explain_utime_or_die(3)

💖 explain_utime_or_die — bestie edition 💖

ok so we're in explain_utime_or_die(3) today, from the Library Functions Manual, and it's genuinely one of the most "set it and forget it" little functions out there. it changes file times, and if the universe says no, it tells you why and then dramatically exits. main character energy fr. 🎀

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✨ NAME ✨

explain_utime_or_die — change file times and report errors

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🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

#include <libexplain/utime.h>
void explain_utime_or_die(const char *pathname, const struct utimbuf
*times);

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🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

so like, the explain_utime_or_die function is your lil wrapper that calls the utime(2) system call for you. 💅

and if it fails? not me just silently returning an error, no. on failure, an explanation gets printed to stderr — and that explanation comes from explain_utime(3) — and then the process terminates by calling exit(EXIT_FAILURE). like, it's done, it's over, goodbye. 💀

the vibe here is that you use this function in a fashion similar to this example:

explain_utime_or_die(pathname, times);

and here's the breakdown of the args, bestie:

• pathname — the pathname, exactly as to be passed to the utime(2) system call.
• times — the times, exactly as to be passed to the utime(2) system call.

Returns:

• this function only returns on success. on failure, it prints an explanation and exits. no return value, no second chances. 🙈

lowkey important: that's not "usually exits" or "may exit" — it's only returns on success. so if you get control back, congrats, you ate. 🔥

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👑 SEE ALSO 👑

• utime(2) — change file last access and modification times
• explain_utime(3) — explain utime(2) errors
• exit(2) — terminate the calling process

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🌈 COPYRIGHT 🌈

libexplain version 1.4 Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller

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and that's the whole page, bestie. ✨ this was explain_utime_or_die(3), living in the Library Functions Manual, brought to you by libexplain version 1.4, Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller — tysm Peter, iconic of you honestly 🫶 stay hydrated, go change some file times, and remember: if it fails, at least it explains itself before it goes. 💜