Compiler error "error: variably modified 'string' at file scope"

Question

Consider:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

const int STRING_SIZE = 40;
typedef char string[STRING_SIZE];

char typeInput(string message);

int main()
{
    typeInput("Hi my name is Sean");
}

char typeInput(string message)
{
    printf(" %s", message);
}

Error:

error: variably modified 'string' at file scope

I keep getting this error for some reason. Where did I go wrong?

Just in case, I'm using Code::Blocks.

const int STRING_SIZE = 40; --> #define STRING_SIZE 40. Also Change type of return of typeInput to void from char. — BLUEPIXY
– BLUEPIXY, Commented Oct 22, 2016 at 19:02

melpomene · Accepted Answer · 2016-10-22 22:34:18Z

4

In C, const doesn't declare a constant, it declares a read-only variable. The compiler complains because STRING_SIZE is not a constant.

Workaround:

enum { STRING_SIZE = 40 };
// enum creates constants in C (but only integer ones)

answered Oct 22, 2016 at 22:34

melpomene

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