C++ redeclaration inconsistency/interestingness - c++

Question

I was answering this question when I thought of this example:
#include <iostream>
void func(int i);
void func();
int main (){
func();
return 0;
}
void func(){}
In the above example, the code compiles fine. However, in the below example, the code does not compile correctly:
#include <iostream>
void func();
int func();
int main (){
func();
return 0;
}
void func(){}
This is the error that occurs when this code is compiled (in clang++):
file.cpp:4:5: error: functions that differ only in their return type cannot be
overloaded
int func();
I would expect an error like this both times.
I fiddled around with the code a bit, and for some completely odd reason, it seems that the linker completely ignores incorrect declarations. Now this allows for some very weird code. For example this header file would be legal:
#ifndef EXAMPLE
#define EXAMPLE
void func();
void func(int a);
void func(int b);
void func(int a, int b);
void func(int a, short b);
void func(int w);
void func(short b);
#endif
Why? Why in the world does any of this work? Is this just a C++ standard failure? Compiler failure? "Feature"? Actual Feature? (That is all one question by the way.)
P.S. While I'm waiting for an answer, I'm going to be over here taking advantage of this for pre-adding features in code that will probably end up in production.

Answer 1

The first is function overload, argument names are not taken into account (argument types or its count are different).
The second is function redeclaration (argument types and count are the same) with changed return type that is forbidden. Overloading of return type only is not allowed. The compiler told it to you.