I have the following rough sequence of typedefs: struct empty {}; typedef std::unique_ptr<foo> foo_ptr; typedef std::unique_ptr<bar> bar_ptr; typedef std::vector<foo_ptr> foo_ptr_vec; typedef std::vector<bar_ptr> bar_ptr_vec; typedef std::variant<empty, foo_ptr_vec, bar_ptr_vec> my_variant; I then declare an instance of my_variant in a class, and make the class moveable and noncopyable. class my_class { my_class(const my_class&); my_class& my_class(const my_class&); my_variant v_; public: my_class(my_class&& other) : v_(std::move(other.v_)) { } }; I cannot get this to compile under MSVC 10 and boost 1.42. In theory I don't see why this shouldn't be ok. Even though the objects are not copy-constructible due to unique_ptr, they are move constructible. The errors are quite long, but you can see it's trying to invoke vector::operator= from within the variant code. Is this just a technical limitation of variant, or a bug? 1> behavior_collection.cpp 1>C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC\include\xutility(2144): error C2248: 'behavior_collection::behavior_impl<Output>::operator =' : cannot access private member declared in class 'behavior_collection::behavior_impl<Output>' 1> with 1> [ 1> Output=kinematic_output 1> ] 1> c:\users\zach\documents\visual studio 2010\projects\dxdemo\dxdemo\behavior_collection.h(15) : see declaration of 'behavior_collection::behavior_impl<Output>::operator =' 1> with 1> [ 1> Output=kinematic_output 1> ] 1> C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC\include\xutility(2165) : see reference to function template instantiation '_OutIt std::_Copy_impl<_InIt,_OutIt>(_InIt,_InIt,_OutIt,std::_Nonscalar_ptr_iterator_tag)' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> _OutIt=behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output> *, 1> _InIt=behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output> * 1> ] 1> C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC\include\vector(719) : see reference to function template instantiation '_OutIt std::_Copy_impl<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<Output>*,behavior_collection::behavior_impl<Output>*>(_InIt,_InIt,_OutIt)' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> _OutIt=behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output> *, 1> Output=kinematic_output, 1> _InIt=behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output> * 1> ] 1> C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC\include\vector(709) : while compiling class template member function 'std::vector<_Ty> &std::vector<_Ty>::operator =(const std::vector<_Ty> &)' 1> with 1> [ 1> _Ty=behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output> 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/type_traits/is_pod.hpp(34) : see reference to class template instantiation 'std::vector<_Ty>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> _Ty=behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output> 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/type_traits/is_pod.hpp(129) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::detail::is_pod_impl<T>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> T=std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>> 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/type_traits/has_trivial_constructor.hpp(27) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::is_pod<T>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> T=std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>> 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/type_traits/has_trivial_constructor.hpp(36) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::detail::has_trivial_ctor_impl<T>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> T=std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>> 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/type_traits/has_nothrow_constructor.hpp(23) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::has_trivial_constructor<T>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> T=std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>> 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/type_traits/has_nothrow_constructor.hpp(32) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::detail::has_nothrow_constructor_imp<T>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> T=std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>> 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/mpl/not.hpp(41) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::has_nothrow_constructor<T>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> T=std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>> 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/mpl/aux_/preprocessed/plain/and.hpp(25) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::mpl::not_<T>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> T=boost::has_nothrow_constructor<std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>>> 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/mpl/aux_/preprocessed/plain/and.hpp(55) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::mpl::aux::and_impl<C_,T1,T2,T3,T4>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> C_=true, 1> T1=boost::mpl::apply1<boost::mpl::protect<boost::detail::variant::find_fallback_type_pred>,boost::mpl::l_iter<boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<2>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<1>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<dynamic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_end>>>>, 1> T2=boost::mpl::true_, 1> T3=boost::mpl::true_, 1> T4=boost::mpl::true_ 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/mpl/iter_fold_if.hpp(46) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::mpl::and_<T1,T2>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> T1=boost::mpl::not_<boost::is_same<boost::mpl::l_iter<boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<2>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<1>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<dynamic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_end>>>,boost::mpl::l_iter<boost::mpl::l_end>>>, 1> T2=boost::mpl::apply1<boost::mpl::protect<boost::detail::variant::find_fallback_type_pred>,boost::mpl::l_iter<boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<2>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<1>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<dynamic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_end>>>> 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/mpl/aux_/preprocessed/plain/apply_wrap.hpp(49) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::mpl::aux::iter_fold_if_pred<Predicate,LastIterator>::apply<State,Iterator>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> Predicate=boost::mpl::protect<boost::detail::variant::find_fallback_type_pred>, 1> LastIterator=boost::mpl::l_iter<boost::mpl::l_end>, 1> State=boost::mpl::int_<1>, 1> Iterator=boost::mpl::l_iter<boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<2>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<1>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<dynamic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_end>>> 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/mpl/aux_/preprocessed/plain/apply.hpp(63) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::mpl::apply_wrap2<F,T1,T2>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> F=boost::mpl::protect<boost::mpl::aux::iter_fold_if_pred<boost::mpl::protect<boost::detail::variant::find_fallback_type_pred>,boost::mpl::l_iter<boost::mpl::l_end>>>, 1> T1=boost::mpl::int_<1>, 1> T2=boost::mpl::l_iter<boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<2>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<1>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<dynamic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_end>>> 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/mpl/aux_/preprocessed/plain/iter_fold_if_impl.hpp(62) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::mpl::apply2<F,T1,T2>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> F=boost::mpl::protect<boost::mpl::aux::iter_fold_if_pred<boost::mpl::protect<boost::detail::variant::find_fallback_type_pred>,boost::mpl::l_iter<boost::mpl::l_end>>>, 1> T1=boost::mpl::int_<1>, 1> T2=boost::mpl::l_iter<boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<2>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<1>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<dynamic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_end>>> 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/mpl/aux_/preprocessed/plain/iter_fold_if_impl.hpp(102) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::mpl::aux::iter_fold_if_forward_step<Iterator,State,ForwardOp,Predicate>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> Iterator=boost::mpl::l_iter<boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<2>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<1>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<dynamic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_end>>>, 1> State=boost::mpl::int_<1>, 1> ForwardOp=boost::mpl::protect<boost::mpl::next<boost::mpl::na>>, 1> Predicate=boost::mpl::protect<boost::mpl::aux::iter_fold_if_pred<boost::mpl::protect<boost::detail::variant::find_fallback_type_pred>,boost::mpl::l_iter<boost::mpl::l_end>>> 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/mpl/iter_fold_if.hpp(94) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::mpl::aux::iter_fold_if_impl<Iterator,State,ForwardOp,ForwardPredicate,BackwardOp,BackwardPredicate>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> Iterator=boost::mpl::l_iter<boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<3>,behavior_collection::null_behavior,boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<2>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<1>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<dynamic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_end>>>>, 1> State=boost::mpl::int_<0>, 1> ForwardOp=boost::mpl::protect<boost::mpl::next<boost::mpl::na>>, 1> ForwardPredicate=boost::mpl::protect<boost::mpl::aux::iter_fold_if_pred<boost::mpl::protect<boost::detail::variant::find_fallback_type_pred>,boost::mpl::l_iter<boost::mpl::l_end>>>, 1> BackwardOp=boost::mpl::na, 1> BackwardPredicate=boost::mpl::always<boost::mpl::false_> 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/mpl/iter_fold_if.hpp(102) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::mpl::iter_fold_if<Sequence,State,ForwardOp,ForwardPredicate>::result_' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> Sequence=boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<3>,behavior_collection::null_behavior,boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<2>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<1>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<dynamic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_end>>>, 1> State=boost::mpl::int_<0>, 1> ForwardOp=boost::mpl::protect<boost::mpl::next<boost::mpl::na>>, 1> ForwardPredicate=boost::mpl::protect<boost::detail::variant::find_fallback_type_pred> 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/variant/variant.hpp(170) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::mpl::iter_fold_if<Sequence,State,ForwardOp,ForwardPredicate>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> Sequence=boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<3>,behavior_collection::null_behavior,boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<2>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<1>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<dynamic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_end>>>, 1> State=boost::mpl::int_<0>, 1> ForwardOp=boost::mpl::protect<boost::mpl::next<boost::mpl::na>>, 1> ForwardPredicate=boost::mpl::protect<boost::detail::variant::find_fallback_type_pred> 1> ] 1> C:\dev\boost\1.42.0\boost/variant/variant.hpp(1079) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::detail::variant::find_fallback_type<Types>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> Types=boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<3>,behavior_collection::null_behavior,boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<2>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<kinematic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_item<boost::mpl::long_<1>,std::vector<behavior_collection::behavior_impl<dynamic_output>>,boost::mpl::l_end>>> 1> ] 1> c:\users\zach\documents\visual studio 2010\projects\dxdemo\dxdemo\behavior_collection.h(39) : see reference to class template instantiation 'boost::variant<T0_,T1,T2>' being compiled 1> with 1> [ 1> T0_=behavior_collection::null_behavior, 1> T1=behavior_collection::kinematic_behaviors, 1> T2=behavior_collection::dynamic_behaviors 1> ]