al_assert(3)

💖 al_assert — the Allegro manual, but make it make sense 💖

okay bestie, so we're in the Allegro game programming library, and this little function is the one that goes "hey!! something's wrong!!" and points at exactly where. welcome to al_assert(3) 🦋

✨ NAME ✨

al_assert — asserts at the specified file and line number. it's part of the Allegro game programming library, and it's giving very specific error reporting 💅

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

#include <allegro.h>

void al_assert(const char *file, int line);

like, that's the whole vibe. two params, no drama.

🎀 DESCRIPTION 🎀

okay so what does it actually do. al_assert raises an assert for an error at the file and line number you hand it. slay, but with a paper trail 📝

the file parameter is always given in ASCII format — no weird encodings, keep it plain, bestie.

now here's where it gets juicy, because the behaviour depends on what's around it:

• By default, it calls the system driver's assert handler. that's the plan. that's the moment.
• If there is no handler? 😭 the error gets sent to stderr and the program aborts. like, full stop, we're done here.
• BUT. if the environment variable ALLEGRO_ASSERT is set, this function writes a message into the file specified by that environment variable, and program execution continues. no aborting, we carry on, main character energy ✨

and if none of these behaviours is what you want? totally valid. you can override them all with a custom assert handler and do your own thing. your code, your rules 👑

lowkey important: you will usually want to use the ASSERT() macro instead of calling this function directly. iykyk 🫶

🦋 SEE ALSO 🦋

• ASSERT(3)
• al_trace(3)
• register_assert_handler(3)

and that's the whole page, bestie — no notes, ate it up 💅 this was Allegro version 4.4.3 pulling up with al_assert(3), so go forth and assert responsibly, mwah 🎀💖✨