Re: should I use, getcwd() or *environ ?

[Glynn Clements <glynn@gclements.plus.com>]

Steve Graegert wrote:

> > I have to remember the working directory and save it in my program so that
> > I can return to it later..
> > 
> > Which one is better/safer and why ? The environment var's or the
> > getcwd() function fam... ?
> 
> I usually take the following approach:
> 
> 	int  fd_dir;
> 	char buf[PATH_MAX];
> 	
> 	if (getcwd(buf, sizeof(buf)) == NULL) {
> 		/* error handling */
> 	}
> 	
> 	/* open a directory for reading */
> 	if ((fd = open(buf, O_RDONLY)) < 0) {
> 		/* error handling*/
> 	}

With this approach, you may as well skip the getcwd() and just use
open(".", ...) to get a descriptor for the cwd.

Also the behaviour of using a descriptor and fchdir() versus using
getcwd() and chdir() differs if the directory is moved or renamed
while the program is running.

-- 
Glynn Clements <glynn@gclements.plus.com>