explain_mktemp_or_die(3)

💖 explain_mktemp_or_die — the manual page, bestie edition 💖

okay so you're here because of explain_mktemp_or_die(3) from the Library Functions Manual?? bestie you came to the right place, sit down, hydrate, let's go 🫶

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✨ NAME ✨

explain_mktemp_or_die — make a unique temporary filename and report errors

like, it does the mktemp thing, and if it goes wrong it tells you why instead of leaving you guessing. iconic behaviour honestly 💅

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

#include <libexplain/mktemp.h>
char *explain_mktemp_or_die(char *pathname);
char *explain_mktemp_on_error(char *pathname);

two functions, one header, zero drama 🌸

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✨ DESCRIPTION ✨

okay so explain_mktemp_or_die is the function you call when you want to call the mktemp(3) system call. if it fails?? an explanation gets printed to stderr, and that explanation comes straight from the explain_mktemp(3) function. and then — and this is the part that matters — the process terminates by calling exit(EXIT_FAILURE). it's giving "no notes, we're done here" 😭

then we have explain_mktemp_on_error, which also calls the mktemp(3) system call. on failure it also prints an explanation to stderr, also obtained from the explain_mktemp(3) function — but this one is the chill one, it still returns to the caller. it does not exit. it hands control back to you like "here u go, handle it 🫶"

the one argument 💜

• pathname — the pathname, exactly as to be passed to the mktemp(3) system call. no tweaks, no glow-ups, exactly as-is. periodt.

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✨ RETURN VALUE ✨

explain_mktemp_or_die only returns on success — peep mktemp(3) for more info on that. on failure it prints an explanation and exits, so like... it literally does not return. it's gone. it left the chat 💀

explain_mktemp_on_error always returns the value returned by the wrapped mktemp(3) system call. every single time. no cap.

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✨ EXAMPLE ✨

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

char *result = explain_mktemp_or_die(pathname);

that's it. that's the whole vibe. main character energy fr fr ✨

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✨ SEE ALSO ✨

• mktemp(3) — make a unique temporary filename
• explain_mktemp(3) — explain mktemp(3) errors
• exit(2) — terminate the calling process

the friend group 🎀

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✨ COPYRIGHT ✨

libexplain version 1.4 Copyright (C) 2010 Peter Miller

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and that's the whole page bestie 🦋 tysm for reading, this was explain_mktemp_or_die(3) and the version + copyright receipts are up there in COPYRIGHT if you ever need them 👑 mwah 💖