NAME

getusershell, setusershell, endusershell — get valid user shells

LIBRARY

Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

SYNOPSIS

#include <unistd.h>

char *
getusershell(void);

void
setusershell(void);

void
endusershell(void);

DESCRIPTION

The getusershell() function returns a pointer to a valid user shell as defined by the system manager in the shells database as described in shells(5). If the shells database is not available, getusershell() behaves as if /bin/sh and /bin/csh were listed.

The getusershell() function reads the next line (opening the file if necessary); setusershell() rewinds the file; endusershell() closes it.

FILES

/etc/shells

DIAGNOSTICS

The routine getusershell() returns a null pointer (0) on EOF.

SEE ALSO

nsswitch.conf(5), shells(5)

HISTORY

The getusershell() function appeared in 4.3BSD.

BUGS

The getusershell() function leaves its result in an internal static object and returns a pointer to that object. Subsequent calls to getusershell() will modify the same object.