Re: [PATCH] open(2): document O_PATH

[Michael Kerrisk <mtk.manpages-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org>]

On 04/13/13 04:17, Geoffrey Thomas wrote:
> On Thu, 14 Mar 2013, Michael Kerrisk (man-pages) wrote:
> 
>>              When O_PATH is specified in flags, flag bits other  than
>>              O_DIRECTORY and O_NOFOLLOW are ignored.
> 
> We are told elsewhere in this man page that O_DIRECTORY "should not be 
> used outside of the implementation of opendir(3)". Is O_PATH an exception 
> to this? It seems like the implementation makes special accomodation for 
> O_DIRECTORY, but opendir(3) is not going to use O_PATH.
>
> (What's the reasoning behind the rule against O_DIRECTORY in the general 
> case, anyway?)

That text is ancient, and I guess it was written at a time when it was
presumed that opendir(3) would/should be the only user of O_DIRECTORY.
Nowadays, I'd say the text is obsolete, among other things for the
reason that you note. I've simply removed that text. Thanks for
pointing it out.

Cheers,

Michael
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