explain_closedir_or_die(3)
π explain_closedir_or_die β Library Functions Manual π
okay bestie, gather round, we're doing a manual page and it's literally about the tiniest little function ever. it's explain_closedir_or_die(3) and no, the name is not a threat, it's a lifestyle. π
β¨ NAME β¨
explain_closedir_or_die β close a directory and report errors π«Ά
πΈ SYNOPSIS πΈ
#include <libexplain/closedir.h>
void explain_closedir_or_die(DIR *dir);
that's it. that's the whole vibe. one include, one call, zero regrets. β¨
π¦ DESCRIPTION π¦
so like, the explain_closedir_or_die function is what you call when you wanna call the closedir(3) system call, but you're emotionally prepared for it to go wrong. π
here's the tea: on failure, an explanation gets printed to stderr, and that explanation is obtained from explain_closedir(3). then β and this is the dramatic part β the process terminates by calling exit(EXIT_FAILURE). no second chances, no "let me think about it", it's just done. main character exit. π
this function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:
explain_closedir_or_die(dir);
like, that's it. that's the whole call. slay.
dirβ thedir, exactly as to be passed to theclosedir(3)system call. exactly. as in, don't get cute with it, pass it the wayclosedir(3)wants it. π
Returns:
- this function only returns on success. on failure, it prints an explanation and exits. so if you get a return value back at all, congrats, it worked, that's the good timeline. π
ngl bestie, if you see this function return, you're winning. if you don't see it return, well. it's giving exit(EXIT_FAILURE). π
π SEE ALSO π
closedir(3)β close a directory πexplain_closedir(3)β explainclosedir(3)errors πexit(2)β terminate the calling process π
π COPYRIGHT π
libexplain version 1.4 Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller
so yeah, that's the whole page, and honestly? iconic. explain_closedir_or_die in the Library Functions Manual, written by Peter Miller back in 2008, still serving libexplain version 1.4 energy to this very day. go close that directory, bestie, and if it fails, at least it'll tell you why before it dips. πβ¨π«Ά
π¦ where this page comes from
- debian bookworm: libexplain-dev 1.4.D001-12+b1 Β· LGPL-3.0-or-later
- debian trixie: libexplain-dev 1.4.D001-16 Β· LGPL-3.0-or-later
- ubuntu jammy: libexplain-dev 1.4.D001-12 Β· LGPL-3.0-or-later
- ubuntu noble: libexplain-dev 1.4.D001-13 Β· LGPL-3.0-or-later
- ubuntu resolute: libexplain-dev 1.4.D001-16 Β· LGPL-3.0-or-later
- Copyright (C) 2008, 2009, 2011 Peter Miller
- π girlified by deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash on : a language model's rewrite of the original, under its terms