C++: #including <thread> redefines winsock function bind(...)?

Question

Beginning of my CPP file:

#include "stdafx.h"
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <sstream>
#define WIN32_MEAN_AND_LEAN
#include <winsock2.h>
#include <windows.h>

(straight out of madwizard.org winsock tutorial). Everything works fine but now whenever i just add #include <thread> (anywhere before/after other includes) the following doesnt compile:

if (bind(hSocket, reinterpret_cast<sockaddr*>(&sockAddr), sizeof(sockAddr)) != 0 )
{
    throw ROTException("could not bind socket.");
}

The beginning of error is:

error C2678: binary '!=' : no operator found which takes a left-hand operand of type 'std::_Bind<_Forced,_Ret,_Fun,_V0_t,_V1_t,_V2_t,_V3_t,_V4_t,_V5_t,<unnamed-symbol>>' (or there is no acceptable conversion)
1>          with
1>          [
1>              _Forced=false,
1>              _Ret=void,
1>              _Fun=SOCKET &,
1>              _V0_t=sockaddr *,
1>              _V1_t=unsigned int,
1>              _V2_t=std::_Nil,
1>              _V3_t=std::_Nil,
1>              _V4_t=std::_Nil,
1>              _V5_t=std::_Nil,
1>              <unnamed-symbol>=std::_Nil
1>          ]
1>          c:\home\vs\vc\include\exception(522): could be 'bool std::operator !=(const std::exception_ptr &,const std::exception_ptr &)'

So its like bind changed type from int to void. If i just write

bind(hSocket, reinterpret_cast<sockaddr*>(&sockAddr), sizeof(sockAddr));

It will compile, but it will not work. What am i doing wrong ?

Answer 1

Short answer

Don't use using namespace std;.

Slightly longer answer

There's std::bind in C++11. using namespace std; will introduce this version of bind to the global namespace, which can lead to problems. You can use ::bind for your original WinSock bind, but better stay safe and don't use a whole namespace.

Why does this happen if you include <thread>? Because std::thread might use std::bind internally, for which it includes <functional> where std::bind is declared.