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From: guy@sun.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.lang.c
Subject: Re: unix documentation (was Question on getopt())
Message-ID: <5921@sun.uucp>
Date: Thu, 7-Aug-86 03:36:54 EDT
Article-I.D.: sun.5921
Posted: Thu Aug  7 03:36:54 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 10-Aug-86 05:15:44 EDT
References: <7009@utzoo.UUCP> <5733@sun.uucp> <269@sdchema.sdchem.UUCP>
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Lines: 20

> Biggest surprise:  of the more than 100 users on our system, only *4* are
> allowed to look at UNIX software.

The person in question worked at Bellcore, not UCSD, so UCSD's policies may
or may not be relevant.

> Are only local gurus supposed to use library functions?

No.  I never said that, and I'm getting tired of people inferring that I
believe that.  It *is*, however, the case that with many (if not most) UNIX
systems, anybody who *isn't* a local guru may end up getting caught by the
crappy UNIX documentation.  If you have source, you should check it if you
have any suspicion whatsoever that the UNIX documentation may not be
correct.  If you don't have source, either find somebody who does or test
the function yourself (if practical) before using it.  Asking the vendor may
or may not do any good; they may just read you the documentation.
-- 
	Guy Harris
	{ihnp4, decvax, seismo, decwrl, ...}!sun!guy
	guy@sun.com (or guy@sun.arpa)