Question

#include <stdio.h>
#include <windows.h>

using namespace std;

int main() {
  char s[] = "Hello\n";
  HANDLE stdout = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE);
  unsigned long cChars;
  WriteConsole(stdout, s, lstrlen(s), &cChars, NULL);
}

result: error: declaration of '_iob' as array of references

but when I comment out stdio.h, it compiles ok. What’s wrong here ?

Compiler is MinGW.

Answer 1

Depending on the platform, stdout is probably a macro, so better not use that name. Replace

HANDLE stdout = ...

with

HANDLE out = ...

and then

WriteConsole(out, ...

stdout is defined in stdio.h, that’s why it fails only when this file is included. But to be safe, never use that name for any self-defined variable.