RE: ioctl

Subject: RE: ioctl
From: "walden miller" <wmiller -at- vidiom -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2002 12:21:16 -0600


IMHO, ioctl is not a substitute for Input/Output control.

It is a function call for controlling I/O devices and streams: (from Sun's
docs on their website)

NAME ioctl ? control device
SYNOPSIS #include <unistd.h>
#include <stropts.h>
int ioctl(int fildes, int request, /* arg */ ...);

DESCRIPTION The ioctl( ) function performs a variety of control functions on
devices and STREAMS. For non-STREAMS files, the functions performed by this
call are device-specific control functions. The request argument and an
optional third argument with varying type are passed to the file designated
by fildes and are interpreted by the device driver.
...

What you seem to be up against is the use of ioctl (the call both
generically and in context) in engineering text. It is very common to use a
call name as a verb, adjective, and noun. It isn't obvious to engineers
outside the group that commonly uses the call. If you want to copy-edit the
language, then you need to be very careful to understand the intent of the
language choice. Double-check with the engineer.

Whatever your choices, the use of ioctl as a term is not generic outside of
Sun or Sun-type (unix flavors???) apps/devices.

Hope that helps...

walden




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References:
ioctl: From: CB Casper

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