From:	"A. Sinan Unur" <sinan DOT unur AT cornell DOT edu>
Newsgroups:	comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject:	Re: Help: what they are for?
Date:	Wed, 07 Jan 1998 17:06:27 -0500
Organization:	Cornell University (http://www.cornell.edu/)
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Ivo Stoykov wrote:
> I found two functions int libc which have only quoted (from info
> file) help. Unfortunately it is very unclear to me. Could
> somebody explain me more comprehensive what they are for? And what
> means 42 returned value?

these functions are there for unix compatibility i guess. unix is an
inherently multiuser system which has provisions for establishing
privileges based on users and groups of users. there is no corresponding
functionality in the DOS world, so the functions always return the same
value. i guess 42 was chosen because of its fame. (see: The Hitchiker's
Guide to the Galaxy Series: Life, The Universe and Everything by Douglas
Adams.)
-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Sinan Unur
Department of Policy Analysis and Management, College of Human Ecology,
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA

mailto:sinan DOT unur AT cornell DOT edu
http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/asu1/

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