Min or max error in C++

Problem

C++ code using the std::min and std::max can fail with a cryptic error message when compiled with Visual Studio on Windows:

error C2589: '(' : illegal token on right side of '::'

Solution

This is caused if you are including windows.h. That header defines these as old-style macros.

To indicate that these macros not be defined, define NOMINMAX before including that header:

#define NOMINMAX
#include <windows.h>

Tried with: Visual Studio 2015 and Windows 7 x64