bug1506.cpp

1    #include <stdio.h>
2
3    class Animal
4        {   public:
5        virtual void init() {}
6        Animal() { init(); }
7        };
8
9    class GroundHog : public Animal
10       {   public:
11       const char *appears;
12       virtual void init() { appears = "Feb 2"; }
13       };
14
15   int main()
16       {
17       GroundHog x;
18       printf( "Ground hogs appear %s\n" , x.appears );
19       return 0;
20       }

Our ground hog is not appearing on schedule. What's the problem?

bug1506.cpp lint Output

--- Module:   bug1506.cpp (C++)
                   _
    Animal() { init(); }
bug1506.cpp(6) : Warning 1506: Call to virtual function 'Animal::init(void)'
    within a constructor or destructor

Reference Manual Explanation

1506   Call to virtual function 'Symbol' within a constructor or
       destructor  -- A call to a virtual function was found in a
       constructor or a destructor of a class.  If this class is a base
       class of some other class (why else make a virtual call?), then
       the function called is not the overriding function of the derived
       class but rather the function associated with the base class.  If
       you use an explicit scope operator this message will not be
       produced.