c - How to allocate memory dynamically when array is declared with 1 element -

c - How to allocate memory dynamically when array is declared with 1 element -

consider construction following:

typedef struct { int arrcount; int arr[1]; } samplestruct, *psamplestruct;

i know arr int array needs dynamic memory allocation @ runtime , arrcount needs hold count of element. when seek allocate memory of, allow say, 10 elements using malloc, compiler throws error arr must modifiable value. cant create how allocate memory such array. also, have seen such examples in lot of windows headers, when trying implement it, totally lost.

while arr[1] not pointer, psamplestruct is. you'd this:

psamplestruct ss10arr = malloc(sizeof (*ss10arr) + (sizeof(ss10arr->arr) * 9)) create arr[0] through arr[9] valid.

note works because arr @ end of structure.

also note compiler options (like -d_fortify_source glibc , gcc) complain if seek access subsequent elements because observe overrun.

c windows visual-c++ dynamic-memory-allocation