Constant array types in C, flaw in standard?

Question

Paragraph 6.7.3.8 of the C99 spec states

If the specification of an array type includes any type qualifiers, the element type is so-qualified, not the array ty

Answer 1

Possible workaround for the C programmer (but not the compiler designer):

gcc with -Wcast-qual does not complain about this:

void g(const double *ap, int n)
{
    int i;
    struct box 
    {
      double a[n];
    };
    const struct box *s = (const struct box *)ap;

    for (i=0; ia[i]);
       /* ... */
    }
}

Even if it's not very elegant. The trailing array member a also has a slightly different meaning between C89 and C99, but at least you get the intended effect.