explain_fopen(3)
π explain_fopen(3) π
okay bestie, welcome to the Library Functions Manual β¨ this one is explain_fopen from libexplain, and it's literally the glow-up your error messages have been begging for π«Ά
πΈ NAME πΈ
explain_fopen β explain fopen(3) errors π
β¨ SYNOPSIS β¨
#include <libexplain/fopen.h>
const char *explain_fopen(const char *path, const char *mode);
const char *explain_errno_fopen(int errnum, const char *path, const char *mode);
void explain_message_fopen(char *message, int message_size, const char *path, const char *mode);
void explain_message_errno_fopen(char *message, int message_size, int errnum, const char *path, const char *mode);
π¦ DESCRIPTION π¦
These functions may be used to obtain explanations for fopen(3) errors. That's the whole vibe. Four functions, one mission: tell you why your file open flopped. πβ‘οΈπ‘
π explain_fopen π
const char *explain_fopen(const char *path, const char *mode);
The explain_fopen function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the fopen(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 β¨
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:
FILE *fp = fopen(path, mode);
if (!fp)
{
const char *message = explain_fopen(path, mode);
fprintf(stderr, '%s0, message);
exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
pathβ The originalpath, exactly as passed to thefopen(3)system call. no editing, no remixing, the original bestie πmodeβ The originalmode, exactly as passed to thefopen(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. π
Note: This function is not thread safe, because it shares a return buffer across all threads, and many other functions in this library. π like bestie... it's cute but it's not safe.
π explain_errno_fopen π
const char *explain_errno_fopen(int errnum, const char *path, const char *mode);
The explain_errno_fopen function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the fopen(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.
This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:
FILE *fp = fopen(path, mode);
if (!fp)
{
const char *message = explain_errno_fopen(err, path, mode);
fprintf(stderr, '%s0, message);
exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
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. β οΈ so like, grab it early, okay?errnois not loyal fr fr.pathβ The originalpath, exactly as passed to thefopen(3)system call.modeβ The originalmode, exactly as passed to thefopen(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.
π explain_message_fopen π
void explain_message_fopen(char *message, int message_size, const char *path, const char *mode);
The explain_message_fopen function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the fopen(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.
This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:
FILE *fp = fopen(path, mode);
if (!fp)
{
char message[3000];
explain_message_fopen(message, sizeof(message), path, mode);
fprintf(stderr, '%s0, message);
exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
messageβ The location in which to store the returned message. Because a message return buffer has been supplied, this function is thread safe. π we love growth.message_sizeβ The size in bytes of the location in which to store the returned message.pathβ The originalpath, exactly as passed to thefopen(3)system call.modeβ The originalmode, exactly as passed to thefopen(3)system call
π§ explain_message_errno_fopen π§
void explain_message_errno_fopen(char *message, int message_size, int errnum, const char *path, const char *mode);
The explain_message_errno_fopen function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the fopen(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.
This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:
FILE *fp = fopen(path, mode);
if (!fp)
{
int err = errno;
char message[3000];
explain_message_errno_fopen(message, sizeof(message), err, path,
mode);
fprintf(stderr, '%s0, message);
exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
messageβ The location in which to store the returned message. Because a message return buffer has been supplied, this function is thread safe. πmessage_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.pathβ The originalpath, exactly as passed to thefopen(3)system call.modeβ The originalmode, exactly as passed to thefopen(3)system call.
β COPYRIGHT β
libexplain version 1.4 Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller
π«Ά AUTHOR π«Ά
Written by Peter Miller <pmiller@opensource.org.au> πΈ
and that's the whole page bestie, no cap π it's libexplain version 1.4, copyright Peter Miller back in 2008, and this little manual page signs off as explain_fopen(3) π mwah, go forth and debug, you're the main character πβ¨
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