Why aren't exceptions in C++ checked by the compiler?

Question

C++ provides a syntax for checked exceptions, for example:

void G() throw(Exception);
void f() throw();

However, the Visual C++ compiler do

Answer 1

I cannot check this for lack of a MSVC installation, but are you really sure the compiler ignores the throw() specification?

This MSDN page suggests that Microsoft is aware of throw() and expects their compiler to handle it correctly. Well, almost, see the note about how they depart from the ANSI/ISO standard in some details.

Edit: In practice, though, I agree with Patrick: Exception specifications are mostly useless.