Code compiles only when static methods are defined in a certain order

Question

CC: Sun C++ 5.9 SunOS_i386 Patch 124864-10 fails to compile the code below with
"/tmp/notagain.cc", line 9: Error: static X::decode<X::T>() already had a body defined.
"/tmp/notagain.cc", line 13: Error: Cannot use int* to initialize double*.
struct X
    static int* decode(int Val);
    static int* decode();
    template<typename T> static T* decode() { return new T; }
int* X::decode(int t) { return new int(t); }
int* X::decode() { return new int; }
int main() {
        int* pi = X::decode();
        double* pd = X::decode<double>();
        return 0;
}It actually manages to compile it if the struct X is defined slightly differently:
struct X
    static int* decode(int Val);
    template<typename T> static T* decode() { return new T; }
    static int* decode();
int* X::decode(int t) { return new int(t); }
int* X::decode() { return new int; }
int main() {
        int* pi = X::decode();
        double* pd = X::decode<double>();
        return 0;
}None of this happens with g++ or Intel C++.

Answer 1

Thanks for filing the bug report. It has been assigned CR 6935439, and should be visible at [http://bugs.sun.com] in a day or two.