Q32890: extern int i = 10; Compiles without Error

Article: Q32890
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 5.10   | 5.10
Operating System(s): MS-DOS | OS/2
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | docerr | mspl13_c
Last Modified: 19-JUL-1988

Page 89 of "Microsoft C Optimizing Compiler Language Reference"
states the following:

  "Declarations that use the extern storage-class specifier cannot
include initializers."

  However, the following example compiles without error:

  extern int i = 10;

  The documentation is incorrect. The ANSI standard makes no
distinction between the following declarations when they have file
scope (i.e., they are declared globally):

  int i = 10;
  extern int i = 10;

  Therefore, the compiler does not generate a warning or error for
either of these cases.

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