Double closing angle brackets (>>) generate syntax error in SPECIFIC case [duplicate]

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• error: 'varName' was not declared in this scope 2 answers

Eclipse (Luna, 4.4.2) tells me that I have a syntax error on the following line:

static_cast<Vec<int, DIM>>(a.mul(b));

I remembered that double closing angle brackets >> can lead to problems with some compilers, so I put a blank in between: > >. The syntax error disappears.

BUT I have many >> in my program where no syntax error is detected, such as:

vector<unique_ptr<Node<Element<DIM>>>> tiles;

or

Node<Element<DIM>> * e= a.get();

Why do I get an error the above mentioned specific case?