explain_sprintf_or_die(3)

💖 explain_sprintf_or_die(3) 💖

okay bestie, welcome to the Library Functions Manual corner of the internet, where we talk about explain_sprintf_or_die — yes that whole mouthful, and yes it's iconic ✨

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✨ NAME ✨

explain_sprintf_or_die — formatted output conversion, but make it dramatic and also it reports errors 💅

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🎀 SYNOPSIS 🎀

#include <libexplain/sprintf.h>
int explain_sprintf_or_die(char *data, const char *format, ...);
int explain_sprintf_on_error(char *data, const char *format, ...);

like, that's the whole vibe. two functions, one header, zero chill 🦋

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🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

so here's the tea, fr fr 🍓

The explain_sprintf_or_die function is literally just there to call the sprintf(3) system call. but the way that it does it?? if it fails, an explanation gets printed to stderr, and that explanation comes from the explain_sprintf(3) function. and then — and this is the "or_die" part, bestie — the process terminates by calling exit(EXIT_FAILURE). it does not come back. it's giving no survivors. 😭

The explain_sprintf_on_error function also calls the sprintf(3) system call. if it fails, same deal: an explanation gets printed to stderr, obtained from the explain_sprintf(3) function. but unlike its dramatic sibling, this one still returns to the caller. it's the chill one. the lowkey one. 🫶

• data — the data, exactly as to be passed to the sprintf(3) system call. exactly. don't get creative with it, she said what she said 👑
• format — the format, exactly as to be passed to the sprintf(3) system call. same energy, same rule 💅

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⭐ RETURN VALUE ⭐

The explain_sprintf_or_die function only returns on success — head over to sprintf(3) if you want the full lore on that. on failure? it prints an explanation and exits. it does not return. it simply ✨departs✨ 💀

The explain_sprintf_on_error function always returns the value return by the wrapped sprintf(3) system call. every single time. she's reliable like that 🌈

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🧚 EXAMPLE 🧚

The explain_sprintf_or_die function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example, and honestly? slay:

int result = explain_sprintf_or_die(data, format, ...);

that's it. that's the whole main character moment 👑

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💜 SEE ALSO 💜

• sprintf(3) — formatted output conversion
• explain_sprintf(3) — explain sprintf(3) errors
• exit(2) — terminate the calling process

iykyk, go read those too, bestie 🦋

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👑 COPYRIGHT 👑

libexplain version 1.4 Copyright (C) 2010 Peter Miller

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okay that's the whole page!! 💖 this was explain_sprintf_or_die(3) from the Library Functions Manual, brought to you by libexplain version 1.4 and dated 2010 (yes she's a vintage icon and she still ate) — mwah, go write some safe formatted output, ily, bye!! 🎀✨💅