How to get rid of multiple definitions of fully specialized function templates?

Question

I'm having a problem with linking the objects of one of my C++ applications. The source files are all compiled into object files, but many of them rely on the same library, which has a fully specialised function template. The linker complains when trying to link them all together. I understand why this is, but I don't understand how to fix it.

I found this , which explains the problem exactly, but the forum thread never got to a point where the OP asked for a solution. Womp, womp.

How do I compile all the source files, but only get the specialised functions from the library once?

Answer 1

The problem there is that the specialization also has the implementation in the header, which is wrong.

You should either move the implementation to a source file, or mark the method as inline .