[Bug c++/56328] Explicit instantiation of inline function template works for base template, fails for specialized template

[michael.schlottke at sloede dot com]

http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=56328

--- Comment #5 from Michael Schlottke <michael.schlottke at sloede dot com> 2013-02-15 08:05:39 UTC ---
(In reply to comment #3)
> Also, [basic.def.odr]: "An inline function shall be defined in every
> translation unit in which it is odr-used." and [dcl.fct.spec] "If a function
> with external linkage is declared inline in one translation unit, it shall be
> declared inline in all translation units in which it appears; no diagnostic is
> required."
>
> To fix the program you need to declare the explicit specialization in main.cpp
> and neither foo<T> nor foo<2> can be inline unless they're defined in both
> translation units.

I fully agree. But why is there a difference then between the base template and
the specialization? I am not arguing that the specialized template should work
when declared inline, I am questioning the fact that the behavior is different
for specialized and non-specialized templates, and I could not find an
explanation in the standard.