Thread: return value from main()

The return value is passed back to the invoker when the program terminates. It's nice to tell the invoker how you went.
system() for example might use such a value: http://www.cplusplus.com/reference/c...ib/system.html

and you might want to write a little math program or something, eg:

Code:

#include <stdlib.h>

int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
    int res = 0;
    if(argc >= 3)
        res = atoi(argv[1]) + atoi(argv[2]);
    return res;
}

Which pointlessly adds 2 numbers like so:
./pointless.exe 5 10
= 15

I've read that the value is returned to the OS(meaning?).

When you write some shell script or bat-file calling external program you'll want to add some branching depending on the success/failure of the action you just executed...
That's why in the batch file you can exemine the return code of the program and use it in the if conditions...

Suppose i do

Code:

  int rv;
  rv=system("./hello");

The parameter rv will hold 0 if system() has executed correctly. But, one of his questions were :
"s there any possibility of using this value in a C program?"
But, "rv" is not actually the return value of my "hello" program., right? And something like this is easily done in shell scritps as vart suggested. Can we do it in C?

rv can indeed be the return value of the program. Whether it is or not depends upon other factors, such as whether or not the command you ran was actually able to be executed or not.

I wrote a post on the return value of main(), with regard to why it is important to declare main() as returning an int, and to return an int that properly reflects the state of the program when it reliquishes control and terminates. This is somewhat intermediate to advanced, but you can try the programs I have in the post. They may not work, since they are mainly proof-of-concept programs. As you can see, I used the return value of system() to read the return value of the command being executed, which can indeed be an actual C program:

http://cboard.cprogramming.com/showp...0&postcount=11

Originally Posted by kris.c

Suppose i do

Code:

  int rv;
  rv=system("./hello");

The parameter rv will hold 0 if system() has executed correctly. But, one of his questions were :
"s there any possibility of using this value in a C program?"
But, "rv" is not actually the return value of my "hello" program., right? And something like this is easily done in shell scritps as vart suggested. Can we do it in C?

If we use some advanced API like CreateProcess in Windows we can afterwards retreive the exit code of the process using corresponding function http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms683189.aspx

There's also a POSIX function called spawn*() (spawnl, spawnp, spawnv etc, depending on what you want) that allows you to get the return value of a process. Just use mode P_WAIT.

Originally Posted by megastar

main's return value is of type int.
I've read that the value is returned to the OS(meaning?).

Note that (despite what many people think) the requirement for main() to return int only applies to what the C standard called "hosted environments," which usually means that your program is executed by an operating system.

In non-hosted environments, typically embedded systems, the name, return type, and parameters of the "main" function are implementation defined.

I've done some embedded software in which main() was required to return void, which is perfectly legal in those cases. (C99 5.1.2.1, in case anyone is interested)

As to my question where in OS i take it that it is stored in EAX register
according to MacGyver.

A register is probably not what you think it is. It's one of very few memory locations inside the CPU. But that doesn't really matter.

Now the second part of the question was whether it can be used in another
C program.

Yes, the return value from one program can be used in another program.

Does that answer your question? Well, yes, but your question should have been, how?

What operating system are you using? Windows or Linux? If you're using Windows, execute the program with CreateProcess() (a link was posted to it by vart above). If you're using some other system like Linux or UNIX, check out the last post in this thread. http://www.programmersheaven.com/mb/...admessage.aspx

[edit] You posted again while I was typing . . . okay:

@vart 2nd post and @dwks
I am not very familiar with API's so excuse me if i get this wrong.
What you have suggested is the following i guess

1.Read return value of P1 using certain functions or procedures in API
like GetExitCodeProcess and spawn*().
2.From API retrieve the value for use into P2(??)

What I mean is this:

Code:

/* executor */
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <process.h>  /* I think this is what spawnl() is in . . . */

int main() {
    int retval = spawnl(P_WAIT, "executee.exe", NULL);
    printf("executor: &#37;d\n", retval);
    return 0;
}

Code:

/* executee */
#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int r;
    printf("Enter the value to return: ");
    scanf("%d", &r);
    return r;
}

[/edit]

I'd better start a new post.

2.
@vart 1st post
In response to my first part(i.e value returned to OS) your reply was how
the value could be utilized and also you suggested examining the batch file
to retrieve the value(isnt it?)

Yes. Here's an example sh script (I'm not sure about the batch syntax):

Code:

#!/bin/sh
VALUE=$(program.exe)
if [ $VALUE -gt 0 ]; then
    echo "Error encountered (return value of program.exe was more than 0)"
fi

Note that I rarely use shell scripting, so that might be wrong, but it's probably irrelevant since you want to do this in C, not sh.

[edit] Arrg, you beat me again.

Yes, the return value of system() is not the return value of the program. To get the return value of the program, use some other function like that Windows one or spawnl(). What OS are you using? [/edit]