C compiler: confusing diagnostics "error: function call is not allowed in a constant expression"

[pmor]

This code (case 1):

#define EXPR  int(*)[f()]
int f(void)
{
        return sizeof(EXPR);
}

leads to no diagnostics:

$ icc -std=c11 -pedantic -Wall -Wextra -c
<nothing>

and the following code is generated

f:
        mov       eax, 8                                        #24.9
        ret   

Here we see that the there is no "call f". Hence, we conclude that f() is not evaluated.

This code (case 2):

#define EXPR  int(*)[f()]

int s = sizeof(EXPR);

leads to diagnostics:

error: function call is not allowed in a constant expression

This error looks confusing, because in case 1 we concluded that f() is not evaluated. 

C11, 6.6 Constant expressions, Constraints, 3:
> Constant expressions shall not contain assignment, increment, decrement, function-call,
or comma operators, except when they are contained within a subexpression that is not
evaluated. 115)
> 115) The operand of a sizeof or _Alignof operator is usually not evaluated (6.5.3.4).

Version: icc 2021.5.0 on x86-64 on Linux

[pmor]

And for this code:

int f(void);
int s = _Alignof( int(*)[ f() ] );

produced:

error: function call is not allowed in a constant expression

looks definitely wrong because:

C11, 6.6 Constant expressions, Constraints, 3:
> Constant expressions shall not contain assignment, increment, decrement, function-call,
or comma operators, except when they are contained within a subexpression that is not
evaluated. 115)

and:

C11, 6.5.3.4 The sizeof and _Alignof operators, Semantics, 3:
> The _Alignof operator yields the alignment requirement of its operand type. The
operand is not evaluated and the result is an integer constant.

[DitiD_Intel]

Hi,

Thank you for posting in Intel Communities.

We are working on your issue and we will get back to you soon.

Thanks and Regards,

Ditipriya.

[DitiD_Intel]

Hi,

I tried compiling the sample codes with various compilers (icc, icx and gcc).

For more information, please refer to the attached screenshots.

Not sure if you are aware of it, but the C++ Classic compiler will enter "Legacy Product Support" mode signaling the end of regular updates. Please see the below article for more details.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/developer/articles/technical/adoption-of-llvm-complete-icx.h... 

We suggest you try with latest icx compiler.

Thanks and Regards,

Ditipriya.

[DitiD_Intel]

Hi,

The version against which you reported your issue is no longer targeted for fixes. Please check out the new versions of Intel oneAPI Toolkits for the latest features.

Thanks and Regards,

Ditipriya.