[Clang]Clang rejects `friend auto` function inside class template when a same-named global function exists (accepted by GCC/MSVC/EDG)
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Description
When a class template defines a `friend auto` function and a global function with the same name exists, Clang rejects the code with a redefinition error, while **GCC, MSVC, and EDG** all accept it:
``` cpp
int g(){return 0;};
template
struct R {
friend auto g() {
return M;
}
};
```
Clang output:
```
:5:15: error: functions that differ only in their return type cannot be overloaded
5 | friend auto g() {
| ~~~~ ^
:1:5: note: previous definition is here
1 | int g(){return 0;};
| ~~~ ^
1 error generated.
Compiler returned: 1
```
(See it live: https://godbolt.org/z/E5a1hsfsj)
This is strange. Maybe when a `friend` function inside a class template uses an `auto` return type and there exists a global function with the same name, Clang performs conflict checking too early.
Because the following code:
```cpp
int g() { return 0; }
template
struct R {
friend decltype(M) g() {
return M;
}
};
```
is accepted by all compilers, including Clang. https://godbolt.org/z/ecdYTc6vE
This suggests that Clang performs name lookup / overloading checks **too early** — before the return type of the friend `auto` function has been deduced.
Once deduced, the function should be considered a distinct friend, not an overload of the global `g()`.
Contributor guide
Research direction
Reproduce the supplied class-template examples with Clang and compare them with the GCC, MSVC, and EDG results, including the accepted decltype(M) variant. Trace Clang's handling of friend functions with deduced auto return types; done means the first example is accepted without the return-type redefinition diagnostic while existing behavior remains intact.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- cpp
- Domain
- compilers
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 45/100