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From: James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net>
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c,comp.std.c
Subject: Re: Microsoft abandons the C language
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:51:27 -0400
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On 08/29/2012 02:28 PM, Jens Gustedt wrote:
...

[citing 6.7.4p10, which is a non-normative example]

> ... A file scope declaration with extern creates an external definition.
...
>  extern double fahr(double); // creates an external definition

That comment is inconsistent with my understanding of the normative text
of the standard. In particular, 6.9p5 requires that an external
definition define be the definition of either a function or an object.
It's clearly not an external definition of an object, and the grammar
for a function definition in 6.9.1p1 requires a compound-statement which
is missing from that statement.

My understanding is that, in conflict with 6.7.4p10, a file scope
declaration with extern, but no corresponding compound statement
defining the body of the function, is not a definition, and in
particular, is not an external definition, nor does it somehow cause
such a definition to be created.

Is the non-normative text of 6.7.4p10 incorrect, or my understanding of
C? Possibly, both?