# Re: \[BUG\] Generic syscalls -- chmod vs. fchmodat

- List: linux-api
- 2 messages, 2 authors
- Page: https://ratatoskr.run/linux-api/2011/01/3669724/t

## Re: \[BUG\] Generic syscalls -- chmod vs. fchmodat

- From: Roland McGrath \<hidden\>
- Date: 2011-01-25 18:34:55 
- Message: https://ratatoskr.run/linux-api/2011/01/3669724.md

```text
> On Tuesday 25 January 2011 18:45:15 Roland McGrath wrote:
> >  I know of no reason to
> > think that the current treatment of the empty string was ever intended at
> > the creation of the *at interfaces.
> 
> I always assumed that this was done so that the *at syscalls can replace
> both the ones that take a file descriptor (e.g. fstat) and the ones that
> take a pathname (e.g. stat), which is sensible for the non-AT_FDCWD case,
> although not documented in the man pages.

I see your point.  That is, having the empty string relative to a file
descriptor work means it can replace f* calls on non-directories, whereas
the standard method of passing "." for descriptor-relative resolution can
only work on a file descriptor open on a directory.  Is that what you mean?

I don't think this was part of the original intent when the calls were
added, but I suppose it makes sense.

> Treating the empty string special for AT_FDCWD is rather pointless, but
> at least consistent.

I agree about the consistency point.  However, one could also call it
consistent if the empty string fails to resolve when operating on either a
directory file descriptor or AT_FDCWD but works on a non-directory file
descriptor.  POSIX does not mandate that *at calls fail with ENOTDIR when
passed a non-directory file descriptor (it's a "may fail" error, not a
"shall fail" error).  So that behavior would be consistent both with the
POSIX requirements as I read them, and with the desire you mentioned to let
the fblahat system call serve to implement fblah as well as blah.  Then
libc would not have to wrap the *at calls with any special check to conform
to POSIX.


Thanks,
Roland
```

## Re: \[BUG\] Generic syscalls -- chmod vs. fchmodat

- From: Arnd Bergmann \<arnd@arndb.de\>
- Date: 2011-01-25 20:05:31 
- Message: https://ratatoskr.run/linux-api/2011/01/3669756.md

```text
On Tuesday 25 January 2011 19:34:37 Roland McGrath wrote:
> I don't think this was part of the original intent when the calls were
> added, but I suppose it makes sense.

More importantly, even if it was never meant this way, anyone could have
assumed that it was and started using the system call in this way.

> > Treating the empty string special for AT_FDCWD is rather pointless, but
> > at least consistent.
> 
> I agree about the consistency point.  However, one could also call it
> consistent if the empty string fails to resolve when operating on either a
> directory file descriptor or AT_FDCWD but works on a non-directory file
> descriptor. 

Yes.

> POSIX does not mandate that *at calls fail with ENOTDIR when
> passed a non-directory file descriptor (it's a "may fail" error, not a
> "shall fail" error).  So that behavior would be consistent both with the
> POSIX requirements as I read them, and with the desire you mentioned to let
> the fblahat system call serve to implement fblah as well as blah.  Then
> libc would not have to wrap the *at calls with any special check to conform
> to POSIX.

Makes sense.

	Arnd
```