Re: linked list code won't compile

From:
"Alf P. Steinbach" <alfps@start.no>
Newsgroups:
comp.lang.c++
Date:
Sat, 06 May 2006 04:35:41 +0200
Message-ID:
<4c2gbvF13m57pU1@individual.net>
* Martin JHrgensen:

I got this piece of code, but I won't compile:


Although from a strictly a formal point of view it shouldn't, it
compiles fine with MSVC 7.1, MingW g++ 3.4.4, and Comeau Online 4.3.3.

Which compiler are you using?

#include <iostream>


Here you need to add

   #include <ostream>

to be formally correct (very compilers require it, though).

using namespace std;
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
struct link //one element of list
{
    int data; //data item
    link* next; //pointer to next link
};


As Phlip mentioned, remove those comments.

Then you'll see that the name "link" is not well chosen: it doesn't
document what it is.

Rename to "Node".

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
class linklist //a list of links
{
private:
    link* first; //pointer to first link
public:
    linklist() //no-argument constructor
    { first = NULL; } //no first link


Use constructor initializer list.

    void additem(int d); //add data item (one link)
    void display(); //display all links


Applying mechanical cookbook-like guidelines, the "display" function
should be 'const'.

Applying common sense, it should not be a member of the class (never do
i/o in a non-i/o class, except for debugging).

When you move it outside, as a non-friend, you'll find that the class is
"incomplete" in the functionality it offers: more must be added in order
to be able to implement "display" as a non-friend non-member.

};
//--------------------------------------------------------------
void linklist::additem(int d) //add data item
{
    link* newlink = new link; //make a new link
    newlink->data = d; //give it data
    newlink->next = first; //it points to next link
    first = newlink; //now first points to this
}
//--------------------------------------------------------------
void linklist::display() //display all links
{
    link* current = first; //set ptr to first link
    while( current != NULL ) //quit on last link
        {
        cout << current->data << endl; //print data
        current = current->next; //move to next link
        }
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
int main()
{
    linklist li; //make linked list

    li.additem(25); //add four items to list
    li.additem(36);
    li.additem(49);
    li.additem(64);

    li.display(); //display entire list
    return 0;


Not necessary. The default is to return 0 from main. If concerned
about correct return value from "main", instead concentrate on catching
possible exceptions, and in case of exception, returning EXIT_FAILURE.

}


And again, those comments are more to write, more to read, can not be
checked by the compiler, do not contribute anything... Remove. :-)

Hth.,

- Alf

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