Following code does not compile with gcc 4.1. It compiles with gcc 3.4.0 and gcc 4.0.2 and comeau online.
============================= class A { private: enum private_enum {a}; template<A::private_enum v> // OK struct B { void bm(); }; public: void am() { B<a> instance; //OK instance.bm(); } }; template<A::private_enum v> // FAIL void A::B<v>::bm(){} ============================= The error message is: a.cc:4: error: 'enum A::private_enum' is private a.cc:19: error: within this context If the member template function gets defined inline, the code compiles. I don't have the c++ standard available, but a technicality like an inline/outline definition should have no impact on the validity of the code imho. The same error occurrs if the enum gets replaced by a function template typedef, or if the inner-class gets replaced by a member-function-template. A related bug is 10849 -- Summary: defining out-of-class specialization of value template parameter with private type Product: gcc Version: 4.1.0 Status: UNCONFIRMED Severity: minor Priority: P3 Component: c++ AssignedTo: unassigned at gcc dot gnu dot org ReportedBy: dirkmoermans at gmail dot com http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=27339