Question

here’s the code:

#include <string>

class Config {
public:
    static const std::string asdf = "hello world!";
}

I can’t diagnose why this won’t work

Answer 1

Only integral types can be initialized in the class (presuming they’re declared as static const).

So do this:

//Config.h
class Config 
{
public:
    static const std::string asdf; //declaration
    static const int demo_integral = 100; //initialization is allowed!
}

//Config.cpp 
const std::string Config::asdf = "hello world!"; //definition & initialization 
const int Config::demo_integral; //already initialized in the class!

Definitions should be in .cpp file, or else you will get multiple definition error if you define them in the header file itself and then you include the header file in multiple files!