POSIX.2 system() return values

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2 total messages Started by Rich Stevens Fri, 22 Mar 1991 13:44

#793

Author: Rich Stevens
Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1991 13:44

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Submitted-by: rstevens@noao.edu (Rich Stevens)

Does anyone know the current draft status of POSIX.2 with regard to
the system() function and its return code.  I see that SVR4 now
returns -1 on an error (fork, exec, or wait error) while Reno
still returns the exit status of 127.  Is -1 a valid return
value--that is, are -1 and the valid wait() and waitpid() exit
statuses mutually exclusive?

	Rich Stevens  (rstevens@noao.edu)


Volume-Number: Volume 23, Number 17

Re: POSIX.2 system() return values

#794

Author: David A Willcox
Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1991 16:07

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Submitted-by: willcox@urbana.mcd.mot.com (David A Willcox)

rstevens@noao.edu (Rich Stevens) writes:

>Submitted-by: rstevens@noao.edu (Rich Stevens)

>Does anyone know the current draft status of POSIX.2 with regard to
>the system() function and its return code.  

>From POSIX.2 Draft 11 (unchanged for several drafts):

    B.3.1.3 Returns

    If command is NULL, the system() function shall return nonzero.

    If comamnd is not NULL, the system() function shall return the
    termination status of the command language interpreter in the format
    specified by the waitpid() function in POSIX.1.  The termination status
    of the c.l.i. is as specified by the sh utility, except that if some
    error prevents the c.l.i. from executing after the child process is
    created, the return value from system() shall be as of the c.l.i.
    had terminated using exit(127) or _exit(127).  If a child process
    cannot be created, or if the terminaton status of the c.l.i. cannot
    be obtained, system() shall return -1 and set errno to indicate the
    error.

David A. Willcox		"Just say 'NO' to universal drug testing"
Motorola TSD - Urbana		UUCP: ...!uiucuxc!udc!willcox
1101 E. University Ave.		INET: willcox@urbana.mcd.mot.com
Urbana, IL 61801		FONE: 217-384-8534


Volume-Number: Volume 23, Number 19

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