Confusing error message when trying to use a lifetime on an `Any` trait object

[asquared31415]

The following code playground link

use std::any::Any;

struct Something<'a> {
    broken: Box<dyn Any + 'a>
}

Outputs an error message related to lifetime issues that is not clear what the issue exactly is.

error[E0478]: lifetime bound not satisfied
 --> src/lib.rs:4:13
  |
4 |     broken: Box<dyn Any + 'a>
  |             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  |
note: lifetime parameter instantiated with the lifetime `'a` as defined on the struct at 3:18
 --> src/lib.rs:3:18
  |
3 | struct Something<'a> {
  |                  ^^
  = note: but lifetime parameter must outlive the static lifetime

This error is caused by trait Any: 'static, however this error message is not clear as to why the lifetime needs to outlive the static lifetime. Ideally the error message would say where the requirement comes from, like other lifetime-related errors.

cc @estebank who was looking for weird and unintuitive errors. This wasn't caused by a crate specifically, but it still isn't a good error.

[Orrimp]

I have the same problem, and it's really hard to solve it even with Google. ChatGPT suggest:

To resolve this error, you need to either increase the lifetime of the lifetime parameter or change the static reference to a reference with a shorter lifetime. Here are some strategies you can use:

Decrease the lifetime thanks to a reference.

fn my_function<'a>(x: &'a str) -> &'a str {
    &x[0..1]
}

Increase the lifetime:

fn my_function<'a>(x: &'static str, y: &'a str) -> &'a str {
    if x == "foo" {
        &y[0..1]
    } else {
        y
    }
}

I am still new to Rust but lifetime and Arc,Box.. Is hard to get.