From: bouncer@dev.null   
      
   nvangogh wrote:   
      
   > In the C++ Standard - before C++11 - any attempt to initialize a   
   > variable inside the body of a class would fail at compilation. I am   
   > sure that there is / was a very good reason for this, but can't   
   > understand why it is so.   
   >   
   > I thought that maybe it was a restriction that was imposed due to some   
   > form of resource limitation. I am sure that I am wrong.   
   >   
   > Now C++11 allows in class initializers. This appears to make the class   
   > design clearer - or at least much easier to implement for a novice   
   > like me as there is no need for a lengthy & possibly erroneous   
   > constructor initializer list.   
   >   
   > So out of curiosity - why were (are) in class initializers prohibited   
   > in old c++?   
      
   You may be reading too much into this; I don't think there's any   
   fundamental reason why in-class initializers were disallowed in   
   C++98/03, although there are some weird corner cases.  For an in-depth   
   discussion, see   
      
   http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/docs/papers/2008/n2628.html   
      
   Regards,   
      
   - Wil   
      
      
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