The target of `derive(CoercePointee)` macro has inadmissible specification for a meaningful use. Erroneous code examples: The target data is not a `struct`. ```compile_fail,E0802 #![feature(coerce_pointee)] use std::marker::CoercePointee; #[derive(CoercePointee)] enum NotStruct<'a, T: ?Sized> { Variant(&'a T), } ``` The target data has a layout that is not transparent, or `repr(transparent)` in other words. ```compile_fail,E0802 #![feature(coerce_pointee)] use std::marker::CoercePointee; #[derive(CoercePointee)] struct NotTransparent<'a, #[pointee] T: ?Sized> { ptr: &'a T, } ``` The target data has no data field. ```compile_fail,E0802 #![feature(coerce_pointee)] use std::marker::CoercePointee; #[derive(CoercePointee)] #[repr(transparent)] struct NoField<'a, #[pointee] T: ?Sized> {} ``` The target data is not generic over any data, or has no generic type parameter. ```compile_fail,E0802 #![feature(coerce_pointee)] use std::marker::CoercePointee; #[derive(CoercePointee)] #[repr(transparent)] struct NoGeneric<'a>(&'a u8); ``` The target data has multiple generic type parameters, but none is designated as a pointee for coercion. ```compile_fail,E0802 #![feature(coerce_pointee)] use std::marker::CoercePointee; #[derive(CoercePointee)] #[repr(transparent)] struct AmbiguousPointee<'a, T1: ?Sized, T2: ?Sized> { a: (&'a T1, &'a T2), } ``` The target data has multiple generic type parameters that are designated as pointees for coercion. ```compile_fail,E0802 #![feature(coerce_pointee)] use std::marker::CoercePointee; #[derive(CoercePointee)] #[repr(transparent)] struct TooManyPointees< 'a, #[pointee] A: ?Sized, #[pointee] B: ?Sized> ((&'a A, &'a B)); ``` The type parameter that is designated as a pointee is not marked `?Sized`. ```compile_fail,E0802 #![feature(coerce_pointee)] use std::marker::CoercePointee; #[derive(CoercePointee)] #[repr(transparent)] struct NoMaybeSized<'a, #[pointee] T> { ptr: &'a T, } ``` In summary, the `CoercePointee` macro demands the type to be a `struct` that is generic over at least one type or over more types, one of which is marked with `#[pointee]`, and has at least one data field and adopts a `repr(transparent)` layout. The only generic type or the type marked with `#[pointee]` has to be also marked as `?Sized`.