sysexits.h(3head) — Linux manual page

NAME | LIBRARY | SYNOPSIS | DESCRIPTION | STANDARDS | HISTORY | CAVEATS | SEE ALSO | COLOPHON

sysexits.h(3head)                                      sysexits.h(3head)

NAME         top

       sysexits.h - exit codes for programs

LIBRARY         top

       Standard C library (libc)

SYNOPSIS         top

       #include <sysexits.h>
       #define EX_OK           0    /* successful termination */

       #define EX__BASE        64   /* base value for error messages */

       #define EX_USAGE        64   /* command line usage error */
       #define EX_DATAERR      65   /* data format error */
       #define EX_NOINPUT      66   /* cannot open input */
       #define EX_NOUSER       67   /* addressee unknown */
       #define EX_NOHOST       68   /* host name unknown */
       #define EX_UNAVAILABLE  69   /* service unavailable */
       #define EX_SOFTWARE     70   /* internal software error */
       #define EX_OSERR        71   /* system error (e.g., can't fork)
                                       */
       #define EX_OSFILE       72   /* critical OS file missing */
       #define EX_CANTCREAT    73   /* can't create (user) output file
                                       */
       #define EX_IOERR        74   /* input/output error */
       #define EX_TEMPFAIL     75   /* temp failure; user is invited to
                                       retry */
       #define EX_PROTOCOL     76   /* remote error in protocol */
       #define EX_NOPERM       77   /* permission denied */
       #define EX_CONFIG       78   /* configuration error */

       #define EX__MAX         ...  /* maximum listed value */

DESCRIPTION         top

       A few programs exit with the following error codes.

       The successful exit is always indicated by a status of 0, or
       EX_OK (equivalent to EXIT_SUCCESS from <stdlib.h>).  Error
       numbers begin at EX__BASE to reduce the possibility of clashing
       with other exit statuses that random programs may already return.
       The meaning of the code is approximately as follows:

       EX_USAGE
              The command was used incorrectly, e.g., with the wrong
              number of arguments, a bad flag, bad syntax in a
              parameter, or whatever.

       EX_DATAERR
              The input data was incorrect in some way.  This should
              only be used for user's data and not system files.

       EX_NOINPUT
              An input file (not a system file) did not exist or was not
              readable.  This could also include errors like "No
              message" to a mailer (if it cared to catch it).

       EX_NOUSER
              The user specified did not exist.  This might be used for
              mail addresses or remote logins.

       EX_NOHOST
              The host specified did not exist.  This is used in mail
              addresses or network requests.

       EX_UNAVAILABLE
              A service is unavailable.  This can occur if a support
              program or file does not exist.  This can also be used as
              a catch-all message when something you wanted to do
              doesn't work, but you don't know why.

       EX_SOFTWARE
              An internal software error has been detected.  This should
              be limited to non-operating system related errors if
              possible.

       EX_OSERR
              An operating system error has been detected.  This is
              intended to be used for such things as "cannot fork",
              "cannot create pipe", or the like.  It includes things
              like getuid(2) returning a user that does not exist in the
              passwd(5) file.

       EX_OSFILE
              Some system file (e.g., /etc/passwd, /etc/utmp, etc.)
              does not exist, cannot be opened, or has some sort of
              error (e.g., syntax error).

       EX_CANTCREAT
              A (user specified) output file cannot be created.

       EX_IOERR
              An error occurred while doing I/O on some file.

       EX_TEMPFAIL
              Temporary failure, indicating something that is not really
              an error.  For example that a mailer could not create a
              connection, and the request should be reattempted later.

       EX_PROTOCOL
              The remote system returned something that was "not
              possible" during a protocol exchange.

       EX_OSFILE
              You did not have sufficient permission to perform the
              operation.  This is not intended for file system problems,
              which should use EX_NOINPUT or EX_CANTCREAT, but rather
              for higher level permissions.

       EX_CONFIG
              Something was found in an unconfigured or misconfigured
              state.

       The numerical values corresponding to the symbolical ones are
       given in parenthesis for easy reference.

STANDARDS         top

       BSD.

HISTORY         top

       The <sysexits.h> file appeared in 4.0BSD for use by the
       deliverymail utility, later renamed to sendmail(8).

CAVEATS         top

       The choice of an appropriate exit value is often ambiguous.

SEE ALSO         top

       err(3), error(3), exit(3)

COLOPHON         top

       This page is part of the man-pages (Linux kernel and C library
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Linux man-pages 6.9.1          2024-05-02              sysexits.h(3head)

Pages that refer to this page: EXIT_SUCCESS(3const)