Proposed resolution (September, 2013):

Change 9.3.4.5 [dcl.array] paragraph 1 as follows:

...The expression is erroneous if:

• its value before converting...

• its value is such that the size of the allocated object would exceed the implementation-defined limit for the maximum size of an object (Annex Clause Annex B [implimits]);

• ...

...If the expression is erroneous, an exception of a type that would match a handler (14.4 [except.handle]) of type std::bad_array_length (_N3690_.18.6.2.2 [bad.array.length]) is thrown [Footnote: Implementations are encouraged also to throw such an exception if the size of the object would exceed the remaining stack space. —end footnote].

This resolution also resolves issue 1675.

The runtime check for violating the maximum size of a stack-based array object is ill-advised. Many implementations cannot easily determine the available stack space, and checking against a fixed limit is not helpful.