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From: pefv700@perv.pe.utexas.edu
Newsgroups: comp.unix.programmer
Subject: running out of file descriptors
Message-ID: <41618@ut-emx.uucp>
Date: 18 Dec 90 22:03:54 GMT
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Distribution: usa
Organization: Dept. of Petroleum Engineering, The University of Texas at Aust
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I am trying to write a version of ls(1).  My problem is running out of file
descriptors with the recursive option. (The program on pp. 181-184 of K&R2
suffers from this problem.)

Perhaps ls(1) closes open directory files after "remembering" all of the
subdirectories it found there.  This is what rm(1) seems to do (as tested 
using -ri).  If so, how can this be done efficiently while taking advantage
of the NOFILES file descriptors that you do have (without using malloc 
all over the place) ?

I have also tested recursive cp(1).  It seems to NOT close open directories
until it is finished with all of their subdirectories and hence crashes
after running out of file descriptors.

Thanks,

Chris Phillips