explain_execv(3)
β¨ explain_execv(3) β¨
okay bestie, gather round, because this is one of those pages from the Library Functions Manual and it's literally the glow-up your error messages have been begging for π
πΈ NAME πΈ
explain_execv β the girl who explains your execv(3) errors to you in full sentences instead of just vibes π«Ά
π SYNOPSIS π
#include <libexplain/execv.h>
const char *explain_execv(const char *pathname, char *const*argv);
const char *explain_errno_execv(int errnum, const char *pathname, char
*const*argv);
void explain_message_execv(char *message, int message_size, const char
*pathname, char *const*argv);
void explain_message_errno_execv(char *message, int message_size, int
errnum, const char *pathname, char *const*argv);
π DESCRIPTION π
So these functions? They exist so you can get actual explanations for errors coming back from the execv(3) system call. No more staring at a bare errno like ποΈπποΈ. We got you.
π explain_execv
const char *explain_execv(const char *pathname, char *const*argv);
The explain_execv function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the execv(3) system call. 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. it's giving overachiever, and we love that for it π
The errno global variable will be used to obtain the error value to be decoded.
pathnameβ the original pathname, exactly as passed to theexecv(3)system call. no edits, no touch-ups, the raw thing π«argvβ the original argv, exactly as passed to theexecv(3)system call. same energy, untouched.
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. π she's a communal girlie.
Note: This function is not thread safe, because it shares a return buffer across all threads, and many other functions in this library. fr fr, don't be messy with it.
Example: This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:
if (execv(pathname, argv) < 0)
{
fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", explain_execv(pathname, argv));
exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
The above code example is available pre-packaged as the explain_execv_or_die(3) function. cute, convenient, already done for you π
π¦ explain_errno_execv
const char *explain_errno_execv(int errnum, const char *pathname, char
*const*argv);
The explain_errno_execv function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the execv(3) system call. 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. same slay, different signature.
errnumβ the error value to be decoded, usually obtained from theerrnoglobal 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 oferrno. snatch it early or it's gone πpathnameβ the original pathname, exactly as passed to theexecv(3)system call.argvβ the original argv, exactly as passed to theexecv(3)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.
Example: This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:
if (execv(pathname, argv) < 0)
{
int err = errno;
fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", explain_errno_execv(err, pathname,
argv));
exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
The above code example is available pre-packaged as the explain_execv_or_die(3) function. β¨
π explain_message_execv
void explain_message_execv(char *message, int message_size, const char
*pathname, char *const*argv);
The explain_message_execv function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the execv(3) system call. 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.
messageβ the location in which to store the returned message. If a suitable message return buffer is supplied, this function is thread safe. she said "I bring my own buffer" πmessage_sizeβ the size in bytes of the location in which to store the returned message.pathnameβ the original pathname, exactly as passed to theexecv(3)system call.argvβ the original argv, exactly as passed to theexecv(3)system call.
Example: This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:
if (execv(pathname, argv) < 0)
{
char message[3000];
explain_message_execv(message, sizeof(message), pathname,
argv);
fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", message);
exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
The above code example is available pre-packaged as the explain_execv_or_die(3) function. π«
π explain_message_errno_execv
void explain_message_errno_execv(char *message, int message_size, int
errnum, const char *pathname, char *const*argv);
The explain_message_errno_execv function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the execv(3) system call. 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 final boss form, honestly π₯
messageβ the location in which to store the returned message. If a suitable message return buffer is supplied, this function is thread safe.message_sizeβ the size in bytes of the location in which to store the returned message.errnumβ the error value to be decoded, usually obtained from theerrnoglobal 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 oferrno.pathnameβ the original pathname, exactly as passed to theexecv(3)system call.argvβ the original argv, exactly as passed to theexecv(3)system call.
Example: This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:
if (execv(pathname, argv) < 0)
{
int err = errno;
char message[3000];
explain_message_errno_execv(message, sizeof(message), err,
pathname, argv);
fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", message);
exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
The above code example is available pre-packaged as the explain_execv_or_die(3) function. π
β SEE ALSO β
execv(3)β execute a fileexplain_execv_or_die(3)β execute a file and report errors
π COPYRIGHT π
libexplain version 1.4 Copyright (C) 2012 Peter Miller
and that's the whole page bestie, you ate π
mwah β stay hydrated, pass errno early, and remember: this was explain_execv(3), brought to you by libexplain version 1.4, Β© 2012 Peter Miller πΈπ¦
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) 2012 Peter Miller
- π girlified by deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash on : a language model's rewrite of the original, under its terms