kanner
Apple Computer, Inc.
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