(Time): In mktime, clarify fields of sbd-time used, and

[bpt/guile.git] / doc / ref / posix.texi

@c -*-texinfo-*-
@c This is part of the GNU Guile Reference Manual.
@c Copyright (C)  1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
@c   Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c See the file guile.texi for copying conditions.

@node POSIX
@section @acronym{POSIX} System Calls and Networking
@cindex POSIX

@menu
* Conventions::                 Conventions employed by the POSIX interface.
* Ports and File Descriptors::  Scheme ``ports'' and Unix file descriptors
                                  have different representations.
* File System::                 stat, chown, chmod, etc.
* User Information::            Retrieving a user's GECOS (/etc/passwd) entry.
* Time::                        gettimeofday, localtime, strftime, etc.
* Runtime Environment::         Accessing and modifying Guile's environment.
* Processes::                   getuid, getpid, etc.
* Signals::                     sigaction, kill, pause, alarm, setitimer, etc.
* Terminals and Ptys::          ttyname, tcsetpgrp, etc.
* Pipes::                       Communicating data between processes.
* Networking::                  gethostbyaddr, getnetent, socket, bind, listen.
* System Identification::       Obtaining information about the system.
* Locales::                     setlocale, etc.
* Encryption::
@end menu

@node Conventions
@subsection @acronym{POSIX} Interface Conventions

These interfaces provide access to operating system facilities.
They provide a simple wrapping around the underlying C interfaces
to make usage from Scheme more convenient.  They are also used
to implement the Guile port of scsh (@pxref{The Scheme shell (scsh)}).

Generally there is a single procedure for each corresponding Unix
facility.  There are some exceptions, such as procedures implemented for
speed and convenience in Scheme with no primitive Unix equivalent,
e.g.@: @code{copy-file}.

The interfaces are intended as far as possible to be portable across
different versions of Unix.  In some cases procedures which can't be
implemented on particular systems may become no-ops, or perform limited
actions.  In other cases they may throw errors.

General naming conventions are as follows:

@itemize @bullet
@item
The Scheme name is often identical to the name of the underlying Unix
facility.
@item
Underscores in Unix procedure names are converted to hyphens.
@item
Procedures which destructively modify Scheme data have exclamation
marks appended, e.g., @code{recv!}.
@item
Predicates (returning only @code{#t} or @code{#f}) have question marks
appended, e.g., @code{access?}.
@item
Some names are changed to avoid conflict with dissimilar interfaces
defined by scsh, e.g., @code{primitive-fork}.
@item
Unix preprocessor names such as @code{EPERM} or @code{R_OK} are converted
to Scheme variables of the same name (underscores are not replaced
with hyphens).
@end itemize

Unexpected conditions are generally handled by raising exceptions.
There are a few procedures which return a special value if they don't
succeed, e.g., @code{getenv} returns @code{#f} if it the requested
string is not found in the environment.  These cases are noted in
the documentation.

For ways to deal with exceptions, see @ref{Exceptions}.

@cindex @code{errno}
Errors which the C library would report by returning a null pointer or
through some other means are reported by raising a @code{system-error}
exception with @code{scm-error} (@pxref{Error Reporting}).  The
@var{data} parameter is a list containing the Unix @code{errno} value
(an integer).  For example,

@example
(define (my-handler key func fmt fmtargs data)
  (display key) (newline)
  (display func) (newline)
  (apply format #t fmt fmtargs) (newline)
  (display data) (newline))

(catch 'system-error
  (lambda () (dup2 -123 -456))
  my-handler)

@print{}
system-error
dup2
Bad file descriptor
(9)
@end example


@sp 1
@defun system-error-errno arglist
@cindex @code{errno}
Return the @code{errno} value from a list which is the arguments to an
exception handler.  If the exception is not a @code{system-error},
then the return is @code{#f}.  For example,

@example
(catch
 'system-error
 (lambda ()
   (mkdir "/this-ought-to-fail-if-I'm-not-root"))
 (lambda stuff
   (let ((errno (system-error-errno stuff)))
     (cond
      ((= errno EACCES)
       (display "You're not allowed to do that."))
      ((= errno EEXIST)
       (display "Already exists."))
      (#t
       (display (strerror errno))))
     (newline))))
@end example
@end defun


@node Ports and File Descriptors
@subsection Ports and File Descriptors
@cindex file descriptor

Conventions generally follow those of scsh, @ref{The Scheme shell (scsh)}.

File ports are implemented using low-level operating system I/O
facilities, with optional buffering to improve efficiency; see
@ref{File Ports}.

Note that some procedures (e.g., @code{recv!}) will accept ports as
arguments, but will actually operate directly on the file descriptor
underlying the port.  Any port buffering is ignored, including the
buffer which implements @code{peek-char} and @code{unread-char}.

The @code{force-output} and @code{drain-input} procedures can be used
to clear the buffers.

Each open file port has an associated operating system file descriptor.
File descriptors are generally not useful in Scheme programs; however
they may be needed when interfacing with foreign code and the Unix
environment.

A file descriptor can be extracted from a port and a new port can be
created from a file descriptor.  However a file descriptor is just an
integer and the garbage collector doesn't recognize it as a reference
to the port.  If all other references to the port were dropped, then
it's likely that the garbage collector would free the port, with the
side-effect of closing the file descriptor prematurely.

To assist the programmer in avoiding this problem, each port has an
associated @dfn{revealed count} which can be used to keep track of how many
times the underlying file descriptor has been stored in other places.
If a port's revealed count is greater than zero, the file descriptor
will not be closed when the port is garbage collected.  A programmer
can therefore ensure that the revealed count will be greater than
zero if the file descriptor is needed elsewhere.

For the simple case where a file descriptor is ``imported'' once to become
a port, it does not matter if the file descriptor is closed when the
port is garbage collected.  There is no need to maintain a revealed
count.  Likewise when ``exporting'' a file descriptor to the external
environment, setting the revealed count is not required provided the
port is kept open (i.e., is pointed to by a live Scheme binding) while
the file descriptor is in use.

To correspond with traditional Unix behaviour, three file descriptors
(0, 1, and 2) are automatically imported when a program starts up and
assigned to the initial values of the current/standard input, output,
and error ports, respectively.  The revealed count for each is
initially set to one, so that dropping references to one of these
ports will not result in its garbage collection: it could be retrieved
with @code{fdopen} or @code{fdes->ports}.

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} port-revealed port
@deffnx {C Function} scm_port_revealed (port)
Return the revealed count for @var{port}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} set-port-revealed! port rcount
@deffnx {C Function} scm_set_port_revealed_x (port, rcount)
Sets the revealed count for a @var{port} to @var{rcount}.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} fileno port
@deffnx {C Function} scm_fileno (port)
Return the integer file descriptor underlying @var{port}.  Does
not change its revealed count.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} port->fdes port
Returns the integer file descriptor underlying @var{port}.  As a
side effect the revealed count of @var{port} is incremented.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} fdopen fdes modes
@deffnx {C Function} scm_fdopen (fdes, modes)
Return a new port based on the file descriptor @var{fdes}.  Modes are
given by the string @var{modes}.  The revealed count of the port is
initialized to zero.  The @var{modes} string is the same as that
accepted by @code{open-file} (@pxref{File Ports, open-file}).
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} fdes->ports fd
@deffnx {C Function} scm_fdes_to_ports (fd)
Return a list of existing ports which have @var{fdes} as an
underlying file descriptor, without changing their revealed
counts.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} fdes->inport fdes
Returns an existing input port which has @var{fdes} as its underlying file
descriptor, if one exists, and increments its revealed count.
Otherwise, returns a new input port with a revealed count of 1.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} fdes->outport fdes
Returns an existing output port which has @var{fdes} as its underlying file
descriptor, if one exists, and increments its revealed count.
Otherwise, returns a new output port with a revealed count of 1.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} primitive-move->fdes port fd
@deffnx {C Function} scm_primitive_move_to_fdes (port, fd)
Moves the underlying file descriptor for @var{port} to the integer
value @var{fdes} without changing the revealed count of @var{port}.
Any other ports already using this descriptor will be automatically
shifted to new descriptors and their revealed counts reset to zero.
The return value is @code{#f} if the file descriptor already had the
required value or @code{#t} if it was moved.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} move->fdes port fdes
Moves the underlying file descriptor for @var{port} to the integer
value @var{fdes} and sets its revealed count to one.  Any other ports
already using this descriptor will be automatically
shifted to new descriptors and their revealed counts reset to zero.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} release-port-handle port
Decrements the revealed count for a port.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} fsync object
@deffnx {C Function} scm_fsync (object)
Copies any unwritten data for the specified output file descriptor to disk.
If @var{port/fd} is a port, its buffer is flushed before the underlying
file descriptor is fsync'd.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} open path flags [mode]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_open (path, flags, mode)
Open the file named by @var{path} for reading and/or writing.
@var{flags} is an integer specifying how the file should be opened.
@var{mode} is an integer specifying the permission bits of the file,
if it needs to be created, before the umask (@pxref{Processes}) is
applied.  The default is 666 (Unix itself has no default).

@var{flags} can be constructed by combining variables using @code{logior}.
Basic flags are:

@defvar O_RDONLY
Open the file read-only.
@end defvar
@defvar O_WRONLY
Open the file write-only.
@end defvar
@defvar O_RDWR
Open the file read/write.
@end defvar
@defvar O_APPEND
Append to the file instead of truncating.
@end defvar
@defvar O_CREAT
Create the file if it does not already exist.
@end defvar

@xref{File Status Flags,,,libc,The GNU C Library Reference Manual},
for additional flags.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} open-fdes path flags [mode]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_open_fdes (path, flags, mode)
Similar to @code{open} but return a file descriptor instead of
a port.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} close fd_or_port
@deffnx {C Function} scm_close (fd_or_port)
Similar to @code{close-port} (@pxref{Closing, close-port}),
but also works on file descriptors.  A side
effect of closing a file descriptor is that any ports using that file
descriptor are moved to a different file descriptor and have
their revealed counts set to zero.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} close-fdes fd
@deffnx {C Function} scm_close_fdes (fd)
A simple wrapper for the @code{close} system call.  Close file
descriptor @var{fd}, which must be an integer.  Unlike @code{close},
the file descriptor will be closed even if a port is using it.  The
return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} unread-char char [port]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_unread_char (char, port)
Place @var{char} in @var{port} so that it will be read by the next
read operation on that port.  If called multiple times, the unread
characters will be read again in ``last-in, first-out'' order (i.e.@:
a stack).  If @var{port} is not supplied, the current input port is
used.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} unread-string str port
Place the string @var{str} in @var{port} so that its characters will be
read in subsequent read operations.  If called multiple times, the
unread characters will be read again in last-in first-out order.  If
@var{port} is not supplied, the current-input-port is used.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} pipe
@deffnx {C Function} scm_pipe ()
@cindex pipe
Return a newly created pipe: a pair of ports which are linked
together on the local machine.  The @acronym{CAR} is the input
port and the @acronym{CDR} is the output port.  Data written (and
flushed) to the output port can be read from the input port.
Pipes are commonly used for communication with a newly forked
child process.  The need to flush the output port can be
avoided by making it unbuffered using @code{setvbuf}.

@defvar PIPE_BUF
A write of up to @code{PIPE_BUF} many bytes to a pipe is atomic,
meaning when done it goes into the pipe instantaneously and as a
contiguous block (@pxref{Pipe Atomicity,, Atomicity of Pipe I/O, libc,
The GNU C Library Reference Manual}).
@end defvar

Note that the output port is likely to block if too much data has been
written but not yet read from the input port.  Typically the capacity
is @code{PIPE_BUF} bytes.
@end deffn

The next group of procedures perform a @code{dup2}
system call, if @var{newfd} (an
integer) is supplied, otherwise a @code{dup}.  The file descriptor to be
duplicated can be supplied as an integer or contained in a port.  The
type of value returned varies depending on which procedure is used.

All procedures also have the side effect when performing @code{dup2} that any
ports using @var{newfd} are moved to a different file descriptor and have
their revealed counts set to zero.

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} dup->fdes fd_or_port [fd]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_dup_to_fdes (fd_or_port, fd)
Return a new integer file descriptor referring to the open file
designated by @var{fd_or_port}, which must be either an open
file port or a file descriptor.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} dup->inport port/fd [newfd]
Returns a new input port using the new file descriptor.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} dup->outport port/fd [newfd]
Returns a new output port using the new file descriptor.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} dup port/fd [newfd]
Returns a new port if @var{port/fd} is a port, with the same mode as the
supplied port, otherwise returns an integer file descriptor.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} dup->port port/fd mode [newfd]
Returns a new port using the new file descriptor.  @var{mode} supplies a
mode string for the port (@pxref{File Ports, open-file}).
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} duplicate-port port modes
Returns a new port which is opened on a duplicate of the file
descriptor underlying @var{port}, with mode string @var{modes}
as for @ref{File Ports, open-file}.  The two ports
will share a file position and file status flags.

Unexpected behaviour can result if both ports are subsequently used
and the original and/or duplicate ports are buffered.
The mode string can include @code{0} to obtain an unbuffered duplicate
port.

This procedure is equivalent to @code{(dup->port @var{port} @var{modes})}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} redirect-port old new
@deffnx {C Function} scm_redirect_port (old, new)
This procedure takes two ports and duplicates the underlying file
descriptor from @var{old-port} into @var{new-port}.  The
current file descriptor in @var{new-port} will be closed.
After the redirection the two ports will share a file position
and file status flags.

The return value is unspecified.

Unexpected behaviour can result if both ports are subsequently used
and the original and/or duplicate ports are buffered.

This procedure does not have any side effects on other ports or
revealed counts.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} dup2 oldfd newfd
@deffnx {C Function} scm_dup2 (oldfd, newfd)
A simple wrapper for the @code{dup2} system call.
Copies the file descriptor @var{oldfd} to descriptor
number @var{newfd}, replacing the previous meaning
of @var{newfd}.  Both @var{oldfd} and @var{newfd} must
be integers.
Unlike for @code{dup->fdes} or @code{primitive-move->fdes}, no attempt
is made to move away ports which are using @var{newfd}.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} port-mode port
Return the port modes associated with the open port @var{port}.
These will not necessarily be identical to the modes used when
the port was opened, since modes such as ``append'' which are
used only during port creation are not retained.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} port-for-each proc
@deffnx {C Function} scm_port_for_each (SCM proc)
@deffnx {C Function} scm_c_port_for_each (void (*proc)(void *, SCM), void *data)
Apply @var{proc} to each port in the Guile port table
(FIXME: what is the Guile port table?)
in turn.  The return value is unspecified.  More specifically,
@var{proc} is applied exactly once to every port that exists in the
system at the time @code{port-for-each} is invoked.  Changes to the
port table while @code{port-for-each} is running have no effect as far
as @code{port-for-each} is concerned.

The C function @code{scm_port_for_each} takes a Scheme procedure
encoded as a @code{SCM} value, while @code{scm_c_port_for_each} takes
a pointer to a C function and passes along a arbitrary @var{data}
cookie.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setvbuf port mode [size]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_setvbuf (port, mode, size)
@cindex port buffering
Set the buffering mode for @var{port}.  @var{mode} can be:

@defvar _IONBF
non-buffered
@end defvar
@defvar _IOLBF
line buffered
@end defvar
@defvar _IOFBF
block buffered, using a newly allocated buffer of @var{size} bytes.
If @var{size} is omitted, a default size will be used.
@end defvar
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} fcntl object cmd [value]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_fcntl (object, cmd, value)
Apply @var{command} to the specified file descriptor or the underlying
file descriptor of the specified port.  @var{value} is an optional
integer argument.

Values for @var{command} are:

@defvar F_DUPFD
Duplicate a file descriptor
@end defvar
@defvar F_GETFD
Get flags associated with the file descriptor.
@end defvar
@defvar F_SETFD
Set flags associated with the file descriptor to @var{value}.
@end defvar
@defvar F_GETFL
Get flags associated with the open file.
@end defvar
@defvar F_SETFL
Set flags associated with the open file to @var{value}
@end defvar
@defvar F_GETOWN
Get the process ID of a socket's owner, for @code{SIGIO} signals.
@end defvar
@defvar F_SETOWN
Set the process that owns a socket to @var{value}, for @code{SIGIO} signals.
@end defvar
@defvar FD_CLOEXEC
The value used to indicate the ``close on exec'' flag with @code{F_GETFL} or
@code{F_SETFL}.
@end defvar
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} flock file operation
@deffnx {C Function} scm_flock (file, operation)
@cindex file locking
Apply or remove an advisory lock on an open file.
@var{operation} specifies the action to be done:

@defvar LOCK_SH
Shared lock.  More than one process may hold a shared lock
for a given file at a given time.
@end defvar
@defvar LOCK_EX
Exclusive lock.  Only one process may hold an exclusive lock
for a given file at a given time.
@end defvar
@defvar LOCK_UN
Unlock the file.
@end defvar
@defvar LOCK_NB
Don't block when locking.  This is combined with one of the other
operations using @code{logior} (@pxref{Bitwise Operations}).  If
@code{flock} would block an @code{EWOULDBLOCK} error is thrown
(@pxref{Conventions}).
@end defvar

The return value is not specified. @var{file} may be an open
file descriptor or an open file descriptor port.

Note that @code{flock} does not lock files across NFS.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} select reads writes excepts [secs [usecs]]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_select (reads, writes, excepts, secs, usecs)
This procedure has a variety of uses: waiting for the ability
to provide input, accept output, or the existence of
exceptional conditions on a collection of ports or file
descriptors, or waiting for a timeout to occur.
It also returns if interrupted by a signal.

@var{reads}, @var{writes} and @var{excepts} can be lists or
vectors, with each member a port or a file descriptor.
The value returned is a list of three corresponding
lists or vectors containing only the members which meet the
specified requirement.  The ability of port buffers to
provide input or accept output is taken into account.
Ordering of the input lists or vectors is not preserved.

The optional arguments @var{secs} and @var{usecs} specify the
timeout.  Either @var{secs} can be specified alone, as
either an integer or a real number, or both @var{secs} and
@var{usecs} can be specified as integers, in which case
@var{usecs} is an additional timeout expressed in
microseconds.  If @var{secs} is omitted or is @code{#f} then
select will wait for as long as it takes for one of the other
conditions to be satisfied.

The scsh version of @code{select} differs as follows:
Only vectors are accepted for the first three arguments.
The @var{usecs} argument is not supported.
Multiple values are returned instead of a list.
Duplicates in the input vectors appear only once in output.
An additional @code{select!} interface is provided.
@end deffn

@node File System
@subsection File System
@cindex file system

These procedures allow querying and setting file system attributes
(such as owner,
permissions, sizes and types of files); deleting, copying, renaming and
linking files; creating and removing directories and querying their
contents; syncing the file system and creating special files.

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} access? path how
@deffnx {C Function} scm_access (path, how)
Test accessibility of a file under the real UID and GID of the calling
process.  The return is @code{#t} if @var{path} exists and the
permissions requested by @var{how} are all allowed, or @code{#f} if
not.

@var{how} is an integer which is one of the following values, or a
bitwise-OR (@code{logior}) of multiple values.

@defvar R_OK
Test for read permission.
@end defvar
@defvar W_OK
Test for write permission.
@end defvar
@defvar X_OK
Test for execute permission.
@end defvar
@defvar F_OK
Test for existence of the file.  This is implied by each of the other
tests, so there's no need to combine it with them.
@end defvar

It's important to note that @code{access?} does not simply indicate
what will happen on attempting to read or write a file.  In normal
circumstances it does, but in a set-UID or set-GID program it doesn't
because @code{access?} tests the real ID, whereas an open or execute
attempt uses the effective ID.

A program which will never run set-UID/GID can ignore the difference
between real and effective IDs, but for maximum generality, especially
in library functions, it's best not to use @code{access?} to predict
the result of an open or execute, instead simply attempt that and
catch any exception.

The main use for @code{access?} is to let a set-UID/GID program
determine what the invoking user would have been allowed to do,
without the greater (or perhaps lesser) privileges afforded by the
effective ID.  For more on this, see @ref{Testing File Access,,, libc,
The GNU C Library Reference Manual}.
@end deffn

@findex fstat
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} stat object
@deffnx {C Function} scm_stat (object)
Return an object containing various information about the file
determined by @var{obj}.  @var{obj} can be a string containing
a file name or a port or integer file descriptor which is open
on a file (in which case @code{fstat} is used as the underlying
system call).

The object returned by @code{stat} can be passed as a single
parameter to the following procedures, all of which return
integers:

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} stat:dev st
The device number containing the file.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} stat:ino st
The file serial number, which distinguishes this file from all
other files on the same device.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} stat:mode st
The mode of the file.  This is an integer which incorporates file type
information and file permission bits.  See also @code{stat:type} and
@code{stat:perms} below.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} stat:nlink st
The number of hard links to the file.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} stat:uid st
The user ID of the file's owner.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} stat:gid st
The group ID of the file.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} stat:rdev st
Device ID; this entry is defined only for character or block special
files.  On some systems this field is not available at all, in which
case @code{stat:rdev} returns @code{#f}.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} stat:size st
The size of a regular file in bytes.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} stat:atime st
The last access time for the file.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} stat:mtime st
The last modification time for the file.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} stat:ctime st
The last modification time for the attributes of the file.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} stat:blksize st
The optimal block size for reading or writing the file, in bytes.  On
some systems this field is not available, in which case
@code{stat:blksize} returns a sensible suggested block size.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} stat:blocks st
The amount of disk space that the file occupies measured in units of
512 byte blocks.  On some systems this field is not available, in
which case @code{stat:blocks} returns @code{#f}.
@end deffn

In addition, the following procedures return the information
from @code{stat:mode} in a more convenient form:

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} stat:type st
A symbol representing the type of file.  Possible values are
@samp{regular}, @samp{directory}, @samp{symlink},
@samp{block-special}, @samp{char-special}, @samp{fifo}, @samp{socket},
and @samp{unknown}.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} stat:perms st
An integer representing the access permission bits.
@end deffn
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} lstat str
@deffnx {C Function} scm_lstat (str)
Similar to @code{stat}, but does not follow symbolic links, i.e.,
it will return information about a symbolic link itself, not the
file it points to.  @var{path} must be a string.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} readlink path
@deffnx {C Function} scm_readlink (path)
Return the value of the symbolic link named by @var{path} (a
string), i.e., the file that the link points to.
@end deffn

@findex fchown
@findex lchown
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} chown object owner group
@deffnx {C Function} scm_chown (object, owner, group)
Change the ownership and group of the file referred to by @var{object}
to the integer values @var{owner} and @var{group}.  @var{object} can
be a string containing a file name or, if the platform supports
@code{fchown} (@pxref{File Owner,,,libc,The GNU C Library Reference
Manual}), a port or integer file descriptor which is open on the file.
The return value is unspecified.

If @var{object} is a symbolic link, either the
ownership of the link or the ownership of the referenced file will be
changed depending on the operating system (lchown is
unsupported at present).  If @var{owner} or @var{group} is specified
as @code{-1}, then that ID is not changed.
@end deffn

@findex fchmod
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} chmod object mode
@deffnx {C Function} scm_chmod (object, mode)
Changes the permissions of the file referred to by @var{obj}.
@var{obj} can be a string containing a file name or a port or integer file
descriptor which is open on a file (in which case @code{fchmod} is used
as the underlying system call).
@var{mode} specifies
the new permissions as a decimal number, e.g., @code{(chmod "foo" #o755)}.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} utime pathname [actime [modtime]]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_utime (pathname, actime, modtime)
@cindex file times
@code{utime} sets the access and modification times for the
file named by @var{path}.  If @var{actime} or @var{modtime} is
not supplied, then the current time is used.  @var{actime} and
@var{modtime} must be integer time values as returned by the
@code{current-time} procedure.
@lisp
(utime "foo" (- (current-time) 3600))
@end lisp
will set the access time to one hour in the past and the
modification time to the current time.
@end deffn

@findex unlink
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} delete-file str
@deffnx {C Function} scm_delete_file (str)
Deletes (or ``unlinks'') the file whose path is specified by
@var{str}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} copy-file oldfile newfile
@deffnx {C Function} scm_copy_file (oldfile, newfile)
Copy the file specified by @var{oldfile} to @var{newfile}.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@findex rename
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} rename-file oldname newname
@deffnx {C Function} scm_rename (oldname, newname)
Renames the file specified by @var{oldname} to @var{newname}.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} link oldpath newpath
@deffnx {C Function} scm_link (oldpath, newpath)
Creates a new name @var{newpath} in the file system for the
file named by @var{oldpath}.  If @var{oldpath} is a symbolic
link, the link may or may not be followed depending on the
system.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} symlink oldpath newpath
@deffnx {C Function} scm_symlink (oldpath, newpath)
Create a symbolic link named @var{newpath} with the value (i.e., pointing to)
@var{oldpath}.  The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} mkdir path [mode]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_mkdir (path, mode)
Create a new directory named by @var{path}.  If @var{mode} is omitted
then the permissions of the directory file are set using the current
umask (@pxref{Processes}).  Otherwise they are set to the decimal
value specified with @var{mode}.  The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} rmdir path
@deffnx {C Function} scm_rmdir (path)
Remove the existing directory named by @var{path}.  The directory must
be empty for this to succeed.  The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} opendir dirname
@deffnx {C Function} scm_opendir (dirname)
@cindex directory contents
Open the directory specified by @var{dirname} and return a directory
stream.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} directory-stream? object
@deffnx {C Function} scm_directory_stream_p (object)
Return a boolean indicating whether @var{object} is a directory
stream as returned by @code{opendir}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} readdir stream
@deffnx {C Function} scm_readdir (stream)
Return (as a string) the next directory entry from the directory stream
@var{stream}.  If there is no remaining entry to be read then the
end of file object is returned.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} rewinddir stream
@deffnx {C Function} scm_rewinddir (stream)
Reset the directory port @var{stream} so that the next call to
@code{readdir} will return the first directory entry.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} closedir stream
@deffnx {C Function} scm_closedir (stream)
Close the directory stream @var{stream}.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

Here is an example showing how to display all the entries in a
directory:

@lisp
(define dir (opendir "/usr/lib"))
(do ((entry (readdir dir) (readdir dir)))
    ((eof-object? entry))
  (display entry)(newline))
(closedir dir)
@end lisp

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} sync
@deffnx {C Function} scm_sync ()
Flush the operating system disk buffers.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} mknod path type perms dev
@deffnx {C Function} scm_mknod (path, type, perms, dev)
@cindex device file
Creates a new special file, such as a file corresponding to a device.
@var{path} specifies the name of the file.  @var{type} should be one
of the following symbols: @samp{regular}, @samp{directory},
@samp{symlink}, @samp{block-special}, @samp{char-special},
@samp{fifo}, or @samp{socket}.  @var{perms} (an integer) specifies the
file permissions.  @var{dev} (an integer) specifies which device the
special file refers to.  Its exact interpretation depends on the kind
of special file being created.

E.g.,
@lisp
(mknod "/dev/fd0" 'block-special #o660 (+ (* 2 256) 2))
@end lisp

The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tmpnam
@deffnx {C Function} scm_tmpnam ()
@cindex temporary file
Return a name in the file system that does not match any
existing file.  However there is no guarantee that another
process will not create the file after @code{tmpnam} is called.
Care should be taken if opening the file, e.g., use the
@code{O_EXCL} open flag or use @code{mkstemp!} instead.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} mkstemp! tmpl
@deffnx {C Function} scm_mkstemp (tmpl)
@cindex temporary file
Create a new unique file in the file system and returns a new
buffered port open for reading and writing to the file.

@var{tmpl} is a string specifying where the file should be
created: it must end with @samp{XXXXXX} and will be changed in
place to return the name of the temporary file.

The file is created with mode @code{0600}, which means read and write
for the owner only.  @code{chmod} can be used to change this.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} dirname filename
@deffnx {C Function} scm_dirname (filename)
Return the directory name component of the file name
@var{filename}. If @var{filename} does not contain a directory
component, @code{.} is returned.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} basename filename [suffix]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_basename (filename, suffix)
Return the base name of the file name @var{filename}. The
base name is the file name without any directory components.
If @var{suffix} is provided, and is equal to the end of
@var{basename}, it is removed also.

@lisp
(basename "/tmp/test.xml" ".xml")
@result{} "test"
@end lisp
@end deffn


@node User Information
@subsection User Information
@cindex user information
@cindex password file
@cindex group file

The facilities in this section provide an interface to the user and
group database.
They should be used with care since they are not reentrant.

The following functions accept an object representing user information
and return a selected component:

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} passwd:name pw
The name of the userid.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} passwd:passwd pw
The encrypted passwd.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} passwd:uid pw
The user id number.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} passwd:gid pw
The group id number.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} passwd:gecos pw
The full name.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} passwd:dir pw
The home directory.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} passwd:shell pw
The login shell.
@end deffn
@sp 1

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getpwuid uid
Look up an integer userid in the user database.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getpwnam name
Look up a user name string in the user database.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setpwent
Initializes a stream used by @code{getpwent} to read from the user database.
The next use of @code{getpwent} will return the first entry.  The
return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getpwent
Return the next entry in the user database, using the stream set by
@code{setpwent}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} endpwent
Closes the stream used by @code{getpwent}.  The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setpw [arg]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_setpwent (arg)
If called with a true argument, initialize or reset the password data
stream.  Otherwise, close the stream.  The @code{setpwent} and
@code{endpwent} procedures are implemented on top of this.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getpw [user]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getpwuid (user)
Look up an entry in the user database.  @var{obj} can be an integer,
a string, or omitted, giving the behaviour of getpwuid, getpwnam
or getpwent respectively.
@end deffn

The following functions accept an object representing group information
and return a selected component:

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} group:name gr
The group name.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} group:passwd gr
The encrypted group password.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} group:gid gr
The group id number.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} group:mem gr
A list of userids which have this group as a supplementary group.
@end deffn
@sp 1

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getgrgid gid
Look up an integer group id in the group database.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getgrnam name
Look up a group name in the group database.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setgrent
Initializes a stream used by @code{getgrent} to read from the group database.
The next use of @code{getgrent} will return the first entry.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getgrent
Return the next entry in the group database, using the stream set by
@code{setgrent}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} endgrent
Closes the stream used by @code{getgrent}.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setgr [arg]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_setgrent (arg)
If called with a true argument, initialize or reset the group data
stream.  Otherwise, close the stream.  The @code{setgrent} and
@code{endgrent} procedures are implemented on top of this.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getgr [name]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getgrgid (name)
Look up an entry in the group database.  @var{obj} can be an integer,
a string, or omitted, giving the behaviour of getgrgid, getgrnam
or getgrent respectively.
@end deffn

In addition to the accessor procedures for the user database, the
following shortcut procedures are also available.

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} cuserid
@deffnx {C Function} scm_cuserid ()
Return a string containing a user name associated with the
effective user id of the process.  Return @code{#f} if this
information cannot be obtained.

This function has been removed from the latest POSIX specification,
Guile provides it only if the system has it.  Using @code{(getpwuid
(geteuid))} may be a better idea.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getlogin
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getlogin ()
Return a string containing the name of the user logged in on
the controlling terminal of the process, or @code{#f} if this
information cannot be obtained.
@end deffn


@node Time
@subsection Time
@cindex time

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} current-time
@deffnx {C Function} scm_current_time ()
Return the number of seconds since 1970-01-01 00:00:00 @acronym{UTC},
excluding leap seconds.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} gettimeofday
@deffnx {C Function} scm_gettimeofday ()
Return a pair containing the number of seconds and microseconds
since 1970-01-01 00:00:00 @acronym{UTC}, excluding leap seconds.  Note:
whether true microsecond resolution is available depends on the
operating system.
@end deffn

The following procedures either accept an object representing a broken down
time and return a selected component, or accept an object representing
a broken down time and a value and set the component to the value.
The numbers in parentheses give the usual range.

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tm:sec tm
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} set-tm:sec tm val
Seconds (0-59).
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tm:min tm
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} set-tm:min tm val
Minutes (0-59).
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tm:hour tm
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} set-tm:hour tm val
Hours (0-23).
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tm:mday tm
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} set-tm:mday tm val
Day of the month (1-31).
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tm:mon tm
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} set-tm:mon tm val
Month (0-11).
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tm:year tm
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} set-tm:year tm val
Year (70-), the year minus 1900.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tm:wday tm
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} set-tm:wday tm val
Day of the week (0-6) with Sunday represented as 0.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tm:yday tm
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} set-tm:yday tm val
Day of the year (0-364, 365 in leap years).
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tm:isdst tm
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} set-tm:isdst tm val
Daylight saving indicator (0 for ``no'', greater than 0 for ``yes'', less than
0 for ``unknown'').
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tm:gmtoff tm
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} set-tm:gmtoff tm val
Time zone offset in seconds west of @acronym{UTC} (-46800 to 43200).
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tm:zone tm
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} set-tm:zone tm val
Time zone label (a string), not necessarily unique.
@end deffn
@sp 1

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} localtime time [zone]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_localtime (time, zone)
@cindex local time
Return an object representing the broken down components of
@var{time}, an integer like the one returned by
@code{current-time}.  The time zone for the calculation is
optionally specified by @var{zone} (a string), otherwise the
@env{TZ} environment variable or the system default is used.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} gmtime time
@deffnx {C Function} scm_gmtime (time)
Return an object representing the broken down components of
@var{time}, an integer like the one returned by
@code{current-time}.  The values are calculated for @acronym{UTC}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} mktime sbd-time [zone]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_mktime (sbd_time, zone)
For a broken down time object @var{sbd-time}, return a pair the
@code{car} of which is an integer time like @code{current-time}, and
the @code{cdr} of which is a new broken down time with normalized
fields.

@var{zone} is a timezone string, or the default is the @env{TZ}
environment variable or the system default (@pxref{TZ Variable,,
Specifying the Time Zone with @env{TZ}, libc, GNU C Library Reference
Manual}).  @var{sbd-time} is taken to be in that @var{zone}.

The following fields of @var{sbd-time} are used: @code{tm:year},
@code{tm:mon}, @code{tm:mday}, @code{tm:hour}, @code{tm:min},
@code{tm:sec}, @code{tm:isdst}.  The values can be outside their usual
ranges.  For example @code{tm:hour} normally goes up to 23, but a
value say 33 would mean 9 the following day.

@code{tm:isdst} in @var{sbd-time} says whether the time given is with
daylight savings or not.  This is ignored if @var{zone} doesn't have
any daylight savings adjustment amount.

The broken down time in the return normalizes the values of
@var{sbd-time} by bringing them into their usual ranges, and using the
actual daylight savings rule for that time in @var{zone} (which may
differ from what @var{sbd-time} had).  The easiest way to think of
this is that @var{sbd-time} plus @var{zone} converts to the integer
UTC time, then a @code{localtime} is applied to get the normal
presentation of that time, in @var{zone}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tzset
@deffnx {C Function} scm_tzset ()
Initialize the timezone from the @env{TZ} environment variable
or the system default.  It's not usually necessary to call this procedure
since it's done automatically by other procedures that depend on the
timezone.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} strftime format stime
@deffnx {C Function} scm_strftime (format, stime)
@cindex time formatting
Formats a time specification @var{time} using @var{template}.  @var{time}
is an object with time components in the form returned by @code{localtime}
or @code{gmtime}.  @var{template} is a string which can include formatting
specifications introduced by a @samp{%} character.  The formatting of
month and day names is dependent on the current locale.  The value returned
is the formatted string.
@xref{Formatting Calendar Time, , , libc, The GNU C Library Reference Manual}.

@lisp
(strftime "%c" (localtime (current-time)))
@result{} "Mon Mar 11 20:17:43 2002"
@end lisp
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} strptime format string
@deffnx {C Function} scm_strptime (format, string)
@cindex time parsing
Performs the reverse action to @code{strftime}, parsing
@var{string} according to the specification supplied in
@var{template}.  The interpretation of month and day names is
dependent on the current locale.  The value returned is a pair.
The @acronym{CAR} has an object with time components
in the form returned by @code{localtime} or @code{gmtime},
but the time zone components
are not usefully set.
The @acronym{CDR} reports the number of characters from @var{string}
which were used for the conversion.
@end deffn

@defvar internal-time-units-per-second
The value of this variable is the number of time units per second
reported by the following procedures.
@end defvar

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} times
@deffnx {C Function} scm_times ()
Return an object with information about real and processor
time.  The following procedures accept such an object as an
argument and return a selected component:

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tms:clock tms
The current real time, expressed as time units relative to an
arbitrary base.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tms:utime tms
The CPU time units used by the calling process.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tms:stime tms
The CPU time units used by the system on behalf of the calling
process.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tms:cutime tms
The CPU time units used by terminated child processes of the
calling process, whose status has been collected (e.g., using
@code{waitpid}).
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tms:cstime tms
Similarly, the CPU times units used by the system on behalf of
terminated child processes.
@end deffn
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} get-internal-real-time
@deffnx {C Function} scm_get_internal_real_time ()
Return the number of time units since the interpreter was
started.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} get-internal-run-time
@deffnx {C Function} scm_get_internal_run_time ()
Return the number of time units of processor time used by the
interpreter.  Both @emph{system} and @emph{user} time are
included but subprocesses are not.
@end deffn

@node Runtime Environment
@subsection Runtime Environment

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} program-arguments
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} command-line
@deffnx {C Function} scm_program_arguments ()
@cindex command line
@cindex program arguments
Return the list of command line arguments passed to Guile, as a list of
strings.  The list includes the invoked program name, which is usually
@code{"guile"}, but excludes switches and parameters for command line
options like @code{-e} and @code{-l}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getenv nam
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getenv (nam)
@cindex environment
Looks up the string @var{name} in the current environment.  The return
value is @code{#f} unless a string of the form @code{NAME=VALUE} is
found, in which case the string @code{VALUE} is returned.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setenv name value
Modifies the environment of the current process, which is
also the default environment inherited by child processes.

If @var{value} is @code{#f}, then @var{name} is removed from the
environment.  Otherwise, the string @var{name}=@var{value} is added
to the environment, replacing any existing string with name matching
@var{name}.

The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} unsetenv name
Remove variable @var{name} from the environment.  The
name can not contain a @samp{=} character.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} environ [env]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_environ (env)
If @var{env} is omitted, return the current environment (in the
Unix sense) as a list of strings.  Otherwise set the current
environment, which is also the default environment for child
processes, to the supplied list of strings.  Each member of
@var{env} should be of the form @var{NAME}=@var{VALUE} and values of
@var{NAME} should not be duplicated.  If @var{env} is supplied
then the return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} putenv str
@deffnx {C Function} scm_putenv (str)
Modifies the environment of the current process, which is
also the default environment inherited by child processes.

If @var{string} is of the form @code{NAME=VALUE} then it will be written
directly into the environment, replacing any existing environment string
with
name matching @code{NAME}.  If @var{string} does not contain an equal
sign, then any existing string with name matching @var{string} will
be removed.

The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn


@node Processes
@subsection Processes
@cindex processes
@cindex child processes

@findex cd
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} chdir str
@deffnx {C Function} scm_chdir (str)
@cindex current directory
Change the current working directory to @var{path}.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@findex pwd
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getcwd
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getcwd ()
Return the name of the current working directory.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} umask [mode]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_umask (mode)
If @var{mode} is omitted, returns a decimal number representing the
current file creation mask.  Otherwise the file creation mask is set
to @var{mode} and the previous value is returned. @xref{Setting
Permissions,,Assigning File Permissions,libc,The GNU C Library
Reference Manual}, for more on how to use umasks.

E.g., @code{(umask #o022)} sets the mask to octal 22/decimal 18.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} chroot path
@deffnx {C Function} scm_chroot (path)
Change the root directory to that specified in @var{path}.
This directory will be used for path names beginning with
@file{/}.  The root directory is inherited by all children
of the current process.  Only the superuser may change the
root directory.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getpid
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getpid ()
Return an integer representing the current process ID.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getgroups
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getgroups ()
Return a vector of integers representing the current
supplementary group IDs.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getppid
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getppid ()
Return an integer representing the process ID of the parent
process.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getuid
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getuid ()
Return an integer representing the current real user ID.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getgid
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getgid ()
Return an integer representing the current real group ID.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} geteuid
@deffnx {C Function} scm_geteuid ()
Return an integer representing the current effective user ID.
If the system does not support effective IDs, then the real ID
is returned.  @code{(provided? 'EIDs)} reports whether the
system supports effective IDs.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getegid
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getegid ()
Return an integer representing the current effective group ID.
If the system does not support effective IDs, then the real ID
is returned.  @code{(provided? 'EIDs)} reports whether the
system supports effective IDs.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setgroups vec
@deffnx {C Function} scm_setgroups (vec)
Set the current set of supplementary group IDs to the integers in the
given vector @var{vec}.  The return value is unspecified.

Generally only the superuser can set the process group IDs
(@pxref{Setting Groups, Setting the Group IDs,, libc, The GNU C
Library Reference Manual}).
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setuid id
@deffnx {C Function} scm_setuid (id)
Sets both the real and effective user IDs to the integer @var{id}, provided
the process has appropriate privileges.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setgid id
@deffnx {C Function} scm_setgid (id)
Sets both the real and effective group IDs to the integer @var{id}, provided
the process has appropriate privileges.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} seteuid id
@deffnx {C Function} scm_seteuid (id)
Sets the effective user ID to the integer @var{id}, provided the process
has appropriate privileges.  If effective IDs are not supported, the
real ID is set instead---@code{(provided? 'EIDs)} reports whether the
system supports effective IDs.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setegid id
@deffnx {C Function} scm_setegid (id)
Sets the effective group ID to the integer @var{id}, provided the process
has appropriate privileges.  If effective IDs are not supported, the
real ID is set instead---@code{(provided? 'EIDs)} reports whether the
system supports effective IDs.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getpgrp
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getpgrp ()
Return an integer representing the current process group ID.
This is the @acronym{POSIX} definition, not @acronym{BSD}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setpgid pid pgid
@deffnx {C Function} scm_setpgid (pid, pgid)
Move the process @var{pid} into the process group @var{pgid}.  @var{pid} or
@var{pgid} must be integers: they can be zero to indicate the ID of the
current process.
Fails on systems that do not support job control.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setsid
@deffnx {C Function} scm_setsid ()
Creates a new session.  The current process becomes the session leader
and is put in a new process group.  The process will be detached
from its controlling terminal if it has one.
The return value is an integer representing the new process group ID.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} waitpid pid [options]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_waitpid (pid, options)
This procedure collects status information from a child process which
has terminated or (optionally) stopped.  Normally it will
suspend the calling process until this can be done.  If more than one
child process is eligible then one will be chosen by the operating system.

The value of @var{pid} determines the behaviour:

@table @asis
@item @var{pid} greater than 0
Request status information from the specified child process.
@item @var{pid} equal to -1 or @code{WAIT_ANY}
@vindex WAIT_ANY
Request status information for any child process.
@item @var{pid} equal to 0 or @code{WAIT_MYPGRP}
@vindex WAIT_MYPGRP
Request status information for any child process in the current process
group.
@item @var{pid} less than -1
Request status information for any child process whose process group ID
is @minus{}@var{pid}.
@end table

The @var{options} argument, if supplied, should be the bitwise OR of the
values of zero or more of the following variables:

@defvar WNOHANG
Return immediately even if there are no child processes to be collected.
@end defvar

@defvar WUNTRACED
Report status information for stopped processes as well as terminated
processes.
@end defvar

The return value is a pair containing:

@enumerate
@item
The process ID of the child process, or 0 if @code{WNOHANG} was
specified and no process was collected.
@item
The integer status value.
@end enumerate
@end deffn

The following three
functions can be used to decode the process status code returned
by @code{waitpid}.

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} status:exit-val status
@deffnx {C Function} scm_status_exit_val (status)
Return the exit status value, as would be set if a process
ended normally through a call to @code{exit} or @code{_exit},
if any, otherwise @code{#f}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} status:term-sig status
@deffnx {C Function} scm_status_term_sig (status)
Return the signal number which terminated the process, if any,
otherwise @code{#f}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} status:stop-sig status
@deffnx {C Function} scm_status_stop_sig (status)
Return the signal number which stopped the process, if any,
otherwise @code{#f}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} system [cmd]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_system (cmd)
Execute @var{cmd} using the operating system's ``command
processor''.  Under Unix this is usually the default shell
@code{sh}.  The value returned is @var{cmd}'s exit status as
returned by @code{waitpid}, which can be interpreted using the
functions above.

If @code{system} is called without arguments, return a boolean
indicating whether the command processor is available.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} system* . args
@deffnx {C Function} scm_system_star (args)
Execute the command indicated by @var{args}.  The first element must
be a string indicating the command to be executed, and the remaining
items must be strings representing each of the arguments to that
command.

This function returns the exit status of the command as provided by
@code{waitpid}.  This value can be handled with @code{status:exit-val}
and the related functions.

@code{system*} is similar to @code{system}, but accepts only one
string per-argument, and performs no shell interpretation.  The
command is executed using fork and execlp.  Accordingly this function
may be safer than @code{system} in situations where shell
interpretation is not required.

Example: (system* "echo" "foo" "bar")
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} primitive-exit [status]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_primitive_exit (status)
Terminate the current process without unwinding the Scheme stack.
This is would typically be useful after a fork.  The exit status
is @var{status} if supplied, otherwise zero.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} execl filename . args
@deffnx {C Function} scm_execl (filename, args)
Executes the file named by @var{path} as a new process image.
The remaining arguments are supplied to the process; from a C program
they are accessible as the @code{argv} argument to @code{main}.
Conventionally the first @var{arg} is the same as @var{path}.
All arguments must be strings.

If @var{arg} is missing, @var{path} is executed with a null
argument list, which may have system-dependent side-effects.

This procedure is currently implemented using the @code{execv} system
call, but we call it @code{execl} because of its Scheme calling interface.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} execlp filename . args
@deffnx {C Function} scm_execlp (filename, args)
Similar to @code{execl}, however if
@var{filename} does not contain a slash
then the file to execute will be located by searching the
directories listed in the @code{PATH} environment variable.

This procedure is currently implemented using the @code{execvp} system
call, but we call it @code{execlp} because of its Scheme calling interface.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} execle filename env . args
@deffnx {C Function} scm_execle (filename, env, args)
Similar to @code{execl}, but the environment of the new process is
specified by @var{env}, which must be a list of strings as returned by the
@code{environ} procedure.

This procedure is currently implemented using the @code{execve} system
call, but we call it @code{execle} because of its Scheme calling interface.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} primitive-fork
@deffnx {C Function} scm_fork ()
Creates a new ``child'' process by duplicating the current ``parent'' process.
In the child the return value is 0.  In the parent the return value is
the integer process ID of the child.

This procedure has been renamed from @code{fork} to avoid a naming conflict
with the scsh fork.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} nice incr
@deffnx {C Function} scm_nice (incr)
@cindex process priority
Increment the priority of the current process by @var{incr}.  A higher
priority value means that the process runs less often.
The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setpriority which who prio
@deffnx {C Function} scm_setpriority (which, who, prio)
@vindex PRIO_PROCESS
@vindex PRIO_PGRP
@vindex PRIO_USER
Set the scheduling priority of the process, process group
or user, as indicated by @var{which} and @var{who}. @var{which}
is one of the variables @code{PRIO_PROCESS}, @code{PRIO_PGRP}
or @code{PRIO_USER}, and @var{who} is interpreted relative to
@var{which} (a process identifier for @code{PRIO_PROCESS},
process group identifier for @code{PRIO_PGRP}, and a user
identifier for @code{PRIO_USER}.  A zero value of @var{who}
denotes the current process, process group, or user.
@var{prio} is a value in the range [@minus{}20,20].  The default
priority is 0; lower priorities (in numerical terms) cause more
favorable scheduling.  Sets the priority of all of the specified
processes.  Only the super-user may lower priorities.  The return
value is not specified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getpriority which who
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getpriority (which, who)
@vindex PRIO_PROCESS
@vindex PRIO_PGRP
@vindex PRIO_USER
Return the scheduling priority of the process, process group
or user, as indicated by @var{which} and @var{who}. @var{which}
is one of the variables @code{PRIO_PROCESS}, @code{PRIO_PGRP}
or @code{PRIO_USER}, and @var{who} should be interpreted depending on
@var{which} (a process identifier for @code{PRIO_PROCESS},
process group identifier for @code{PRIO_PGRP}, and a user
identifier for @code{PRIO_USER}).  A zero value of @var{who}
denotes the current process, process group, or user.  Return
the highest priority (lowest numerical value) of any of the
specified processes.
@end deffn


@node Signals
@subsection Signals
@cindex signal

Procedures to raise, handle and wait for signals.

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} kill pid sig
@deffnx {C Function} scm_kill (pid, sig)
Sends a signal to the specified process or group of processes.

@var{pid} specifies the processes to which the signal is sent:

@table @asis
@item @var{pid} greater than 0
The process whose identifier is @var{pid}.
@item @var{pid} equal to 0
All processes in the current process group.
@item @var{pid} less than -1
The process group whose identifier is -@var{pid}
@item @var{pid} equal to -1
If the process is privileged, all processes except for some special
system processes.  Otherwise, all processes with the current effective
user ID.
@end table

@var{sig} should be specified using a variable corresponding to
the Unix symbolic name, e.g.,

@defvar SIGHUP
Hang-up signal.
@end defvar

@defvar SIGINT
Interrupt signal.
@end defvar

A full list of signals on the GNU system may be found in @ref{Standard
Signals,,,libc,The GNU C Library Reference Manual}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} raise sig
@deffnx {C Function} scm_raise (sig)
Sends a specified signal @var{sig} to the current process, where
@var{sig} is as described for the @code{kill} procedure.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} sigaction signum [handler [flags [thread]]]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_sigaction (signum, handler, flags)
@deffnx {C Function} scm_sigaction_for_thread (signum, handler, flags, thread)
Install or report the signal handler for a specified signal.

@var{signum} is the signal number, which can be specified using the value
of variables such as @code{SIGINT}.

If @var{handler} is omitted, @code{sigaction} returns a pair: the
@acronym{CAR} is the current signal hander, which will be either an
integer with the value @code{SIG_DFL} (default action) or
@code{SIG_IGN} (ignore), or the Scheme procedure which handles the
signal, or @code{#f} if a non-Scheme procedure handles the signal.
The @acronym{CDR} contains the current @code{sigaction} flags for the
handler.

If @var{handler} is provided, it is installed as the new handler for
@var{signum}.  @var{handler} can be a Scheme procedure taking one
argument, or the value of @code{SIG_DFL} (default action) or
@code{SIG_IGN} (ignore), or @code{#f} to restore whatever signal handler
was installed before @code{sigaction} was first used.  When a scheme
procedure has been specified, that procedure will run in the given
@var{thread}.  When no thread has been given, the thread that made this
call to @code{sigaction} is used.

@var{flags} is a @code{logior} (@pxref{Bitwise Operations}) of the
following (where provided by the system), or @code{0} for none.

@defvar SA_NOCLDSTOP
By default, @code{SIGCHLD} is signalled when a child process stops
(ie.@: receives @code{SIGSTOP}), and when a child process terminates.
With the @code{SA_NOCLDSTOP} flag, @code{SIGCHLD} is only signalled
for termination, not stopping.

@code{SA_NOCLDSTOP} has no effect on signals other than
@code{SIGCHLD}.
@end defvar

@defvar SA_RESTART
If a signal occurs while in a system call, deliver the signal then
restart the system call (as opposed to returning an @code{EINTR} error
from that call).

Guile always enables this flag where available, no matter what
@var{flags} are specified.  This avoids spurious error returns in low
level operations.
@end defvar

The return value is a pair with information about the old handler as
described above.

This interface does not provide access to the ``signal blocking''
facility.  Maybe this is not needed, since the thread support may
provide solutions to the problem of consistent access to data
structures.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} restore-signals
@deffnx {C Function} scm_restore_signals ()
Return all signal handlers to the values they had before any call to
@code{sigaction} was made.  The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} alarm i
@deffnx {C Function} scm_alarm (i)
Set a timer to raise a @code{SIGALRM} signal after the specified
number of seconds (an integer).  It's advisable to install a signal
handler for
@code{SIGALRM} beforehand, since the default action is to terminate
the process.

The return value indicates the time remaining for the previous alarm,
if any.  The new value replaces the previous alarm.  If there was
no previous alarm, the return value is zero.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} pause
@deffnx {C Function} scm_pause ()
Pause the current process (thread?) until a signal arrives whose
action is to either terminate the current process or invoke a
handler procedure.  The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} sleep i
@deffnx {C Function} scm_sleep (i)
Wait for the given number of seconds (an integer) or until a signal
arrives.  The return value is zero if the time elapses or the number
of seconds remaining otherwise.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} usleep i
@deffnx {C Function} scm_usleep (i)
Sleep for @var{i} microseconds.  @code{usleep} is not available on
all platforms. [FIXME: so what happens when it isn't?]
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setitimer which_timer interval_seconds interval_microseconds value_seconds value_microseconds
@deffnx {C Function} scm_setitimer (which_timer, interval_seconds, interval_microseconds, value_seconds, value_microseconds)
Set the timer specified by @var{which_timer} according to the given
@var{interval_seconds}, @var{interval_microseconds},
@var{value_seconds}, and @var{value_microseconds} values.

Return information about the timer's previous setting.

The timers available are: @code{ITIMER_REAL}, @code{ITIMER_VIRTUAL},
and @code{ITIMER_PROF}.

The return value will be a list of two cons pairs representing the
current state of the given timer.  The first pair is the seconds and
microseconds of the timer @code{it_interval}, and the second pair is
the seconds and microseconds of the timer @code{it_value}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getitimer which_timer
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getitimer (which_timer)
Return information about the timer specified by @var{which_timer}.

The timers available are: @code{ITIMER_REAL}, @code{ITIMER_VIRTUAL},
and @code{ITIMER_PROF}.

The return value will be a list of two cons pairs representing the
current state of the given timer.  The first pair is the seconds and
microseconds of the timer @code{it_interval}, and the second pair is
the seconds and microseconds of the timer @code{it_value}.
@end deffn


@node Terminals and Ptys
@subsection Terminals and Ptys

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} isatty? port
@deffnx {C Function} scm_isatty_p (port)
@cindex terminal
Return @code{#t} if @var{port} is using a serial non--file
device, otherwise @code{#f}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} ttyname port
@deffnx {C Function} scm_ttyname (port)
@cindex terminal
Return a string with the name of the serial terminal device
underlying @var{port}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} ctermid
@deffnx {C Function} scm_ctermid ()
@cindex terminal
Return a string containing the file name of the controlling
terminal for the current process.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tcgetpgrp port
@deffnx {C Function} scm_tcgetpgrp (port)
@cindex process group
Return the process group ID of the foreground process group
associated with the terminal open on the file descriptor
underlying @var{port}.

If there is no foreground process group, the return value is a
number greater than 1 that does not match the process group ID
of any existing process group.  This can happen if all of the
processes in the job that was formerly the foreground job have
terminated, and no other job has yet been moved into the
foreground.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} tcsetpgrp port pgid
@deffnx {C Function} scm_tcsetpgrp (port, pgid)
@cindex process group
Set the foreground process group ID for the terminal used by the file
descriptor underlying @var{port} to the integer @var{pgid}.
The calling process
must be a member of the same session as @var{pgid} and must have the same
controlling terminal.  The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@node Pipes
@subsection Pipes
@cindex pipe

The following procedures are similar to the @code{popen} and
@code{pclose} system routines.  The code is in a separate ``popen''
module:

@smalllisp
(use-modules (ice-9 popen))
@end smalllisp

@findex popen
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} open-pipe command mode
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} open-pipe* mode prog [args...]
Execute a command in a subprocess, with a pipe to it or from it, or
with pipes in both directions.

@code{open-pipe} runs the shell @var{command} using @samp{/bin/sh -c}.
@code{open-pipe*} executes @var{prog} directly, with the optional
@var{args} arguments (all strings).

@var{mode} should be one of the following values.  @code{OPEN_READ} is
an input pipe, ie.@: to read from the subprocess.  @code{OPEN_WRITE}
is an output pipe, ie.@: to write to it.

@defvar OPEN_READ
@defvarx OPEN_WRITE
@defvarx OPEN_BOTH
@end defvar

For an input pipe, the child's standard output is the pipe and
standard input is inherited from @code{current-input-port}.  For an
output pipe, the child's standard input is the pipe and standard
output is inherited from @code{current-output-port}.  In all cases
cases the child's standard error is inherited from
@code{current-error-port} (@pxref{Default Ports}).

If those @code{current-X-ports} are not files of some kind, and hence
don't have file descriptors for the child, then @file{/dev/null} is
used instead.

Care should be taken with @code{OPEN_BOTH}, a deadlock will occur if
both parent and child are writing, and waiting until the write
completes before doing any reading.  Each direction has
@code{PIPE_BUF} bytes of buffering (@pxref{Ports and File
Descriptors}), which will be enough for small writes, but not for say
putting a big file through a filter.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} open-input-pipe command
Equivalent to @code{open-pipe} with mode @code{OPEN_READ}.

@lisp
(let* ((port (open-input-pipe "date --utc"))
       (str  (read-line port)))
  (close-pipe port)
  str)
@result{} "Mon Mar 11 20:10:44 UTC 2002"
@end lisp
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} open-output-pipe command
Equivalent to @code{open-pipe} with mode @code{OPEN_WRITE}.

@lisp
(let ((port (open-output-pipe "lpr")))
  (display "Something for the line printer.\n" port)
  (if (not (eqv? 0 (status:exit-val (close-pipe port))))
      (error "Cannot print")))
@end lisp
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} open-input-output-pipe command
Equivalent to @code{open-pipe} with mode @code{OPEN_BOTH}.
@end deffn

@findex pclose
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} close-pipe port
Close a pipe created by @code{open-pipe}, wait for the process to
terminate, and return the wait status code.  The status is as per
@code{waitpid} and can be decoded with @code{status:exit-val} etc
(@pxref{Processes})
@end deffn

@sp 1
@code{waitpid WAIT_ANY} should not be used when pipes are open, since
it can reap a pipe's child process, causing an error from a subsequent
@code{close-pipe}.

@code{close-port} (@pxref{Closing}) can close a pipe, but it doesn't
reap the child process.

The garbage collector will close a pipe no longer in use, and reap the
child process with @code{waitpid}.  If the child hasn't yet terminated
the garbage collector doesn't block, but instead checks again in the
next GC.

Many systems have per-user and system-wide limits on the number of
processes, and a system-wide limit on the number of pipes, so pipes
should be closed explicitly when no longer needed, rather than letting
the garbage collector pick them up at some later time.


@node Networking
@subsection Networking
@cindex network

@menu
* Network Address Conversion::
* Network Databases::
* Network Sockets and Communication::
* Internet Socket Examples::
@end menu

@node Network Address Conversion
@subsubsection Network Address Conversion
@cindex network address

This section describes procedures which convert internet addresses
between numeric and string formats.

@subsubheading IPv4 Address Conversion
@cindex IPv4

An IPv4 Internet address is a 4-byte value, represented in Guile as an
integer in network byte order (meaning the first byte is the most
significant in the number).

@defvar INADDR_LOOPBACK
The address of the local host using the loopback device, ie.@:
@samp{127.0.0.1}.
@end defvar

@defvar INADDR_BROADCAST
The broadcast address on the local network.
@end defvar

@c  INADDR_NONE is defined in the code, but serves no purpose.
@c  inet_addr() returns it as an error indication, but that function
@c  isn't provided, for the good reason that inet_aton() does the same
@c  job and gives an unambiguous error indication.  (INADDR_NONE is a
@c  valid 4-byte value, in glibc it's the same as INADDR_BROADCAST.)
@c
@c  @defvar INADDR_NONE
@c  No address.
@c  @end defvar

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} inet-aton address
@deffnx {C Function} scm_inet_aton (address)
Convert an IPv4 Internet address from printable string
(dotted decimal notation) to an integer.  E.g.,

@lisp
(inet-aton "127.0.0.1") @result{} 2130706433
@end lisp
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} inet-ntoa inetid
@deffnx {C Function} scm_inet_ntoa (inetid)
Convert an IPv4 Internet address to a printable
(dotted decimal notation) string.  E.g.,

@lisp
(inet-ntoa 2130706433) @result{} "127.0.0.1"
@end lisp
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} inet-netof address
@deffnx {C Function} scm_inet_netof (address)
Return the network number part of the given IPv4
Internet address.  E.g.,

@lisp
(inet-netof 2130706433) @result{} 127
@end lisp
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} inet-lnaof address
@deffnx {C Function} scm_lnaof (address)
Return the local-address-with-network part of the given
IPv4 Internet address, using the obsolete class A/B/C system.
E.g.,

@lisp
(inet-lnaof 2130706433) @result{} 1
@end lisp
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} inet-makeaddr net lna
@deffnx {C Function} scm_inet_makeaddr (net, lna)
Make an IPv4 Internet address by combining the network number
@var{net} with the local-address-within-network number
@var{lna}.  E.g.,

@lisp
(inet-makeaddr 127 1) @result{} 2130706433
@end lisp
@end deffn

@subsubheading IPv6 Address Conversion
@cindex IPv6

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} inet-ntop family address
@deffnx {C Function} scm_inet_ntop (family, address)
Convert a network address into a printable string.
Note that unlike the C version of this function,
the input is an integer with normal host byte ordering.
@var{family} can be @code{AF_INET} or @code{AF_INET6}.  E.g.,

@lisp
(inet-ntop AF_INET 2130706433) @result{} "127.0.0.1"
(inet-ntop AF_INET6 (- (expt 2 128) 1)) @result{}
ffff:ffff:ffff:ffff:ffff:ffff:ffff:ffff
@end lisp
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} inet-pton family address
@deffnx {C Function} scm_inet_pton (family, address)
Convert a string containing a printable network address to
an integer address.  Note that unlike the C version of this
function,
the result is an integer with normal host byte ordering.
@var{family} can be @code{AF_INET} or @code{AF_INET6}.  E.g.,

@lisp
(inet-pton AF_INET "127.0.0.1") @result{} 2130706433
(inet-pton AF_INET6 "::1") @result{} 1
@end lisp
@end deffn


@node Network Databases
@subsubsection Network Databases
@cindex network database

This section describes procedures which query various network databases.
Care should be taken when using the database routines since they are not
reentrant.

@subsubheading The Host Database
@cindex @file{/etc/hosts}
@cindex network database

A @dfn{host object} is a structure that represents what is known about a
network host, and is the usual way of representing a system's network
identity inside software.

The following functions accept a host object and return a selected
component:

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} hostent:name host
The ``official'' hostname for @var{host}.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} hostent:aliases host
A list of aliases for @var{host}.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} hostent:addrtype host
The host address type.  For hosts with Internet addresses, this will
return @code{AF_INET}.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} hostent:length host
The length of each address for @var{host}, in bytes.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} hostent:addr-list host
The list of network addresses associated with @var{host}.
@end deffn

The following procedures are used to search the host database:

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} gethost [host]
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} gethostbyname hostname
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} gethostbyaddr address
@deffnx {C Function} scm_gethost (host)
Look up a host by name or address, returning a host object.  The
@code{gethost} procedure will accept either a string name or an integer
address; if given no arguments, it behaves like @code{gethostent} (see
below).  If a name or address is supplied but the address can not be
found, an error will be thrown to one of the keys:
@code{host-not-found}, @code{try-again}, @code{no-recovery} or
@code{no-data}, corresponding to the equivalent @code{h_error} values.
Unusual conditions may result in errors thrown to the
@code{system-error} or @code{misc_error} keys.

@lisp
(gethost "www.gnu.org")
@result{} #("www.gnu.org" () 2 4 (3353880842))

(gethostbyname "www.emacs.org")
@result{} #("emacs.org" ("www.emacs.org") 2 4 (1073448978))
@end lisp
@end deffn

The following procedures may be used to step through the host
database from beginning to end.

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} sethostent [stayopen]
Initialize an internal stream from which host objects may be read.  This
procedure must be called before any calls to @code{gethostent}, and may
also be called afterward to reset the host entry stream.  If
@var{stayopen} is supplied and is not @code{#f}, the database is not
closed by subsequent @code{gethostbyname} or @code{gethostbyaddr} calls,
possibly giving an efficiency gain.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} gethostent
Return the next host object from the host database, or @code{#f} if
there are no more hosts to be found (or an error has been encountered).
This procedure may not be used before @code{sethostent} has been called.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} endhostent
Close the stream used by @code{gethostent}.  The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} sethost [stayopen]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_sethost (stayopen)
If @var{stayopen} is omitted, this is equivalent to @code{endhostent}.
Otherwise it is equivalent to @code{sethostent stayopen}.
@end deffn

@subsubheading The Network Database
@cindex network database

The following functions accept an object representing a network
and return a selected component:

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} netent:name net
The ``official'' network name.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} netent:aliases net
A list of aliases for the network.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} netent:addrtype net
The type of the network number.  Currently, this returns only
@code{AF_INET}.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} netent:net net
The network number.
@end deffn

The following procedures are used to search the network database:

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getnet [net]
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} getnetbyname net-name
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} getnetbyaddr net-number
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getnet (net)
Look up a network by name or net number in the network database.  The
@var{net-name} argument must be a string, and the @var{net-number}
argument must be an integer.  @code{getnet} will accept either type of
argument, behaving like @code{getnetent} (see below) if no arguments are
given.
@end deffn

The following procedures may be used to step through the network
database from beginning to end.

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setnetent [stayopen]
Initialize an internal stream from which network objects may be read.  This
procedure must be called before any calls to @code{getnetent}, and may
also be called afterward to reset the net entry stream.  If
@var{stayopen} is supplied and is not @code{#f}, the database is not
closed by subsequent @code{getnetbyname} or @code{getnetbyaddr} calls,
possibly giving an efficiency gain.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getnetent
Return the next entry from the network database.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} endnetent
Close the stream used by @code{getnetent}.  The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setnet [stayopen]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_setnet (stayopen)
If @var{stayopen} is omitted, this is equivalent to @code{endnetent}.
Otherwise it is equivalent to @code{setnetent stayopen}.
@end deffn

@subsubheading The Protocol Database
@cindex @file{/etc/protocols}
@cindex protocols
@cindex network protocols

The following functions accept an object representing a protocol
and return a selected component:

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} protoent:name protocol
The ``official'' protocol name.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} protoent:aliases protocol
A list of aliases for the protocol.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} protoent:proto protocol
The protocol number.
@end deffn

The following procedures are used to search the protocol database:

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getproto [protocol]
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} getprotobyname name
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} getprotobynumber number
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getproto (protocol)
Look up a network protocol by name or by number.  @code{getprotobyname}
takes a string argument, and @code{getprotobynumber} takes an integer
argument.  @code{getproto} will accept either type, behaving like
@code{getprotoent} (see below) if no arguments are supplied.
@end deffn

The following procedures may be used to step through the protocol
database from beginning to end.

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setprotoent [stayopen]
Initialize an internal stream from which protocol objects may be read.  This
procedure must be called before any calls to @code{getprotoent}, and may
also be called afterward to reset the protocol entry stream.  If
@var{stayopen} is supplied and is not @code{#f}, the database is not
closed by subsequent @code{getprotobyname} or @code{getprotobynumber} calls,
possibly giving an efficiency gain.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getprotoent
Return the next entry from the protocol database.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} endprotoent
Close the stream used by @code{getprotoent}.  The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setproto [stayopen]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_setproto (stayopen)
If @var{stayopen} is omitted, this is equivalent to @code{endprotoent}.
Otherwise it is equivalent to @code{setprotoent stayopen}.
@end deffn

@subsubheading The Service Database
@cindex @file{/etc/services}
@cindex services
@cindex network services

The following functions accept an object representing a service
and return a selected component:

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} servent:name serv
The ``official'' name of the network service.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} servent:aliases serv
A list of aliases for the network service.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} servent:port serv
The Internet port used by the service.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} servent:proto serv
The protocol used by the service.  A service may be listed many times
in the database under different protocol names.
@end deffn

The following procedures are used to search the service database:

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getserv [name [protocol]]
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} getservbyname name protocol
@deffnx {Scheme Procedure} getservbyport port protocol
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getserv (name, protocol)
Look up a network service by name or by service number, and return a
network service object.  The @var{protocol} argument specifies the name
of the desired protocol; if the protocol found in the network service
database does not match this name, a system error is signalled.

The @code{getserv} procedure will take either a service name or number
as its first argument; if given no arguments, it behaves like
@code{getservent} (see below).

@lisp
(getserv "imap" "tcp")
@result{} #("imap2" ("imap") 143 "tcp")

(getservbyport 88 "udp")
@result{} #("kerberos" ("kerberos5" "krb5") 88 "udp")
@end lisp
@end deffn

The following procedures may be used to step through the service
database from beginning to end.

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setservent [stayopen]
Initialize an internal stream from which service objects may be read.  This
procedure must be called before any calls to @code{getservent}, and may
also be called afterward to reset the service entry stream.  If
@var{stayopen} is supplied and is not @code{#f}, the database is not
closed by subsequent @code{getservbyname} or @code{getservbyport} calls,
possibly giving an efficiency gain.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getservent
Return the next entry from the services database.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} endservent
Close the stream used by @code{getservent}.  The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setserv [stayopen]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_setserv (stayopen)
If @var{stayopen} is omitted, this is equivalent to @code{endservent}.
Otherwise it is equivalent to @code{setservent stayopen}.
@end deffn

@node Network Sockets and Communication
@subsubsection Network Sockets and Communication
@cindex socket
@cindex network socket

Socket ports can be created using @code{socket} and @code{socketpair}.
The ports are initially unbuffered, to make reading and writing to the
same port more reliable.  A buffer can be added to the port using
@code{setvbuf}; see @ref{Ports and File Descriptors}.

Most systems have limits on how many files and sockets can be open, so
it's strongly recommended that socket ports be closed explicitly when
no longer required (@pxref{Ports}).

The convention used for ``host'' vs.@: ``network'' addresses is that
addresses are always held in host order at the Scheme level.  The
procedures in this section automatically convert between host and
network order when required.  The arguments and return values are thus
in host order.

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} socket family style proto
@deffnx {C Function} scm_socket (family, style, proto)
Return a new socket port of the type specified by @var{family},
@var{style} and @var{proto}.  All three parameters are integers.  The
possible values for @var{family} are as follows, where supported by
the system,

@defvar PF_UNIX
@defvarx PF_INET
@defvarx PF_INET6
@end defvar

The possible values for @var{style} are as follows, again where
supported by the system,

@defvar SOCK_STREAM
@defvarx SOCK_DGRAM
@defvarx SOCK_RAW
@defvarx SOCK_RDM
@defvarx SOCK_SEQPACKET
@end defvar

@var{proto} can be obtained from a protocol name using
@code{getprotobyname} (@pxref{Network Databases}).  A value of zero
means the default protocol, which is usually right.

A socket cannot by used for communication until it has been connected
somewhere, usually with either @code{connect} or @code{accept} below.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} socketpair family style proto
@deffnx {C Function} scm_socketpair (family, style, proto)
Return a pair, the @code{car} and @code{cdr} of which are two unnamed
socket ports connected to each other.  The connection is full-duplex,
so data can be transferred in either direction between the two.

@var{family}, @var{style} and @var{proto} are as per @code{socket}
above.  But many systems only support socket pairs in the
@code{PF_UNIX} family.  Zero is likely to be the only meaningful value
for @var{proto}.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getsockopt sock level optname
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getsockopt (sock, level, optname)
Return the value of a particular socket option for the socket
port @var{sock}.  @var{level} is an integer code for type of
option being requested, e.g., @code{SOL_SOCKET} for
socket-level options.  @var{optname} is an integer code for the
option required and should be specified using one of the
symbols @code{SO_DEBUG}, @code{SO_REUSEADDR} etc.

The returned value is typically an integer but @code{SO_LINGER}
returns a pair of integers.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setsockopt sock level optname value
@deffnx {C Function} scm_setsockopt (sock, level, optname, value)
Set the value of a particular socket option for the socket
port @var{sock}.  @var{level} is an integer code for type of option
being set, e.g., @code{SOL_SOCKET} for socket-level options.
@var{optname} is an
integer code for the option to set and should be specified using one of
the symbols @code{SO_DEBUG}, @code{SO_REUSEADDR} etc.
@var{value} is the value to which the option should be set.  For
most options this must be an integer, but for @code{SO_LINGER} it must
be a pair.

The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} shutdown sock how
@deffnx {C Function} scm_shutdown (sock, how)
Sockets can be closed simply by using @code{close-port}. The
@code{shutdown} procedure allows reception or transmission on a
connection to be shut down individually, according to the parameter
@var{how}:

@table @asis
@item 0
Stop receiving data for this socket.  If further data arrives,  reject it.
@item 1
Stop trying to transmit data from this socket.  Discard any
data waiting to be sent.  Stop looking for acknowledgement of
data already sent; don't retransmit it if it is lost.
@item 2
Stop both reception and transmission.
@end table

The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} connect sock fam address . args
@deffnx {C Function} scm_connect (sock, fam, address, args)
Initiate a connection from a socket using a specified address
family to the address
specified by @var{address} and possibly @var{args}.
The format required for @var{address}
and @var{args} depends on the family of the socket.

For a socket of family @code{AF_UNIX},
only @var{address} is specified and must be a string with the
filename where the socket is to be created.

For a socket of family @code{AF_INET},
@var{address} must be an integer IPv4 host address and
@var{args} must be a single integer port number.

For a socket of family @code{AF_INET6},
@var{address} must be an integer IPv6 host address and
@var{args} may be up to three integers:
port [flowinfo] [scope_id],
where flowinfo and scope_id default to zero.

The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} bind sock fam address . args
@deffnx {C Function} scm_bind (sock, fam, address, args)
Assign an address to the socket port @var{sock}.
Generally this only needs to be done for server sockets,
so they know where to look for incoming connections.  A socket
without an address will be assigned one automatically when it
starts communicating.

The format of @var{address} and @var{args} depends
on the family of the socket.

For a socket of family @code{AF_UNIX}, only @var{address}
is specified and must be a string with the filename where
the socket is to be created.

For a socket of family @code{AF_INET}, @var{address}
must be an integer IPv4 address and @var{args}
must be a single integer port number.

The values of the following variables can also be used for
@var{address}:

@defvar INADDR_ANY
Allow connections from any address.
@end defvar

@defvar INADDR_LOOPBACK
The address of the local host using the loopback device.
@end defvar

@defvar INADDR_BROADCAST
The broadcast address on the local network.
@end defvar

@defvar INADDR_NONE
No address.
@end defvar

For a socket of family @code{AF_INET6}, @var{address}
must be an integer IPv6 address and @var{args}
may be up to three integers:
port [flowinfo] [scope_id],
where flowinfo and scope_id default to zero.

The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} listen sock backlog
@deffnx {C Function} scm_listen (sock, backlog)
Enable @var{sock} to accept connection
requests.  @var{backlog} is an integer specifying
the maximum length of the queue for pending connections.
If the queue fills, new clients will fail to connect until
the server calls @code{accept} to accept a connection from
the queue.

The return value is unspecified.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} accept sock
@deffnx {C Function} scm_accept (sock)
Accept a connection on a bound, listening socket.
If there
are no pending connections in the queue, wait until
one is available unless the non-blocking option has been
set on the socket.

The return value is a
pair in which the @acronym{CAR} is a new socket port for the
connection and
the @acronym{CDR} is an object with address information about the
client which initiated the connection.

@var{sock} does not become part of the
connection and will continue to accept new requests.
@end deffn

The following functions take a socket address object, as returned
by @code{accept} and other procedures, and return a selected component.

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} sockaddr:fam sa
The socket family, typically equal to the value of @code{AF_UNIX} or
@code{AF_INET}.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} sockaddr:path sa
If the socket family is @code{AF_UNIX}, returns the path of the
filename the socket is based on.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} sockaddr:addr sa
If the socket family is @code{AF_INET}, returns the Internet host
address.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} sockaddr:port sa
If the socket family is @code{AF_INET}, returns the Internet port
number.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getsockname sock
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getsockname (sock)
Return the address of @var{sock}, in the same form as the
object returned by @code{accept}.  On many systems the address
of a socket in the @code{AF_FILE} namespace cannot be read.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getpeername sock
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getpeername (sock)
Return the address that @var{sock}
is connected to, in the same form as the object returned by
@code{accept}.  On many systems the address of a socket in the
@code{AF_FILE} namespace cannot be read.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} recv! sock buf [flags]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_recv (sock, buf, flags)
Receive data from a socket port.
@var{sock} must already
be bound to the address from which data is to be received.
@var{buf} is a string into which
the data will be written.  The size of @var{buf} limits
the amount of
data which can be received: in the case of packet
protocols, if a packet larger than this limit is encountered
then some data
will be irrevocably lost.

@vindex MSG_OOB
@vindex MSG_PEEK
@vindex MSG_DONTROUTE
The optional @var{flags} argument is a value or bitwise OR of
@code{MSG_OOB}, @code{MSG_PEEK}, @code{MSG_DONTROUTE} etc.

The value returned is the number of bytes read from the
socket.

Note that the data is read directly from the socket file
descriptor:
any unread buffered port data is ignored.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} send sock message [flags]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_send (sock, message, flags)
@vindex MSG_OOB
@vindex MSG_PEEK
@vindex MSG_DONTROUTE
Transmit the string @var{message} on a socket port @var{sock}.
@var{sock} must already be bound to a destination address.  The value
returned is the number of bytes transmitted---it's possible for this
to be less than the length of @var{message} if the socket is set to be
non-blocking.  The optional @var{flags} argument is a value or bitwise
OR of @code{MSG_OOB}, @code{MSG_PEEK}, @code{MSG_DONTROUTE} etc.

Note that the data is written directly to the socket
file descriptor:
any unflushed buffered port data is ignored.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} recvfrom! sock str [flags [start [end]]]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_recvfrom (sock, str, flags, start, end)
Return data from the socket port @var{sock} and also
information about where the data was received from.
@var{sock} must already be bound to the address from which
data is to be received.  @code{str}, is a string into which the
data will be written.  The size of @var{str} limits the amount
of data which can be received: in the case of packet protocols,
if a packet larger than this limit is encountered then some
data will be irrevocably lost.

@vindex MSG_OOB
@vindex MSG_PEEK
@vindex MSG_DONTROUTE
The optional @var{flags} argument is a value or bitwise OR of
@code{MSG_OOB}, @code{MSG_PEEK}, @code{MSG_DONTROUTE} etc.

The value returned is a pair: the @acronym{CAR} is the number of
bytes read from the socket and the @acronym{CDR} an address object
in the same form as returned by @code{accept}.  The address
will given as @code{#f} if not available, as is usually the
case for stream sockets.

The @var{start} and @var{end} arguments specify a substring of
@var{str} to which the data should be written.

Note that the data is read directly from the socket file
descriptor: any unread buffered port data is ignored.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} sendto sock message fam address . args_and_flags
@deffnx {C Function} scm_sendto (sock, message, fam, address, args_and_flags)
Transmit the string @var{message} on the socket port
@var{sock}.  The
destination address is specified using the @var{fam},
@var{address} and
@var{args_and_flags} arguments, in a similar way to the
@code{connect} procedure.  @var{args_and_flags} contains
the usual connection arguments optionally followed by
a flags argument, which is a value or
bitwise OR of @code{MSG_OOB}, @code{MSG_PEEK}, @code{MSG_DONTROUTE} etc.

The value returned is the number of bytes transmitted --
it's possible for
this to be less than the length of @var{message} if the
socket is
set to be non-blocking.
Note that the data is written directly to the socket
file descriptor:
any unflushed buffered port data is ignored.
@end deffn

The following functions can be used to convert short and long integers
between ``host'' and ``network'' order.  Although the procedures above do
this automatically for addresses, the conversion will still need to
be done when sending or receiving encoded integer data from the network.

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} htons value
@deffnx {C Function} scm_htons (value)
Convert a 16 bit quantity from host to network byte ordering.
@var{value} is packed into 2 bytes, which are then converted
and returned as a new integer.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} ntohs value
@deffnx {C Function} scm_ntohs (value)
Convert a 16 bit quantity from network to host byte ordering.
@var{value} is packed into 2 bytes, which are then converted
and returned as a new integer.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} htonl value
@deffnx {C Function} scm_htonl (value)
Convert a 32 bit quantity from host to network byte ordering.
@var{value} is packed into 4 bytes, which are then converted
and returned as a new integer.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} ntohl value
@deffnx {C Function} scm_ntohl (value)
Convert a 32 bit quantity from network to host byte ordering.
@var{value} is packed into 4 bytes, which are then converted
and returned as a new integer.
@end deffn

These procedures are inconvenient to use at present, but consider:

@example
(define write-network-long
  (lambda (value port)
    (let ((v (make-uniform-vector 1 1 0)))
      (uniform-vector-set! v 0 (htonl value))
      (uniform-vector-write v port))))

(define read-network-long
  (lambda (port)
    (let ((v (make-uniform-vector 1 1 0)))
      (uniform-vector-read! v port)
      (ntohl (uniform-vector-ref v 0)))))
@end example


@node Internet Socket Examples
@subsubsection Network Socket Examples
@cindex network examples
@cindex socket examples

The following give examples of how to use network sockets.

@subsubheading Internet Socket Client Example

@cindex socket client example
The following example demonstrates an Internet socket client.
It connects to the HTTP daemon running on the local machine and
returns the contents of the root index URL.

@example
(let ((s (socket PF_INET SOCK_STREAM 0)))
  (connect s AF_INET (inet-aton "127.0.0.1") 80)
  (display "GET / HTTP/1.0\r\n\r\n" s)

  (do ((line (read-line s) (read-line s)))
      ((eof-object? line))
    (display line)
    (newline)))
@end example


@subsubheading Internet Socket Server Example

@cindex socket server example
The following example shows a simple Internet server which listens on
port 2904 for incoming connections and sends a greeting back to the
client.

@example
(let ((s (socket PF_INET SOCK_STREAM 0)))
  (setsockopt s SOL_SOCKET SO_REUSEADDR 1)
  ;; @r{Specific address?}
  ;; @r{(bind s AF_INET (inet-aton "127.0.0.1") 2904)}
  (bind s AF_INET INADDR_ANY 2904)
  (listen s 5)

  (simple-format #t "Listening for clients in pid: ~S" (getpid))
  (newline)

  (while #t
         (let* ((client-connection (accept s))
                (client-details (cdr client-connection))
                (client (car client-connection)))
           (simple-format #t "Got new client connection: ~S"
                          client-details)
           (newline)
           (simple-format #t "Client address: ~S"
                          (gethostbyaddr
                           (sockaddr:addr client-details)))
           (newline)
           ;; @r{Send back the greeting to the client port}
           (display "Hello client\r\n" client)
           (close client))))
@end example


@node System Identification
@subsection System Identification
@cindex system name

This section lists the various procedures Guile provides for accessing
information about the system it runs on.

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} uname
@deffnx {C Function} scm_uname ()
Return an object with some information about the computer
system the program is running on.

The following procedures accept an object as returned by @code{uname}
and return a selected component.

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} utsname:sysname un
The name of the operating system.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} utsname:nodename un
The network name of the computer.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} utsname:release un
The current release level of the operating system implementation.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} utsname:version un
The current version level within the release of the operating system.
@end deffn
@deffn {Scheme Procedure} utsname:machine un
A description of the hardware.
@end deffn
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} gethostname
@deffnx {C Function} scm_gethostname ()
@cindex host name
Return the host name of the current processor.
@end deffn

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} sethostname name
@deffnx {C Function} scm_sethostname (name)
Set the host name of the current processor to @var{name}. May
only be used by the superuser.  The return value is not
specified.
@end deffn

@node Locales
@subsection Locales
@cindex locale

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} setlocale category [locale]
@deffnx {C Function} scm_setlocale (category, locale)
Get or set the current locale, used for various internationalizations.
Locales are strings, such as @samp{sv_SE}.

If @var{locale} is given then the locale for the given @var{category} is set
and the new value returned.  If @var{locale} is not given then the
current value is returned.  @var{category} should be one of the
following values

@defvar LC_ALL
@defvarx LC_COLLATE
@defvarx LC_CTYPE
@defvarx LC_MESSAGES
@defvarx LC_MONETARY
@defvarx LC_NUMERIC
@defvarx LC_TIME
@end defvar

@cindex @code{LANG}
A common usage is @samp{(setlocale LC_ALL "")}, which initializes all
categories based on standard environment variables (@code{LANG} etc).
For full details on categories and locale names @pxref{Locales,,
Locales and Internationalization, libc, The GNU C Library Reference
Manual}.
@end deffn

@node Encryption
@subsection Encryption
@cindex encryption

Please note that the procedures in this section are not suited for
strong encryption, they are only interfaces to the well-known and
common system library functions of the same name.  They are just as good
(or bad) as the underlying functions, so you should refer to your system
documentation before using them.

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} crypt key salt
@deffnx {C Function} scm_crypt (key, salt)
Encrypt @var{key} using @var{salt} as the salt value to the
crypt(3) library call.
@end deffn

Although @code{getpass} is not an encryption procedure per se, it
appears here because it is often used in combination with @code{crypt}:

@deffn {Scheme Procedure} getpass prompt
@deffnx {C Function} scm_getpass (prompt)
@cindex password
Display @var{prompt} to the standard error output and read
a password from @file{/dev/tty}.  If this file is not
accessible, it reads from standard input.  The password may be
up to 127 characters in length.  Additional characters and the
terminating newline character are discarded.  While reading
the password, echoing and the generation of signals by special
characters is disabled.
@end deffn


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