What's going on with "expected specifier-qualifier-list" error

Question

It is my GameEngine.h:

#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
#import "GameArray.h";


@interface GameEngine : NSObject {
    GameArray *gameButtonsArray;
}

@property (nonatomic, retain) GameArray *gameButtonsArray;

And this is my GameArray.h:

#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
#import "MyAppDelegate.h";

@interface GameArray : NSObject {
    NSMutableArray *gameButtonsArray;

}
@property (nonatomic, retain) NSMutableArray *gameButtonsArray;

It keep prompt my "expected specifier-qualifier-list" error i my GameEngine.h, and error said that "expected specifier-qualifier-list before 'GameArray'", what's going on?

I changed my "gameButtonsArray" in GameArray.h to myGameButtonsArray, it also prompt this error. — Tattat, Apr 11 '10 at 07:43

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 11 '10 at 14:03

This is the best practice.

GameEngine.h

#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>

@class GameArray;

@interface GameEngine : NSObject {
    GameArray *gameButtonsArray;
}

@property (nonatomic, retain) GameArray *gameButtonsArray;

Then in GameEngine.m

#import "GameEngine.h"
#import "GameArray.h"

@implementation GameEngine    
//...
@end

This prevents circular references wherein one header imports a second header which imports the first which imports the second and so on in an endless cycle.

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 11 '10 at 08:59

2

Lose the semi-colon on line 2 in your .h file

edited Apr 11 '10 at 08:59

Jacob Relkin

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answered Apr 11 '10 at 08:58

Paul Lynch

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just added , still got the problems. – Tattat Apr 11 '10 at 09:24
I see that you have edited the question and ADDED semi-colons on line 2 of both .h files. You need to REMOVE them. – Paul Lynch Apr 11 '10 at 09:35

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 11 '10 at 13:25

If removing the unnecessary semicolons does not fix your problem, most likely MyAppDelegate.h imports GameEngine.h creating a circular dependency between the GameEngine.h and GameArray.h. Try removing the #import "GameArray.h" from GameEngine.h and replacing it with:

@class GameArray;

Also add

#import "GameArray.h"

to GameEngine.m below the import of GameEngine.h

What's going on with "expected specifier-qualifier-list" error

3 Answers3

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