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Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2002 19:42:41 +0200
From: "Eli Zaretskii" <eliz AT is DOT elta DOT co DOT il>
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To: Richard Dawe <rich AT phekda DOT freeserve DOT co DOT uk>
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In-reply-to: <3C6669FA.58D4C84D@phekda.freeserve.co.uk> (message from Richard
	Dawe on Sun, 10 Feb 2002 12:39:22 +0000)
Subject: Re: posix_spawn family [Was: Re: posix_spanw family]
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> Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2002 12:39:22 +0000
> From: Richard Dawe <rich AT phekda DOT freeserve DOT co DOT uk>
> 
> Program calls posix_spawn*
>     posix_spawn* save some random pid somewhere
>     posix_spawn* calls normal spawn* to handle process invocation
>     Spawned process runs, terminates
>     posix_spawn* save the exit code somewhere
>     posix_spawn* returns the random pid
> 
> Program calls wait
>     wait retrieves saved random pid and exit code, returns them to program

Yes, that's it, in general.

However, note that we don't need to return a random number as the
PID, we could get a bit fancier (look at the source of our getpid()
for ideas ;-).

> > > Why does gettext need these functions?
> > 
> > Because it invokes subsidiary programs to do certain jobs.
> 
> I guessed that. 8) But I meant is it vital to gettext's functionality? Or is
> there an easy work-around for DJGPP? (I guess we could just use spawn*
> instead, for DJGPP.)

If spawn* will do, we could simply make posix_spawn* call spawn*, and
gain both an ease of porting and a useful new function.

> FWIW glibc 2.1.3 on Linux does not seem to have posix_spawn*. I can't believe
> gettext has shipped without being tested on any RedHat Linux 6.2 boxen.

Believe it.  Gettext developers are not bothered too much about old
systems (isn't the latest version of RedHat 7.something?).