Thread: Compiler issues in C in MSVisStudio2010 cl cmd compiler vs other (gcc/tcc)

Hi
I have recently tried compiling C code 'secondchess.c' in Win7 with MSVisStudio2010 cl cmd compiler & this returns a whole bunch of errors/warnings etc. I also have TCC compiler on my Win7 machine & used it to compile the code which it did without any complaint!
See my thread on chess2u forum about this:
SecondChess - Page 2

I am a very inexperienced coder but would like to try to use standards compliant code & so I am very grateful if someone can help me sort out the errors this code gets in MSvisStudio2010 cl compiler.
(As in my chess forum post I have spent a lot of time already trying to fix this but with no success-please remember I am an amateur programmer & new to C/C++).

These are the first errors given:

Code:

secondchess.c(785) : error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before 'type'
secondchess.c(789) : error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before 'type'
secondchess.c(792) : error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier

& I have tried to fix them but no result & there are so many more errors! Why does MSVisStudio2010 cl compiler baulk at this & yet tcc (& gcc-I think but I have not used gcc as I'm on Win7) doesn't?

Thanks

Without seeing the actual code, I can only surmise you're running into Microsoft's unwillingness to update their C compiler to a newer standard than C89 (I think that's the one they adhere to). In C89 and prior, all type declarations must precede any actual code.

EDIT: Damn, too slow!

Originally Posted by Salem

The problem was, the source code wasn't compiled originally with strict C89 conformance.

Code:

int Eval()
{

   //!! this is a statement
   count_evaluations++;

   //!! this is a declaration
   /* A counter for the board squares */
   int i;

   /* The score of the position */
   int score = 0;

Most modern compilers now support C99, which allows such things.

But MS will never update their C compiler to C99, so you're stuck with just C89 on that compiler.

Thanks for your quick & helpful reply. I am googling this to find more info & how to fix it.
I have run secondchess.c as an empty project in MSVisStudio2010 but still get many errors eg:
1> secondchess.c
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(525): warning C4013: 'IsInCheck' undefined; assuming extern returning int
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(526): warning C4013: 'IsAttacked' undefined; assuming extern returning int
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(806): error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before 'type'
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(809): error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before 'type'
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(812): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(812): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(812): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(814): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(818): error C2065: 'score' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(818): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(822): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(825): error C2065: 'score' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(825): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(828): error C2065: 'score' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(828): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(831): error C2065: 'score' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(831): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(834): error C2065: 'score' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(834): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(837): error C2065: 'score' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(837): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(841): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(843): error C2065: 'score' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(843): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(845): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(848): error C2065: 'score' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(848): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(851): error C2065: 'score' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(851): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(854): error C2065: 'score' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(854): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(857): error C2065: 'score' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(857): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(860): error C2065: 'score' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(860): error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(867): error C2065: 'score' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(868): error C2065: 'score' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1561): warning C4013: 'Quiescent' undefined; assuming extern returning int
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1659): error C2275: 'clock_t' : illegal use of this type as an expression
1> c:\program files (x86)\microsoft visual studio 10.0\vc\include\time.h(82) : see declaration of 'clock_t'
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1659): error C2146: syntax error : missing ';' before identifier 'start'
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1659): error C2065: 'start' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1660): error C2275: 'clock_t' : illegal use of this type as an expression
1> c:\program files (x86)\microsoft visual studio 10.0\vc\include\time.h(82) : see declaration of 'clock_t'
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1660): error C2146: syntax error : missing ';' before identifier 'stop'
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1660): error C2065: 'stop' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1661): error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before 'type'
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1664): error C2065: 'start' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1665): error C2065: 'start' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1671): error C2065: 'stop' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1672): error C2065: 't' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1672): error C2065: 'stop' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1672): error C2065: 'start' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1672): warning C4244: '=' : conversion from 'double' to 'int', possible loss of data
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1673): error C2065: 't' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1675): error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before 'type'
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1678): error C2065: 'decimal_score' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1678): error C2065: 'decimal_score' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1685): error C2065: 'decimal_score' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1685): error C2065: 't' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1828): error C2275: 'MOVE' : illegal use of this type as an expression
1> c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programming \secondchess\secondchess.c(138) : see declaration of 'MOVE'
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1828): error C2146: syntax error : missing ';' before identifier 'moveBuf'
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1828): error C2065: 'moveBuf' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1828): error C2109: subscript requires array or pointer type
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1829): error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before 'type'
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1914): error C2065: 'movecnt' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1914): error C2065: 'moveBuf' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1914): warning C4047: 'function' : 'MOVE *' differs in levels of indirection from 'int'
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1914): warning C4024: 'Gen' : different types for formal and actual parameter 2
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1917): error C2065: 'movecnt' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1918): error C2065: 'moveBuf' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1918): error C2109: subscript requires array or pointer type
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1918): error C2065: 'moveBuf' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1918): error C2109: subscript requires array or pointer type
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1926): error C2065: 'moveBuf' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1926): error C2109: subscript requires array or pointer type
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1930): error C2065: 'moveBuf' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1930): error C2109: subscript requires array or pointer type
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1934): error C2065: 'moveBuf' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1934): error C2109: subscript requires array or pointer type
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1938): error C2065: 'moveBuf' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1938): error C2109: subscript requires array or pointer type
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1944): error C2065: 'moveBuf' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1944): error C2109: subscript requires array or pointer type
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1947): error C2065: 'moveBuf' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1947): error C2109: subscript requires array or pointer type
1>c:\rpd_programming+computing\rpd_chess_programmi ng\secondchess\secondchess.c(1947): error C2198: 'MakeMove' : too few arguments for call

Any more help please... Thanks

Without looking at the code at all, perhaps try building it as C++. Since C++ allows you to mix declarations and other code, you'd at least move on to a new list of errors.