> > result=write_configfile("/etc/sysconfig/networking/ifcfg-eth0","ONBOOT","no"); > > > > and > > > > result=read_configfile("/etc/sysconfig/networking/ifcfg-eth0","ONBOOT",&mystring); > > Yeah! For really simple configuration information, this could be useful. > Now try expressing thousands of Snort rules with that scheme, and your > head will start aching. So it should be available for the 80% of tasks that its good enough, the 20% can code their own configuration. If a simple, clear API for text is available (and portable across distribution) then people will use it. If its complex then it probably isn't general purpose anyway !