bug1511.cpp

1    #include <stdio.h>
2
3    typedef const char *cSTR;
4
5    struct president
6        { cSTR fool() const { return "none"; } };
7    struct OH : public president
8        { cSTR fool() const { return "all"; } };
9
10   cSTR assume_office( const president * p )
11       { return p->fool(); }
12
13   int main()
14       {
15       OH *p = new OH;
16       printf( "we will fool %s of the people.\n",
17               assume_office( p ) );
18       return 0;
19       }

A new Office Holder OH assumes power hoping to fool all of the people but instead fools no one. What is his mistake?

bug1511.cpp lint Output

--- Module:   bug1511.cpp (C++)
                        _
    { cSTR fool() const { return "all"; } };
bug1511.cpp(8) : Warning 1511: Member hides non-virtual member
    'president::fool(void) const' (line 6)
            _
    return 0;
bug1511.cpp(18) : Warning 429: Custodial pointer 'p' (line 15) has not been
    freed or returned

Reference Manual Explanation

1511   Member hides non-virtual member 'Symbol' (Location)  -- The named
       member of a derived class hides a similarly named member of a
       base class.  Moreover, the base class member is not virtual.  Is
       this a mistake?  Was the base member supposed to have been
       declared virtual?  By unnecessarily using the same name,
       confusion could be created.