[Bug c++/26458] New: Passing a NULL char* into output stream now breaks the output stream

[phil at mitre dot org]

Prior behavior handled passing a char* with a NULL value into an output stream;
the result was that nothing printed.  As of versions 3 and later this behavior
has changed.  Perhaps a bug, perhaps a new enforcement.

The result is that the output stream no longer writes anything (to file or
stdout) until the descriptor is closed, and then only the unflushed text up
until the NULL was passed.

Example code:

#include <iostream>
main() {
  char *str = NULL;
  cout << "Hello " << str << " there" << endl;
  cout << "still dead?" << endl;
}

Resulting output is:

Hello_

No further output is sent.  Perhaps, if it is deemed improper to allow a NULL
in a known type being passed to a stream, then a SEG fault might be better than
continue with no indication, except for lack of output.


-- 
           Summary: Passing a NULL char* into output stream now breaks the
                    output stream
           Product: gcc
           Version: 3.2.3
            Status: UNCONFIRMED
          Severity: normal
          Priority: P3
         Component: c++
        AssignedTo: unassigned at gcc dot gnu dot org
        ReportedBy: phil at mitre dot org
 GCC build triplet: 2.3.2 20030502 (RedHat linux 2.3.2-53)
  GCC host triplet: RedHat linux 2.4.21-37 enterprise


http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=26458