Re: [Boost-users] error: no matching function for call to ‘boost::asio::basic_stream_socket<boost::asio::ip::tcp, boost::asio::stream_socket_service<boost::asio::ip::tcp> >::basic_stream_socket()’

Why doesn't this work:

_socket = tcp::socket(ioService);

1) Socket has no default constructor. You have to pass ioService to its constructor. 2) socket it not copiable/assignable.

Also, is there any way to define a timeout on a synchronous connect()?

No.

If not, what's the workaround?

You can write your own sync. connect with timeout, using async_connect, like this: http://lists.boost.org/Archives/boost/2007/04/120339.php

Can I do an async connect and then somehow return to synchronous mode of operation?

Sure, you can mix sync and async approaches.