Re: [RFC][4/11][MANUX] Kernel compatibility : ioctl(2)

[One Thousand Gnomes <gnomes@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk>]

On Tue, 15 Apr 2014 15:42:54 +0200
Emmanuel Colbus <ecolbus@manux.info> wrote:

> Continuing with syscalls, I would like to indicate you a modification
> I've done with regards to ioctl's. The thing is, I have had the need for
> ioctl's that return *file descriptors*, instead of standard return codes.

You probably only think you have ;-)

The return from an ioctl on 32bit is going to be an unsigned 32bit value,
as is a Linux file handle. So if you do

	fd = ioctl(foo);

then not only have you got an interface that isn't compliant with
POSIX/SuS you also have no error reporting capability.

The expectation of ioctl is

	err = ioctl(fd, FDIOWIBBLE, &result);

now if result is a pointer to where to store one or more file handles you
are sorted.

If you are going to use SuS/POSIX naming I'd really suggest sticking to
the expected behaviour in the standards.

Alan