[Python-Dev] Should Python compile as C++?

[Tim Peters]

> ...
> MSVC has had the same problem for years. What's strange is that in some
> cases, MSVC does seem to get it right where in others it fails with an
> error -- probably a DLL vs. EXE thing.

MS C can't handle cross-DLL references in initializers, because they're
truly not "constant" in the way C requires (but C doesn't say anything about
DLLs!).  C++'s initialization model is much more liberal (and
correspondingly more elaborate and expensive), and C++ can handle cross-DLL
references in initializers.  MSVC plays both according to reasonable
readings of the respective languages' rules.