error: expected ')' before '*' token

Question

I have this include file (memory .h)

#ifndef MEMORY_H
#define MEMORY_H

#ifdef  __cplusplus
extern "C" {
#endif

    typedef struct mmemory {
        int* cells;
        int* current_cell;
        int cells_number;
    } memory;

    void memory_init(memory* mymemory, int size);
    void step_left(memory* mymemory, int steps);
    void step_right(memory* mymemory, int steps);
    void cell_inc(memory* mymemory, int quantity);
    void print_cell(memory* mymemory);
    void get_char(memory* mymemory);


#ifdef  __cplusplus
}
#endif

#endif  /* MEMORY_H */

And this implementation file (memory.c)

#include <stdlib.h>
#include "memory.h"

void
memory_init (memory* mymemory, int size)
{
    mymemory->cells = (int*) malloc (sizeof (int) * size);
    mymemory->cells_number = size;
    mymemory->current_cell = (int*) ((mymemory->cells_number / 2) * sizeof (int));
}
... //other function definitions follow

When I try to compile memory.c I get this error for each and every function definition

src/memory.c:5: error: expected ')' before '*' token

where line 5 is the function definition for memory_init()

Can someone please tell me why I'm getting this error?

Answer 1

Because the system memory.h is shadowing your memory.h, causing the #include to succeed without declaring your types. Several possible fixes:

• Rename your file -- probably for the best in any case, to reduce potential confusion.
• Include your file via a prefix subdirectory (e.g., #include <myproj/memory.h>).
• Move your file into the same directory as the source file, allowing the #include precedence rules for filenames wrapped in " to take effect.
• Ensure that your C pre-processor include path options place your project header path prior to the system header paths.

Answer 2

This answer is really late, but I encountered a similar problem.

I think your problem is related to a typo in your .h file where you declare a struct mmemory. If you remove that extra 'm' it should work.