Why does declaring main as an array compile?

Question

I saw a snippet of code on CodeGolf that\'s intended as a compiler bomb, where main is declared as a huge array. I tried the following (non-bomb) version:

Answer 1

The problem is that main is not a reserved identifier. The C standard only says that in hosted systems there is usually a function called main. But nothing in the standard prevents you from abusing the same identifier for other sinister purposes.

GCC gives you a smug warning "main is usually a function", hinting that the use of the identifier main for other unrelated purposes isn't a brilliant idea.

---

Silly example:

#include 

int main (void)
{
  int main = 5;
  main:

  printf("%d\n", main);
  main--;

  if(main)
  {
    goto main;
  }
  else
  {
    int main (void);
    main();
  }
}

This program will repeatedly print the numbers 5,4,3,2,1 until it gets a stack overflow and crashes (don't try this at home). Unfortunately, the above program is a strictly conforming C program and the compiler can't stop you from writing it.