libexplain(3)

✨ NAME ✨

okay so bestie, this is libexplain(3) — the library that explains errno values returned by libc functions. 💅✨

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📜 SYNOPSIS 📜

cc ... -lexplain;
#include <libexplain/libexplain.h>

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🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

The libexplain library exists to give explanations of error reported by system calls. The error messages that strerror(3) hands you tend to be lowkey cryptic. 😭 By providing a specific error report for each system call, a more detailed error message is possible, usually identifying and describing the specific cause from amongst the numerous meanings each errno value maps to. No cap. 💖

🏁 Race Condition 🏁

The explanation of the cause of an error depends on the environment of the error staying unchanged, so that when libexplain gets around to looking for the cause, the cause is still there. On a running system, and especially a multi-user system, this is not always possible. 🙈

If an incorrect explanation is provided, it is possible that the cause is no longer present. 💀

🛠️ Compiling 🛠️

Assuming the library header files have been installed into /usr/include, and the library files have been installed into /usr/lib, compiling against libexplain requires no special -I options. periodt.

When linking your programs, add -lexplain to the list of libraries at the end of your link line.

cc ... -lexplain

When you configure your package with GNU Autoconf, you need the large file support macro:

AC_SYS_LARGEFILE

If you aren't using GNU Autoconf, you will have to work out the needed large file support requirements yourself. 🫶

There is a pkg-config(1) package for you to use, too:

CFLAGS="$CFLAGS `pkg-config libexplain --cflags`" LIBS="$LIBS `pkg-config libexplain --libs`"

This can make figuring out the command line requirements much easier. ✨

🌿 Environment Variable 🌿

The EXPLAIN_OPTIONS environment variable may be used to control some of the content in the messages. Options are separated by comma (“,”) characters.

There are three ways to set an option:

1. The form name=value may be used explicitly. The values true and false are used for boolean options.
2. An option name alone is interpreted to mean name=true.
3. The form no-name is interpreted to mean name=false.

The following options are available:

• debug — Additional debugging messages for libexplain developers. Not generally useful to clients of the library. Default: false.
• extra-device-info — Additional information for block and character special devices is printed when naming a file and its type. Default: true.
• numeric-errno — This option includes the numeric errno value in the message, e.g. (2, ENOENT) rather than (ENOENT). Disabling this option is generally of use in automated testing, to prevent UNIX dialect differences from producing false negatives. Default: true.
• dialect-specific — This controls the presence of explanatory text specific to a particular UNIX dialect. It also suppresses printing system specific maximums. Disabling this option is generally of use in automated testing, to prevent UNIX dialect differences from producing false negatives. Default: true.
• hanging-indent — This controls the hanging indent depth used for error message wrapping. By default no hanging indent is used, but this can sometimes obfuscate the end of one error message and the beginning of another. A hanging indent results in continuation lines starting with white space, similar to RFC822 headers. A value of 0 means no hanging indent (all lines flush with left margin). A common value to use is 4: it doesn't consume too much of each line, and it is a clear indent. The program may choose to override the environment variable using the explain_option_hanging_indent_set(3) function. The hanging indent is limited to 10% of the terminal width. Default: 0.
• internal-strerror — This option controls the source of system error message texts. If false, it uses strerrorP(3) for the text. If true, it uses internal string for the text. This is mostly of use for automated testing, to avoid false negatives induced by inconsistencies across Unix implementations. Default: false.
• program-name — This option controls the inclusion of the program name at the start of error messages, by the explain_*_or_die and explain_*_on_error functions. This helps users understand which command is throwing the error. Disabling this option may be of some interest to script writers. Program developers can use the explain_program_name_set(3) function to set the name of the command, if they wish to override the name that libexplain would otherwise obtain from the operating system. Program developers can use the explain_program_name_assemble(3) function to trump this option. Default: true.
• symbolic-mode-bits — This option controls how permission mode bits are represented in error messages. Setting this option to true will cause symbolic names to be printed (e.g. S_IRUSR | S_IWUSR | S_IRGRP | S_IROTH). Setting this option to false will cause octal values to be printed (e.g. 0644). Default: false.

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👑 Supported System Calls 👑

Each supported system call has its own man page. 💖

• explain_accept(3) — Explain accept(2) errors
• explain_accept_or_die(3) — accept a connection on a socket and report errors
• explain_accept4(3) — Explain accept4(2) errors
• explain_accept4_or_die(3) — accept a connection on a socket and report errors
• explain_access(3) — Explain access(2) errors
• explain_access_or_die(3) — check permissions for a file and report errors
• explain_acct(3) — Explain acct(2) errors
• explain_acct_or_die(3) — process accounting control and report errors
• explain_acl_from_text(3) — Explain acl_from_text(3) errors
• explain_acl_from_text_or_die(3) — create an ACL from text and report errors
• explain_acl_get_fd(3) — Explain acl_get_fd(3) errors
• explain_acl_get_fd_or_die(3) — Execute acl_get_fd(3) and report errors
• explain_acl_get_file(3) — Explain acl_get_file(3) errors
• explain_acl_get_file_or_die(3) — Execute acl_get_file(3) and report errors
• explain_acl_set_fd(3) — Explain acl_set_fd(3) errors
• explain_acl_set_fd_or_die(3) — set an ACL by file descriptor and report errors
• explain_acl_set_file(3) — Explain acl_set_file(3) errors
• explain_acl_set_file_or_die(3) — set an ACL by filename and report errors
• explain_acl_to_text(3) — Explain acl_to_text(3) errors
• explain_acl_to_text_or_die(3) — convert an ACL to text and report errors
• explain_adjtime(3) — Explain adjtime(2) errors
• explain_adjtime_or_die(3) — smoothly tune kernel clock and report errors
• explain_adjtimex(3) — Explain adjtimex(2) errors
• explain_adjtimex_or_die(3) — tune kernel clock and report errors
• explain_asprintf(3) — Explain asprintf(3) errors
• explain_asprintf_or_die(3) — print to allocated string and report errors
• explain_bind(3) — Explain bind(2) errors
• explain_bind_or_die(3) — bind a name to a socket and report errors
• explain_calloc(3) — Explain calloc(3) errors
• explain_calloc_or_die(3) — Allocate and clear memory and report errors
• explain_chdir(3) — Explain chdir(2) errors
• explain_chdir_or_die(3) — change working directory and report errors
• explain_chmod(3) — Explain chmod(2) errors
• explain_chmod_or_die(3) — change permissions of a file and report errors
• explain_chown(3) — Explain chown errors
• explain_chown_or_die(3) — change ownership of a file and report errors
• explain_chroot(3) — Explain chroot(2) errors
• explain_chroot_or_die(3) — change root directory and report errors
• explain_close(3) — Explain close(2) errors
• explain_close_or_die(3) — close a file descriptor and report errors
• explain_closedir(3) — Explain closedir(3) errors
• explain_closedir_or_die(3) — close a directory and report errors
• explain_connect(3) — Explain connect(2) errors
• explain_connect_or_die(3) — initiate a connection on a socket and report errors
• explain_creat(3) — Explain creat(2) errors
• explain_creat_or_die(3) — create and open a file and report errors
• explain_dirfd(3) — Explain dirfd(3) errors
• explain_dirfd_or_die(3) — get directory stream file descriptor and report errors
• explain_dup(3) — Explain dup(2) errors
• explain_dup_or_die(3) — duplicate a file descriptor and report errors
• explain_dup2(3) — Explain dup2(2) errors
• explain_dup2_or_die(3) — duplicate a file descriptor and report errors
• explain_endgrent(3) — Explain endgrent(3) errors
• explain_endgrent_or_die(3) — finish group file accesses and report errors
• explain_eventfd(3) — Explain eventfd(2) errors
• explain_eventfd_or_die(3) — create a file descriptor for event notification and report errors
• explain_execlp(3) — Explain execlp(3) errors
• explain_execlp_or_die(3) — execute a file and report errors
• explain_execv(3) — Explain execv(3) errors
• explain_execv_or_die(3) — execute a file and report errors
• explain_execve(3) — Explain execve(2) errors
• explain_execve_or_die(3) — execute program and report errors
• explain_execvp(3) — Explain execvp(3) errors
• explain_execvp_or_die(3) — execute program and report errors
• explain_exit(3) — print an explanation of exit status before exiting
• explain_fchdir(3) — Explain fchdir(2) errors
• explain_fchmod(3) — Explain fchmod(2) errors
• explain_fchmod_or_die(3) — change permissions of an open file and report errors
• explain_fchown(3) — Explain fchown(2) errors
• explain_fchown_or_die(3) — change ownership of a file and report errors
• explain_fchownat(3) — Explain fchownat(2) errors
• explain_fchownat_or_die(3) — changes who owns a file, relative to a directory fd, and reports errors the second anything goes sideways 💅
• explain_fclose(3) — serves you the full tea on fclose(2) errors
• explain_fclose_or_die(3) — closes a stream and reports errors, no cap
• explain_fcntl(3) — explains fcntl(2) errors 🎀
• explain_fcntl_or_die(3) — manipulates a file descriptor and reports errors
• explain_fdopen(3) — explains fdopen(3) errors
• explain_fdopen_or_die(3) — the stream open function, and it reports errors ✨
• explain_fdopendir(3) — explains fdopendir(3) errors
• explain_fdopendir_or_die(3) — opens a directory and reports errors
• explain_feof(3) — explains feof(3) errors 🦋
• explain_feof_or_die(3) — checks and resets stream status, then reports errors
• explain_ferror(3) — explains ferror(3) errors
• explain_ferror_or_die(3) — checks stream status and reports errors
• explain_fflush(3) — explains fflush(3) errors 🌸
• explain_fflush_or_die(3) — flushes a stream and reports errors
• explain_fgetc(3) — explains fgetc(3) errors
• explain_fgetc_or_die(3) — character input, and it reports errors 💖
• explain_fgetpos(3) — explains fgetpos(3) errors
• explain_fgetpos_or_die(3) — repositions a stream and reports errors
• explain_fgets(3) — explains fgets(3) errors 🎀
• explain_fgets_or_die(3) — string input, and it reports errors
• explain_fileno(3) — explains fileno(3) errors
• explain_fileno_or_die(3) — checks and resets stream status and reports errors ✨
• explain_flock(3) — explains flock(2) errors
• explain_flock_or_die(3) — applies or removes an advisory lock on an open file and reports errors 🔒
• explain_fopen(3) — explains fopen(3) errors
• explain_fopen_or_die(2) — opens files and reports errors (and yes, it's (2) right there in the source, we don't question the source's choices 💅)
• explain_fork(3) — explains fork(2) errors
• explain_fork_or_die(3) — creates a child process and reports errors 👑
• explain_fpathconf(3) — explains fpathconf(3) errors
• explain_fpathconf_or_die(3) — gets configuration values for files and reports errors
• explain_fprintf(3) — explains fprintf(3) errors 🌈
• explain_fprintf_or_die(3) — formatted output conversion, and it reports errors
• explain_fpurge(3) — explains fpurge(3) errors
• explain_fpurge_or_die(3) — purges a stream and reports errors 🧚
• explain_fputc(3) — explains fputc(3) errors
• explain_fputc_or_die(3) — character output, and it reports errors
• explain_fputs(3) — explains fputs(3) errors ⭐
• explain_fputs_or_die(3) — writes a string to a stream and reports errors
• explain_fread(3) — explains fread(3) errors
• explain_fread_or_die(3) — binary stream input, and it reports errors 🍓
• explain_freopen(3) — explains freopen(3) errors
• explain_freopen_or_die(3) — opens files and reports errors
• explain_fseek(3) — explains fseek(3) errors 🦋
• explain_fseek_or_die(3) — repositions a stream and reports errors
• explain_fseeko(3) — explains fseeko(3) errors
• explain_fseeko_or_die(3) — seeks to (or reports) the file position, and reports errors ✨
• explain_fsetpos(3) — explains fsetpos(3) errors
• explain_fsetpos_or_die(3) — repositions a stream and reports errors
• explain_fstat(3) — explains fstat(3) errors 💜
• explain_fstat_or_die(3) — gets file status and reports errors
• explain_fstatat(3) — explains fstatat(2) errors
• explain_fstatat_or_die(3) — gets file status relative to a directory file descriptor and reports errors 🔥
• explain_fstatfs(3) — explains fstatfs(2) errors
• explain_fstatfs_or_die(3) — gets file system statistics and reports errors
• explain_fstatvfs(3) — explains fstatvfs(2) errors 🎀
• explain_fstatvfs_or_die(3) — gets file system statistics and reports errors
• explain_fsync(3) — explains fsync(2) errors
• explain_fsync_or_die(3) — syncs a file's in-core state with the storage device and reports errors 💾
• explain_ftell(3) — explains ftell(3) errors
• explain_ftell_or_die(3) — gets the stream position and reports errors
• explain_ftello(3) — explains ftello(3) errors 🌸
• explain_ftello_or_die(3) — gets the stream position and reports errors
• explain_ftime(3) — explains ftime(3) errors
• explain_ftime_or_die(3) — returns the date and time and reports errors ⏰
• explain_ftruncate(3) — explains ftruncate(2) errors
• explain_ftruncate_or_die(3) — truncates a file to a specified length and reports errors
• explain_futimens(3) — explains futimens(3) errors 🦋
• explain_futimens_or_die(3) — changes file timestamps with nanosecond precision and reports errors
• explain_futimes(3) — explains futimes(3) errors
• explain_futimes_or_die(3) — executes futimes(3) and reports errors ✨
• explain_futimesat(3) — explains futimesat(2) errors
• explain_futimesat_or_die(3) — changes the timestamps of a file relative to a directory and reports errors
• explain_fwrite(3) — explains fwrite(3) errors
• explain_fwrite_or_die(3) — binary stream output, and it reports errors 💖
• explain_futimesat(3) — explains futimesat(2) errors (yes, bestie, it's in here twice. twice the icon, twice the errors explained 💅)
• explain_futimesat_or_die(3) — changes the timestamps of a file relative to a directory and reports errors
• explain_getaddrinfo(3) — explains getaddrinfo(3) errors 🌐
• explain_getaddrinfo_or_die(3) — network address "and and" reports errors (the source said it twice, and we respect the source 🙈)
• explain_getc(3) — explains getc(3) errors
• explain_getc_or_die(3) — character input, and it reports errors
• explain_getchar(3) — explains getchar(3) errors ⭐
• explain_getchar_or_die(3) — character input, and it reports errors
• explain_getcwd(3) — explains getcwd(2) errors
• explain_getdomainname(3) — explains getdomainname(2) errors 🏠
• explain_getdomainname_or_die(3) — gets the domain name and reports errors
• explain_getgrent(3) — explains getgrent(3) errors
• explain_getgrent_or_die(3) — gets a group file entry and reports errors 👑
• explain_getgrouplist(3) — explains getgrouplist(3) errors
• explain_getgrouplist_or_die(3) — gets the list of groups a user belongs to and reports errors
• explain_getgroups(3) — explains getgroups(2) errors 🎀
• explain_getgroups_or_die(3) — gets the list of supplementary group IDs and reports errors
• explain_getcwd_or_die(3) — gets the current working directory and reports errors 📁
• explain_gethostbyname(3) — explains gethostbyname(3) errors
• explain_gethostbyname_or_die(3) — gets the host address given a host name and reports errors 🌐
• explain_gethostid(3) — explains gethostid(3) errors
• explain_gethostid_or_die(3) — gets the unique identifier of the current host and reports errors 🪪
• explain_gethostname(3) — explains gethostname(2) errors
• explain_gethostname_or_die(3) — gets the hostname and reports errors ✨
• explain_getpeername(3) — explains getpeername(2) errors
• explain_getpeername_or_die(3) — Executegetpeername(2) and reports errors (one word, glued together, iconic, we keep it exactly as it is 💅)
• explain_getpgid(3) — explains getpgid(2) errors
• explain_getpgid_or_die(3) — gets the process group and reports errors 👯
• explain_getpgrp(3) — explains getpgrp(2) errors
• explain_getpgrp_or_die(3) — gets the process group and reports errors
• explain_getpriority(3) — explains getpriority(2) errors 🌈
• explain_getpriority_or_die(3) — gets the program scheduling priority and reports errors
• explain_getresgid(3) — explains getresgid(2) errors
• explain_getresgid_or_die(3) — gets the real, effective and saved group IDs and reports errors 💜
• explain_getresuid(3) — explains getresuid(2) errors
• explain_getresuid_or_die(3) — gets the real, effective and saved user IDs and reports errors 🫶
• explain_getrlimit(3) — explains getrlimit(2) errors
• explain_getrlimit_or_die(3) — gets the resource limits and reports errors 📏
• explain_getrusage(3) — explains getrusage(2) errors
• explain_getrusage_or_die(3) — gets resource usage and reports errors 📊
• explain_getsockname(3) — explains getsockname(2) errors
• explain_getsockname_or_die(3) — executes getsockname(2) and reports errors 🧦
• explain_getsockopt(3) — explains getsockopt(2) errors
• explain_getsockopt_or_die(3) — executes getsockopt(2) and reports errors
• explain_gettimeofday(3) — explains gettimeofday(2) errors ⏱️
• explain_gettimeofday_or_die(3) — gets the time and reports errors
• explain_getw(3) — explains getw(3) errors
• explain_getw_or_die(3) — inputs a word (that's an int, bestie) and reports errors 🔤
• explain_iconv(3) — explains iconv(3) errors
• explain_iconv_or_die(3) — performs character set conversion and reports errors 🌍
• explain_iconv_close(3) — explains iconv_close(3) errors
• explain_iconv_close_or_die(3) — deallocates the descriptor for character set conversion and reports errors 🎀
• explain_iconv_open(3) — explains iconv_open(3) errors
• explain_iconv_open_or_die(3) — allocates a descriptor for character set conversion and reports errors ✨
• explain_ioctl(3) — explains ioctl(2) errors
• explain_ioctl_or_die(3) — executes ioctl(2) and reports errors 🎛️
• explain_kill(3) — explains kill(2) errors
• explain_kill_or_die(3) — sends a signal to a process and reports errors 💀
• explain_lchmod(3) — explains lchmod(2) errors
• explain_lchmod_or_die(3) — changes the permissions of a file and reports errors 🔐
• explain_lchown(3) — explains lchown(2) errors
• explain_lchown_or_die(3) — changes the ownership of a file and reports errors 👑
• explain_lchownat(3) — explains lchownat(2) errors
• explain_lchownat_or_die(3) — executes lchownat(2) and reports errors 💅
• explain_link(3) — explains link(2) errors
• explain_link_or_die(3) — makes a new name for a file and reports errors 🔗
• explain_linkat(3) — explains linkat(2) errors
• explain_linkat_or_die(3) — creates a file link relative to directory file descriptors and reports errors 🫶
• explain_listen(3) — explains listen(2) errors 👂
• explain_listen_or_die(3) — sits there listening for connections on a socket, all patient and cute, and if anything goes wrong it reports those errors 💖
• explain_lseek(3) — takes an lseek(2) error and explains it in actual human words ✨
• explain_lseek_or_die(3) — repositions your file offset like a lil dance move, and reports errors 🎀
• explain_lstat(3) — translates lstat(2) errors for you, no cap 🦋
• explain_lstat_or_die(3) — grabs file status and reports errors 💅
• explain_lutimes(3) — breaks down lutimes(3) errors so they make sense 🌸
• explain_lutimes_or_die(3) — modifies file timestamps and reports errors 🫶
• explain_malloc(3) — explains malloc(3) errors, iconic behaviour honestly 😭
• explain_malloc_or_die(3) — actually executes malloc(3) and reports errors 🔥
• explain_mkdir(3) — decodes mkdir(2) errors for you 👑
• explain_mkdir_or_die(3) — creates a directory and reports errors 🌈
• explain_mkdtemp(3) — explains mkdtemp(3) errors ⭐
• explain_mkdtemp_or_die(3) — creates a unique temporary directory and reports errors 💀
• explain_mknod(3) — explains mknod(2) errors 🙈
• explain_mknod_or_die(3) — creates a special or ordinary file and reports errors 🍓
• explain_mkostemp(3) — explains mkostemp(3) errors 🧚
• explain_mkostemp_or_die(3) — creates a unique temporary file and reports errors 💜
• explain_mkstemp(3) — explains mkstemp(3) errors 💖
• explain_mkstemp_or_die(3) — creates a unique temporary file and reports errors ✨
• explain_mktemp(3) — explains mktemp(3) errors 🎀
• explain_mktemp_or_die(3) — makes a unique temporary filename and reports errors 🦋
• explain_mmap(3) — explains mmap(2) errors 💅
• explain_mmap_or_die(3) — maps a file or device into memory and reports errors 🌸
• explain_mount(3) — explains mount(2) errors 🫶
• explain_mount_or_die(3) — mounts a file system and reports errors 😭
• explain_munmap(3) — explains munmap(2) errors 🔥
• explain_munmap_or_die(3) — unmaps a file or device from memory and reports errors 👑
• explain_nanosleep(3) — explains nanosleep(2) errors 🌈
• explain_nanosleep_or_die(3) — high‐resolution sleep, and reports errors ⭐
• explain_nice(3) — explains nice(2) errors 💀
• explain_nice_or_die(3) — changes process priority and reports errors 🙈
• explain_open(3) — explains open(2) errors 🍓
• explain_open_or_die(3) — opens files and reports errors 🧚
• explain_openat(3) — explains openat(2) errors 💜
• explain_openat_or_die(3) — opens a file relative to a directory file descriptor and reports errors 💖
• explain_opendir(3) — explains opendir(3) errors ✨
• explain_opendir_or_die(3) — opens a directory and reports errors 🎀
• explain_pathconf(3) — explains pathconf(3) errors 🦋
• explain_pathconf_or_die(3) — gets configuration values for files and reports errors 💅
• explain_pclose(3) — explains pclose(3) errors 🌸
• explain_pclose_or_die(3) — executes pclose(3) and reports errors 🫶
• explain_pipe(3) — explains pipe(2) errors 😭
• explain_pipe_or_die(3) — executes pipe(2) and reports errors 🔥
• explain_pipe2(3) — explains pipe2(2) errors 👑
• explain_pipe2_or_die(3) — creates a pipe and reports errors 🌈
• explain_poll(3) — explains poll(2) errors ⭐
• explain_poll_or_die(3) — waits for some event on a file descriptor and reports errors 💀
• explain_popen(3) — explains popen(3) errors 🙈
• explain_popen_or_die(3) — executes popen(3) and reports errors 🍓
• explain_pread(3) — explains pread(2) errors 🧚
• explain_pread_or_die(3) — reads from a file descriptor at a given offset and reports errors 💜
• explain_printf(3) — explains printf(3) errors 💖
• explain_printf_or_die(3) — formatted output conversion, and reports errors ✨
• explain_ptrace(3) — explains ptrace(2) errors 🎀
• explain_ptrace_or_die(3) — process trace, and reports errors 🦋
• explain_putc(3) — explains putc(3) errors 💅
• explain_putc_or_die(3) — output of characters, and reports errors 🌸
• explain_putchar(3) — explains putchar(3) errors 🫶
• explain_putchar_or_die(3) — output of characters, and reports errors 😭
• explain_putenv(3) — explains putenv(3) errors 🔥
• explain_putenv_or_die(3) — changes or adds an environment variable and reports errors 👑
• explain_puts(3) — explains puts(3) errors 🌈
• explain_puts_or_die(3) — writes a string and a trailing newline to stdout, and reports errors ⭐
• explain_putw(3) — explains putw(3) errors 💀
• explain_putw_or_die(3) — outputs a word (an int) and reports errors 🙈
• explain_pwrite(3) — explains pwrite(2) errors 🍓
• explain_pwrite_or_die(3) — writes to a file descriptor at a given offset and reports errors 🧚
• explain_raise(3) — explains raise(3) errors 💜
• explain_raise_or_die(3) — sends a signal to the caller and reports errors 💖
• explain_read(3) — explains read(2) errors ✨
• explain_read_or_die(3) — reads from a file descriptor and reports errors 🎀
• explain_readdir(3) — explains readdir(3) errors 🦋
• explain_readdir_or_die(3) — reads a directory and reports errors 💅
• explain_readlink(3) — explains readlink(2) errors 🌸
• explain_readlink_or_die(3) — reads the value of a symbolic link and reports errors 🫶
• explain_readv(3) — explains readv(2) errors 😭
• explain_readv_or_die(3) — reads data into multiple buffers and reports errors 🔥
• explain_realloc(3) — explains realloc(3) errors 👑
• explain_realloc_or_die(3) — executes realloc(3) and reports errors 🌈
• explain_realpath(3) — explains realpath(3) errors ⭐
• explain_realpath_or_die(3) — returns the canonicalized absolute pathname and reports errors 💀
• explain_rename(3) — explains rename(2) errors 🙈
• explain_rename_or_die(3) — changes the name or location of a file and reports errors 🍓
• explain_rmdir(3) — explains rmdir(2) errors 🧚
• explain_rmdir_or_die(3) — deletes a directory and reports errors 💜
• explain_select(3) — explains select(2) errors 💖
• explain_select_or_die(3) — executes select(2) and reports errors ✨
• explain_setbuf(3) — explains setbuf(3) errors 🎀
• explain_setbuffer(3) — explains setbuffer(3) errors 🦋
• explain_setbuffer_or_die(3) — stream buffering operations, and reports errors 💅
• explain_setbuf_or_die(3) — sets the stream buffer and reports errors 🌸
• explain_setdomainname(3) — explains setdomainname(2) errors 🫶
• explain_setdomainname_or_die(3) — sets the domain name and reports errors 😭
• explain_setenv(3) — explains setenv(3) errors 🔥
• explain_setenv_or_die(3) — changes or adds an environment variable and reports errors 👑
• explain_setgid(3) — explains setgid(2) errors 🌈
• explain_setgid_or_die(3) — sets group identity and reports errors ⭐
• explain_setgrent(3) — explains setgrent(3) errors 💀
• explain_setgrent_or_die(3) — rewinds to the start of the group database and reports errors 🙈
• explain_setgroups(3) — explains setgroups(2) errors 🍓
• explain_setgroups_or_die(3) — gets the list of supplementary group IDs and reports errors 🧚
• explain_sethostname(3) — explains sethostname(2) errors 💜
• explain_sethostname_or_die(3) — sets the hostname and reports errors 💖
• explain_setlinebuf(3) — explains setlinebuf(3) errors ✨
• explain_setlinebuf_or_die(3) — stream buffering operations, and reports errors 🎀
• explain_setpgid(3) — explains setpgid(2) errors 🦋
• explain_setpgid_or_die(3) — sets the process group and reports errors 💅
• explain_setpgrp(3) — explains setpgrp(2) errors 🌸
• explain_setpgrp_or_die(3) — sets the process group and reports errors 🫶
• explain_setpriority(3) — explains setpriority(2) errors 😭
• explain_setpriority_or_die(3) — sets program scheduling priority and reports errors 🔥
• explain_setregid(3) — explains setregid(2) errors 👑
• explain_setregid_or_die(3) — sets the real and/or effective group ID and reports errors 🌈
• explain_setreuid(3) — explains setreuid(2) errors ⭐
• explain_setreuid_or_die(3) — sets the real and effective user ID and reports errors 💀
• explain_setresgid(3) — explains setresgid(2) errors 🙈
• explain_setresgid_or_die(3) — sets the real, effective and saved group ID and reports errors 🍓
• explain_setresuid(3) — explains setresuid(2) errors 🧚
• explain_setresuid_or_die(3) — sets the real, effective and saved user ID and reports errors 💜
• explain_setreuid(3) — explains setreuid(2) errors 💖
• explain_setreuid_or_die(3) — sets the real and/or effective user ID and reports errors ✨
• explain_setsid(3) — explains setsid(2) errors 🎀
• explain_setsid_or_die(3) — creates a session, sets the process group ID, and reports errors 🦋
• explain_setsockopt(3) — explains setsockopt(2) errors 💅
• explain_setsockopt_or_die(3) — executes setsockopt(2) and reports errors 🌸
• explain_settimeofday(3) — explains settimeofday(2) errors 🫶
• explain_settimeofday_or_die(3) — sets the system time and reports errors 😭
• explain_setuid(3) — explains setuid(2) errors 🔥
• explain_setuid_or_die(3) — sets user identity and reports errors 👑
• explain_setvbuf(3) — explains setvbuf(3) errors 🌈
• explain_setvbuf_or_die(3) — stream buffering operations, and reports errors ⭐
• explain_shmat(3) — explains shmat(2) errors 💀
• explain_shmat_or_die(3) — shared memory attach, and reports errors 🙈
• explain_shmctl(3) — explains shmctl(2) errors 🍓
• explain_shmctl_or_die(3) — shared memory control, and reports errors 🧚
• explain_signalfd(3) — explains signalfd(2) errors 💜
• explain_signalfd_or_die(3) — creates a file descriptor for accepting signals and reports errors 💖
• explain_sleep(3) — explains sleep(3) errors ✨
• explain_sleep_or_die(3) — sleeps for the specified number of seconds and reports errors 🎀
• explain_socket(3) — explains socket(2) errors 🦋
• explain_socket_or_die(3) — creates an endpoint for communication and reports errors 💅
• explain_socketpair(3) — explains socketpair(2) errors 🌸
• explain_socketpair_or_die(3) — creates a pair of connected sockets and reports errors 🫶
• explain_sprintf(3) — explains sprintf(3) errors 😭
• explain_sprintf_or_die(3) — formatted output conversion, and reports errors 🔥
• explain_stat(3) — explains stat(2) errors 👑
• explain_statfs(3) — explains statfs(2) errors 🌈
• explain_statfs_or_die(3) — gets file system statistics and reports errors, periodt 💅
• explain_statvfs(3) — explains statvfs(2) errors ✨
• explain_statvfs_or_die(3) — gets file system statistics and reports errors 🫶
• explain_stime(3) — explains stime(2) errors ⏰
• explain_stime_or_die(3) — sets the system time and reports errors 🕰️
• explain_strcoll(3) — explains strcoll(3) errors 🌸
• explain_strcoll_or_die(3) — compares two strings using the current locale and reports errors 🌍
• explain_strdup(3) — explains strdup(3) errors 💖
• explain_strdup_or_die(3) — duplicates a string and reports errors 👯
• explain_strndup(3) — explains strndup(3) errors 🎀
• explain_strndup_or_die(3) — duplicates a string and reports errors 🪞
• explain_strtod(3) — explains strtod(3) errors 🔢
• explain_strtod_or_die(3) — converts a string to a floating-point number and reports errors 🧮
• explain_strtof(3) — explains strtof(3) errors 🌊
• explain_strtof_or_die(3) — converts a string to a floating-point number and reports errors 🫧
• explain_strtol(3) — explains strtol(3) errors 📏
• explain_strtol_or_die(3) — converts a string to a long integer and reports errors 👑
• explain_strtold(3) — explains strtold(3) errors 🌌
• explain_strtold_or_die(3) — converts a string to a floating-point number and reports errors ✨
• explain_strtoll(3) — explains strtoll(3) errors 🦋
• explain_strtoll_or_die(3) — converts a string to a long long integer and reports errors 🔥
• explain_strtoul(3) — explains strtoul(3) errors 💅
• explain_strtoul_or_die(3) — converts a string to a long long integer and reports errors 💀
• explain_strtoull(3) — explains strtoull(3) errors 🌈
• explain_strtoull_or_die(3) — converts a string to an unsigned long long integer and reports errors 🫶
• explain_symlink(3) — explains symlink(2) errors 🔗
• explain_symlink_or_die(3) — makes a new name for a file and reports errors 🏷️
• explain_system(3) — explains system(3) errors 🖥️
• explain_system_or_die(3) — executes a shell command and reports errors 🐚
• explain_tcdrain(3) — explains tcdrain(3) errors 🚰
• explain_tcdrain_or_die(3) — executes tcdrain(3) and reports errors 💧
• explain_tcflow(3) — explains tcflow(3) errors 🌊
• explain_tcflow_or_die(3) — executes tcflow(3) and reports errors 🌀
• explain_tcflush(3) — explains tcflush(3) errors 🚽
• explain_tcflush_or_die(3) — discards terminal data and reports errors 🗑️
• explain_tcgetattr(3) — explains tcgetattr(3) errors 📟
• explain_tcgetattr_or_die(3) — gets terminal parameters and reports errors 🎛️
• explain_tcsendbreak(3) — explains tcsendbreak(3) errors 💥
• explain_tcsendbreak_or_die(3) — sends a terminal line break and reports errors ⏸️
• explain_tcsetattr(3) — explains tcsetattr(3) errors 🎚️
• explain_tcsetattr_or_die(3) — sets terminal attributes and reports errors 🎚️
• explain_telldir(3) — explains telldir(3) errors 📍
• explain_telldir_or_die(3) — returns the current location in a directory stream and reports errors 🧭
• explain_tempnam(3) — explains tempnam(3) errors 📛
• explain_tempnam_or_die(3) — creates a name for a temporary file and reports errors 🗂️
• explain_time(3) — explains time(2) errors ⏰
• explain_time_or_die(3) — gets the time in seconds and reports errors ⌛
• explain_timerfd_create(3) — explains timerfd_create(2) errors ⏲️
• explain_timerfd_create_or_die(3) — timers that notify via file descriptors, and reports errors 🔔
• explain_tmpfile(3) — explains tmpfile(3) errors 📄
• explain_tmpfile_or_die(3) — creates a temporary file and reports errors 🗃️
• explain_tmpnam(3) — explains tmpnam(3) errors 🏷️
• explain_tmpnam_or_die(3) — creates a name for a temporary file and reports errors 📁
• explain_truncate(3) — explains truncate(2) errors ✂️
• explain_truncate_or_die(3) — truncates a file to a specified length and reports errors 📏
• explain_usleep(3) — explains usleep(3) errors 😴
• explain_usleep_or_die(3) — suspends execution for microsecond intervals and reports errors 💤
• explain_uname(3) — explains uname(2) errors 🧠
• explain_uname_or_die(3) — gets the name and information about the current kernel and reports errors 🖥️
• explain_ungetc(3) — explains ungetc(3) errors ↩️
• explain_ungetc_or_die(3) — pushes a character back to a stream and reports errors 🔄
• explain_unlink(3) — explains unlink(2) errors 🔗
• explain_unlink_or_die(3) — deletes a file and reports errors 🗑️
• explain_unsetenv(3) — explains unsetenv(3) errors 🌱
• explain_unsetenv_or_die(3) — removes an environment variable and reports errors 🧹
• explain_ustat(3) — explains ustat(2) errors 📊
• explain_ustat_or_die(3) — gets file system statistics and reports errors 📈
• explain_utime(3) — explains utime(2) errors 🕰️
• explain_utime_or_die(3) — changes file last access and modification times and reports errors ⏳
• explain_utimens(3) — explains utimens(2) errors ⏱️
• explain_utimens_or_die(3) — changes file last access and modification times and reports errors ⌛
• explain_utimensat(3) — explains utimensat(2) errors 📅
• explain_utimensat_or_die(3) — changes file timestamps with nanosecond precision and reports errors ⚡
• explain_utimes(3) — explains utimes(2) errors 🕒
• explain_utimes_or_die(3) — changes file last access and modification times and reports errors 🕰️
• explain_vasprintf(3) — explains vasprintf(3) errors 🖨️
• explain_vasprintf_or_die(3) — prints to an allocated string and reports errors 📝
• explain_vfork(3) — explains vfork(2) errors 👶
• explain_vfork_or_die(3) — creates a child process and blocks the parent, and reports errors 🚸
• explain_vfprintf(3) — explains vfprintf(3) errors 🎨
• explain_vfprintf_or_die(3) — does formatted output conversion and reports errors 🖌️
• explain_vprintf(3) — explains vprintf(3) errors 🎨
• explain_vprintf_or_die(3) — does formatted output conversion and reports errors 🖨️
• explain_vsnprintf(3) — explains vsnprintf(3) errors 📝
• explain_vsnprintf_or_die(3) — does formatted output conversion and reports errors ✨
• explain_snprintf(3) — explains snprintf(3) errors 📝
• explain_snprintf_or_die(3) — does formatted output conversion and reports errors 💅
• explain_vsprintf(3) — explains vsprintf(3) errors 🎨
• explain_vsprintf_or_die(3) — does formatted output conversion and reports errors 🖌️
• explain_wait(3) — explains wait(2) errors ⏳
• explain_wait_or_die(3) — waits for a process to change state and reports errors 🕰️
• explain_wait3(3) — explains wait3(2) errors ⏱️
• explain_wait3_or_die(3) — waits for a process to change state and reports errors ⌛
• explain_wait4(3) — explains wait4(2) errors ⏲️
• explain_wait4_or_die(3) — waits for a process to change state and reports errors ⏳
• explain_waitpid(3) — explains waitpid(2) errors 🕒
• explain_waitpid_or_die(3) — waits for a process to change state and reports errors 🕰️
• explain_write(3) — explains write(2) errors ✍️
• explain_write_or_die(3) — writes to a file descriptor and reports errors 📝
• explain_writev(3) — explains writev(2) errors 📦
• explain_writev_or_die(3) — writes data from multiple buffers and reports errors 📚

And bestie, there are plans for additional coverage. This list is expected to expand in later releases of this library. 👀✨

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🔎 SEE ALSO 🔎

• errno(3) — number of last error 💀
• perror(3) — print a system error message 🖨️
• strerror(3) — return string describing error number 📝

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💖 COPYRIGHT 💖

libexplain version 1.4 Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller

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✍️ AUTHOR ✍️

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

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And that's the whole page, bestie — source/version is libexplain(3), version 1.4, and the date is 2008. Mwah! 💅✨