NAME

       explain_fork - explain fork(2) errors

SYNOPSIS

       #include <libexplain/fork.h>
       const char *explain_fork(void);
       const char *explain_errno_fork(int errnum);
       void explain_message_fork(char *message, int message_size);
       void explain_message_errno_fork(char *message, int message_size, int errnum);

DESCRIPTION

       These functions may be used to obtain explanations for errors returned by the fork(2) system call.

   explain_fork
       const char *explain_fork(void);

       The  explain_fork  function  is  used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the fork(2) system
       call.  The least the message will contain is the value of strerror(errno), but usually it  will  do  much
       better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

       The errno global variable will be used to obtain the error value to be decoded.

       This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:
              if (fork() < 0)
              {
                  fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", explain_fork());
                  exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
              }

       Returns:
               The  message  explaining  the  error.   This message buffer is shared by all libexplain functions
               which do not supply a buffer in their argument list.  This will be overwritten by the  next  call
               to any libexplain function which shares this buffer, including other threads.

       Note:  This  function  is not thread safe, because it shares a return buffer across all threads, and many
       other functions in this library.

   explain_errno_fork
       const char *explain_errno_fork(int errnum);

       The explain_errno_fork function is used to obtain an explanation of an  error  returned  by  the  fork(2)
       system call.  The least the message will contain is the value of strerror(errnum), but usually it will do
       much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

       This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:
              if (fork() < 0)
              {
                  int err = errno;
                  fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", explain_errno_fork(err, ));
                  exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
              }

       errnum  The  error  value to be decoded, usually obtained from the errno global variable just before this
               function is called.  This is necessary if you need to call any code between the system call to be
               explained and this function, because many libc functions will alter the value of errno.

       Returns:
               The message explaining the error.  This message buffer is  shared  by  all  libexplain  functions
               which  do  not supply a buffer in their argument list.  This will be overwritten by the next call
               to any libexplain function which shares this buffer, including other threads.

       Note: This function is not thread safe, because it shares a return buffer across all  threads,  and  many
       other functions in this library.

   explain_message_fork
       void explain_message_fork(char *message, int message_size);

       The  explain_message_fork  function  may  be  used  to  obtain an explanation of an error returned by the
       fork(2) system call.  The least the message will contain is the value of strerror(errno), but usually  it
       will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

       The errno global variable will be used to obtain the error value to be decoded.

       This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:
              if (fork() < 0)
              {
                  char message[3000];
                  explain_message_fork(message, sizeof(message), );
                  fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", message);
                  exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
              }

       message The  location  in  which  to  store the returned message.  If a suitable message return buffer is
               supplied, this function is thread safe.

       message_size
               The size in bytes of the location in which to store the returned message.

   explain_message_errno_fork
       void explain_message_errno_fork(char *message, int message_size, int errnum);

       The explain_message_errno_fork function may be used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by  the
       fork(2) system call.  The least the message will contain is the value of strerror(errnum), but usually it
       will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

       This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:
              if (fork() < 0)
              {
                  int err = errno;
                  char message[3000];
                  explain_message_errno_fork(message, sizeof(message), err, );
                  fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", message);
                  exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
              }

       message The  location  in  which  to  store the returned message.  If a suitable message return buffer is
               supplied, this function is thread safe.

       message_size
               The size in bytes of the location in which to store the returned message.

       errnum  The error value to be decoded, usually obtained from the errno global variable just  before  this
               function is called.  This is necessary if you need to call any code between the system call to be
               explained and this function, because many libc functions will alter the value of errno.

SEE ALSO

       fork(2) create a child process

       explain_fork_or_die(3)
               create a child process and report errors

COPYRIGHT

       libexplain version 1.4
       Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller

                                                                                                 explain_fork(3)