On 10/27/07, Glynn Clements <glynn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > Shriramana Sharma wrote: > > > >> 1. Can the system calls provided by the kernel be considered an API? > > > > > > System calls aren't strictly an *application* programming interface. > > > Applications are supposed to use the libc functions. > > > > OK so is it at least a "programming interface"? > > Yes, although it's intended to be used solely by libc. I think the "more correct"(TM) explanation would be that: Each hardware architecture, and OS, will have different methods of invoking the actual system call. So from memory Linux and FreeBSD uses different methods to initiate a syscall. Althought the man read(2) "api" from the libc "user"'s perspective are all the same (specified by POSIX etc.) the nitty gritty of getting into the kernel differs. -- Hendrik Visage - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-c-programming" in the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
