explain_lstat(3)

NAME
explain_lstat - explain lstat(3) errors

SYNOPSIS
#include <libexplain/lstat.h>
const char *explain_lstat(const char *pathname, const struct stat *buf);
void explain_message_lstat(char *message, int message_size, const char *pathname, const struct stat *buf);
const char *explain_errno_lstat(int errnum, const char *pathname, const struct stat *buf);
void explain_message_errno_lstat(char *message, int message_size, int errnum, const char *pathname, const struct stat *buf);

DESCRIPTION
These functions may be used to obtains explanations for lstat(2) errors.

  explain_lstat
const char *explain_lstat(const char *pathname, const struct stat *buf);

The explain_lstat function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the lstat(2) function. The least the message will contain is the value of strerror(errno), but usually it will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

The errno global variable will be used to obtain the error value to be decoded.

This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:
    if (lstat(pathname, &buf) < 0)
    {
        fprintf(stderr, '%s, explain_lstat(pathname, &buf));
        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }

pathname
    The original pathname, exactly as passed to the lstat(2) system call.

buf The original buf, exactly as passed to the lstat(2) system call.

Returns:
    The message explaining the error. This message buffer is shared by all libexplain functions which do not supply a buffer in their argument list. This will be overwritten by the next call to any libexplain function which shares this buffer, including other threads.

Note: This function is not thread safe, because it shares a return buffer across all threads, and many other functions in this library.

  explain_errno_lstat
"const char *explain_errno_lstat(int errnum, const char *pathname, const struct stat *buf);

The explain_errno_lstat function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the lstat(2) function. The least the message will contain is the value of strerror(errnum), but usually it will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:
    if (lstat(pathname, &buf) < 0)
    {
        int err = errno;
        fprintf(stderr, '%s, explain_errno_lstat(err, pathname, &buf));
        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }

errnum
    The error value to be decoded, usually obtained from the errno global variable just before this function is called. This is necessary if you need to call any code between the system call to be explained and this function, because many libc functions will alter the value of errno.

pathname
    The original pathname, exactly as passed to the lstat(2) system call.

buf The original buf, exactly as passed to the lstat(2) system call.

Returns:
    The message explaining the error. This message buffer is shared by all libexplain functions which do not supply a buffer in their argument list. This will be overwritten by the next call to any libexplain function which shares this buffer, including other threads.

Note: This function is not thread safe, because it shares a return buffer across all threads, and many other functions in this library.

  explain_message_lstat
void explain_message_lstat(char *message, int message_size, const char *pathname, const struct stat *buf);

The explain_message_lstat function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the lstat(2) function. The least the message will contain is the value of strerror(errno), but usually it will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

The errno global variable will be used to obtain the error value to be decoded.

This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:
    if (lstat(pathname, &buf) < 0)
    {
        char message[3000];
        explain_message_lstat(message, sizeof(message), pathname, &buf);
        fprintf(stderr, '%s, message);
        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }

message
    The location in which to store the returned message. Because a message return buffer has been supplied, this function is thread safe.

message_size
    The size in bytes of the location in which to store the returned message.

pathname
    The original pathname, exactly as passed to the lstat(2) system call.

buf The original buf, exactly as passed to the lstat(2) system call.

  explain_message_errno_lstat
void explain_message_errno_lstat(char *message, int message_size, int errnum, const char *pathname, const struct stat *buf);

The explain_message_errno_lstat function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the lstat(2) function. The least the message will contain is the value of strerror(errnum), but usually it will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:
    if (lstat(pathname, &buf) < 0)
    {
        int err = errno;
        char message[3000];
        explain_message_errno_lstat(message, sizeof(message), err,
            pathname, &buf);
        fprintf(stderr, '%s, message);
        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }

message
    The location in which to store the returned message. Because a message return buffer has been supplied, this function is thread safe.

message_size
    The size in bytes of the location in which to store the returned message.

errnum
    The error value to be decoded, usually obtained from the errno global variable just before this function is called. This is necessary if you need to call any code between the system call to be explained and this function, because many libc functions will alter the value of errno.

pathname
    The original pathname, exactly as passed to the lstat(2) system call.

buf The original buf, exactly as passed to the lstat(2) system call.

COPYRIGHT
libexplain version 1.4
Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller

AUTHOR
Written by Peter Miller <pmiller@opensource.org.au>