SysExits

Converted from a C header file to a Java Interface, for inclusion in SMTP software. The Interface defines a bunch of public static final int constants, but no methods, so it works much like a C-language #include with just #define'd numbers...

This include file attempts to categorize possible error exit statuses for system programs, notably delivermail and the Berkeley network.

Error numbers begin at EX__BASE to reduce the possibility of clashing with other exit statuses that random programs may already return. The meaning of the codes is approximately as follows:

EX_USAGE -- The command was used incorrectly, e.g., with the wrong number of arguments, a bad flag, a bad syntax in a parameter, or whatever.

EX_DATAERR -- The input data was incorrect in some way. This should only be used for user's data & not system files.

EX_NOINPUT -- An input file (not a system file) did not exist or was not readable. This could also include errors like "No message" to a mailer (if it cared to catch it).

EX_NOUSER -- The user specified did not exist. This might be used for mail addresses or remote logins.

EX_NOHOST -- The host specified did not exist. This is used in mail addresses or network requests.

EX_UNAVAILABLE -- A service is unavailable. This can occur if a support program or file does not exist. This can also be used as a catchall message when something you wanted to do doesn't work, but you don't know why.

EX_SOFTWARE -- An internal software error has been detected. This should be limited to non-operating system related errors as much as possible.

EX_OSERR -- An operating system error has been detected. This is intended to be used for such things as "cannot fork", "cannot create pipe", or the like. It includes things like getuid returning a user that does not exist in the passwd file.

EX_OSFILE -- Some system file (e.g., /etc/passwd, /etc/utmp, etc.) does not exist, cannot be opened, or has some sort of error (e.g., syntax error).

EX_CANTCREAT -- A (user specified) output file cannot be created.

EX_IOERR -- An error occurred while doing IO on some file.

EX_TEMPFAIL -- temporary failure, indicating something that is not really an error. In sendmail, this means that a mailer (e.g.) could not create a connection, and the request should be reattempted later.

EX_PROTOCOL -- the remote system returned something that was "not possible" during a protocol exchange.

EX_NOPERM -- You did not have sufficient permission to perform the operation. This is not intended for file system problems, which should use NOINPUT or CANTCREAT, but rather for higher level permissions.