[SOLVED] cc compiler error with char* in Minix

[summersab]

I know - Minix is outdated, but it's for a school project.

Attached is my code for the open() command. On compiling, I keep running into the error:

"open.c", Line 65: . not expected

How helpful. "." Not expected. I have tried multiple ways of declaring this string:

char* pathname = (char*)malloc(100);
char* pathname = malloc(100);
char* pathname = (char*)malloc(100 * sizeof * pathname);
char* pathname = (char*)malloc(100 * sizeof *char);

The list continues. I thought maybe I forgot a header, but I don't see what could be missing. Any thoughts? Thanks bunches in advance!

[gerard4143]

Are you sure that line number 65 in your error message refers to

char* pathname = (char*)malloc(100);

[summersab]

Very sure. I just double checked. I've had problems getting malloc() syntax right in gcc before, but the Minix cc is really picky. Any thoughts? I really appreciate it.

[gerard4143]

Well your compiler is having problems with a "." on line 65. Line 65 doesn't have a period so maybe the compiler is a little confused as to where the syntax violation is and this is its best guess...Gerard4143

[summersab]

Okay, I figured it out, but it doesn't make sense, and I don't understand WHY it was an error. I understand that pathname is both a member of min and a char*. However, simply changing the line to char* path made it work. May Minix die a slow death . . .

[gerard4143]

Are you saying the compiler expected a "." for the variable pathname because it was also declared as a member of the m_in structure? That is weird...Gerard4143

[Rubberman]

I know - Minix is outdated, but it's for a school project.

Attached is my code for the open() command. On compiling, I keep running into the error:

"open.c", Line 65: . not expected

How helpful. "." Not expected. I have tried multiple ways of declaring this string:

char* pathname = (char*)malloc(100);
char* pathname = malloc(100);
char* pathname = (char*)malloc(100 * sizeof * pathname);
char* pathname = (char*)malloc(100 * sizeof *char);

The list continues. I thought maybe I forgot a header, but I don't see what could be missing. Any thoughts? Thanks bunches in advance!

What are you trying to do? The last 3 allocations are bogus. First off, on the 2nd example, malloc() returns a void*, not a char*, so this will fail if you are compiling with ANSI compliance or for C++. The 3rd and 4th examples are multiplying either the address of sizeof() on systems where it is a function, or may generate a compiler error where sizeof is a macro. In either case, these are invalid constructs.

So, my guess is that you are trying to compile Minix code with a current GNU C compiler in Linux, correct? That's why you are getting errors. You need to correct the code first.

[summersab]

Rubberman (awkward name, btw) - I got it to work by changing pathname to path. That worked for some reason. Thanks, anyway!