Why are classes with static data members getting linker errors?

http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lite/link-errs-static-data-mems.html

Because static data members must be explicitly defined in exactly one compilation unit. If you didn't do this, you'll probably get an "undefined external" linker error. For example:

// Fred.h

class Fred {
public:
  ...
private:
  static int j_;   // Declares static data member Fred::j_
  ...
};

The linker will holler at you ( "Fred::j_ is not defined") unless you define (as opposed to merely declare)  Fred::j_ in (exactly) one of your source files:

// Fred.cpp

#include "Fred.h"

int Fred::j_ = some_expression_evaluating_to_an_int;

// Alternatively, if you wish to use the implicit 0 value for static ints:
// int Fred::j_;

The usual place to define  static data members of  class  Fred is file  Fred.cpp (or  Fred.C or whatever source file extension you use).

Note: in some cases, you can add = initializer; to the declaration of class-scope static declarations, however if you ever use the data member, you still need to explicitly define it in exactly one compilation unit. In this case you don't include an = initializer in the definition. A separate FAQ covers this topic.