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GETUSERSHELL(3)                         BSD Library Functions Manual                         GETUSERSHELL(3)

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
     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.

BSD                                           January 16, 1999                                           BSD

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