[Python-Dev] Missing POSIX functions: the list

[Andrew M. Kuchling]

After poking around in the O'Reilly POSIX book, here's a list of POSIX
functions that don't seem to be available in Python.  Not all of them
seem worth supporting.   Ironically, Greg Ward's daemonize() Perl
subroutine, which started me on this, doesn't actually seem to need
anything that Python doesn't have.

I'm looking for corrections to the list; are there other POSIX
functions I've missed, or are some of them actually in Python?

I think implementing most of these functions is straightforward, with
the exception of opendir/readdir/closedir.

Worth adding?
=============
opendir(), readdir(), closedir() -- 
	   most of their functionality is available through
	   os.listdir(), but it might be useful to have a direct
	   interface.  Downside is that this would require a new
	   extension type for the C DIR struct.  My (lazy) inclination
	   is to not bother.

Worth adding:
=============

abort() -- used in Py_FatalError(), but not accessible to Python code

ctermid(), ctermid_r() -- returns the terminal pathname 
	   -- probably just add ctermid(), but use ctermid_r() for
thread-safety
            
fpathconf(fd, name) -- Get configuration limit for a file
	    -- would need constants from unistd.h

getlogin() -- returns user's login name
	 -- could do something similar with pwd.getpwuid( os.getuid() )[0], but
	 getlogin() apparently looks in utmp

getgroups(gidsetsize, grouplist) -- Gets supplementary group IDs

pathconf(path, name) -- Gets config variables for a path
	    -- would need constants from unistd.h

sysconf(int name) -- Gets system configuration information
	    -- would need constants from unistd.h

Not worth adding:
=================
clearerr() -- looks like fileobjects call clearerr() before raising errors

cuserid() -- returns user's login name
	  -- ORA book says "Do not use this function" -- removed in 1990 POSIX

difftime
	  -- seems only required in C "because no addition properties
are defined for time_t" (Solaris man page)              

tmpfile(), tmpnam() -- Create temp file, generate temp filename
		    -- Similar functionality available in tempfile.py

mblen(), mbstowcs(), mbtowc(), wcstombs(),  wctomb()
	 -- Multi-byte character functions: 
	 -- Don't bother; wait for the Unicode type.

-- 
A.M. Kuchling			http://starship.python.net/crew/amk/
I'm sorry I became abusive just now ... calling you worms... I was just
speaking relatively, you understand.
    -- Dekko, in ZOT! #3