al_path_cstr(3alleg5)

💖 al_path_cstr — Allegro 5 API 💖

ok so bestie, this one is from the Allegro 5 API and it's literally one of those tiny functions that saves your whole entire day. no cap. let's get into it 🎀

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

#include <allegro5/allegro.h>

const char *al_path_cstr(const ALLEGRO_PATH *path, char delim)

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🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

So you've got a path object and you want it as an actual string, right? That's the whole vibe here. al_path_cstr converts a path to its string representation, which is:

• an optional drive 🚗
• followed by directory components, separated by delim
• followed by an optional filename 📄

That's it, that's the whole structure. slay.

If you want to use the current native path separator, just pass ALLEGRO_NATIVE_PATH_SEP as your delim. that's the move 💅

🚨 OKAY LISTEN, THIS PART MATTERS: the returned pointer is valid only until the path is modified in any way, or until the path is destroyed. So do not stash that pointer and go live your life with it, bestie. it will betray you. 😭

Also it returns a null-terminated string, which is cute and convenient and exactly what you want. And if what you actually need is an ALLEGRO_USTR instead of a plain C string, go use al_path_ustr(3alleg5) — that's its whole thing. ✨

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🦋 SEE ALSO 🦋

• al_path_ustr(3alleg5)

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Allegro reference manual 💜 that's the source and the version vibe, and this page is al_path_cstr(3alleg5) — thanks for coming to my TED talk, go convert some paths, you absolute icon 👑🫶