Solving "Strange" Syntax Errors with Cookie Fun

[Lancelot59]

Homework Statement

We had to basically modify a few variables in the given code and then shoot it out with a valid output. I decided to have some fun with it.

However I get a strange syntax error, here is the code:

	  //Conditionals controlling the cookie response output
	  if(cookies == "Yes")
	  {
		  cookieresponse = "Hooray! Cookies are awesome! :D";
	  }
	  else
	  {
		  cookieresponse = "YOU MONSTER! HOW CAN YOU NOT LIKE COOKIES!? D:";
	  }

	  cout << cookieresponse;
	  << endl;
	  
	  return 0;
	}

VS says I'm missing a ";" before the "<<" of the endl command. What's happening here. According to my book I've done it correctly.

 

[chroot]

This piece of code:

cout << cookieresponse;
	  << endl;

is incorrect. The first line is a complete statement, with a stream on the left and an object on the right. The second line is incomplete; it does not specify a stream.

Consider removing the semicolon at the end of the first line.

- Warren

 

[Lancelot59]

Thanks, it worked. Could please you explain in a little more detail? I'm still new to C++. All were were supposed to do is copy some code from the handout and change a few variables. I added the cookies part in.

So from what I understand cout is a stream, and the cookieresponse variable is an object. Correct?

So if I want to end a line I have to have a stream or something coming before it?

Also do you happen to know any good online resources for C++ programming?

 

[chroot]

Yes, cout is a stream, and cookieresponse is a variable.

You can do either of the following:

cout << cookieresponse;
cout << endl;

or

cout << cookieresponse << endl;

You can also split up the statement onto multiple lines, but notice that there is still only one semicolon for the whole statement. The compiler ignores whitespace.

cout << cookieresponse
<< endl;

- Warren

 

[Lancelot59]

I see now. Just to clarify: streams are paths that information can take to enter or leave the program, and objects are elements contained in the program?

 

[chroot]

A stream is an abstract thing which can source or a sink data. You can read data from streams, or send data to streams. The keyboard is a source of data, so it is a stream. The console is a sink of data, so it is also a stream. Files on disk can be read from or written to, so they are streams. Finally, a network connection between a client and server program is also a stream.

An object is essentially a data structure wrapped up together with the methods used to modify that data. At this point in your programming career, you don't need a well-defined definition of "object," though. That'll come later.

- Warren

 

[Lancelot59]

Alright, thanks for your help! :)