Newbie: C++ Frontend Lexical Analysis Issue, <::abs(n) does not parse

[Zack Weinberg]

Thierry Moreau <thierry.moreau@connotech.com> writes:

> The following sample fails to compile by GCC, and I am surprised:

...
> {    return ::abs(m)<::abs(n); } /* parse error here (!) */

When the two characters <: appear next to each other like this, it is
taken as an alternate spelling ("digraph") for a [ token.  The point
of this is to make it easier to write C on the (rare) platforms which
do not have an [ character.  This is an awkward feature but the
language standard requires it.

Inserting a space is the correct fix.

> Please excuse my reluctance to file an official bug report in
> another problem reporting service.

Huh?  Is there a problem with our bug tracking system?

zw