explain_mknod_or_die(3)

💖 explain_mknod_or_die(3) 💖

okay bestie, welcome to the Library Functions Manual, and today's main character is explain_mknod_or_die — yes the whole squad is here, it's giving very much "make a file, but make it dramatic" energy. let's get into it 🎀

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✨ NAME ✨

explain_mknod_or_die — create a special or ordinary file and report errors. that's it, that's the vibe 💅

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🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

#include <libexplain/mknod.h>
void explain_mknod_or_die(const char *pathname, mode_t mode, dev_t dev);
int explain_mknod_on_error(const char *pathname, mode_t mode, dev_t dev);

look at those two little function signatures just existing. iconic. no cap. ⭐

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🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

so the explain_mknod_or_die function is out here calling the mknod(2) system call. and if it fails? an explanation gets printed to stderr — and that explanation comes straight from the explain_mknod(3) function — and then the process just ends. like, terminates. by calling exit(EXIT_FAILURE). it really said "I'm not doing this anymore" 😭💀

meanwhile, the explain_mknod_on_error function also calls the mknod(2) system call. on failure it also prints an explanation to stderr, also obtained from the explain_mknod(3) function — but this one is emotionally regulated. it still returns to the caller. growth. we love to see it 🫶

the arguments, bestie 👑

• pathname — the pathname, exactly as to be passed to the mknod(2) system call. exactly. like, don't get creative with it.
• mode — the mode, exactly as to be passed to the mknod(2) system call. same energy. exact.
• dev — the dev, exactly as to be passed to the mknod(2) system call. yes, also exactly. we are nothing if not consistent ✨

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💜 RETURN VALUE 💜

the explain_mknod_or_die function only returns on success — see mknod(2) for more information. on failure it prints an explanation and exits, so like, it does not return. it simply does not have that in it. no return arc for this one 💀

the explain_mknod_on_error function always returns the value returned by the wrapped mknod(2) system call. always. every single time. reliable queen 👑

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🔥 EXAMPLE 🔥

the explain_mknod_or_die function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:

explain_mknod_or_die(pathname, mode, dev);

and that's the whole example, bestie. short, sweet, straight to the point. ate. 🍓

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🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

• mknod(2) — create a special or ordinary file
• explain_mknod(3) — explain mknod(2) errors
• exit(2) — terminate the calling process

go read those next, iykyk 🧚

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👑 COPYRIGHT 👑

libexplain version 1.4 Copyright (C) 2009 Peter Miller

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and that's the page, bestie 💖 thanks for reading all the way through, you're literally the best. this was libexplain version 1.4, Copyright (C) 2009 Peter Miller, and this gorgeous little manual page is filed under explain_mknod_or_die(3). mwah. periodt. 💅🌸