Sender: lums@XXXXXX
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001 19:08:48 -0500
From: Andrew Lumsdaine <lumsdaine.1@XXXXXX>
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To: William Gropp <gropp@XXXXXXXXXXX>
CC: Karl Feind <kaf@XXXXXXX>,mpi-core@XXXXXXXXXXX
Subject: Re: MPI_Abort nit
References: <4.2.2.20010131165059.035f8c88@XXXXXXXXX>
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IIRC, exit() takes an argument that is returned to the calling environment.


William Gropp wrote:

> At 12:06 PM 1/31/2001 -0600, Karl Feind wrote:
>
> >In the MPI-1 standard, we have this description of MPI_Abort():
> >
> >    MPI_ABORT(COMM, ERRORCODE, IERROR)
> >    INTEGER COMM, ERRORCODE, IERROR
> >
> >    This routine makes a ``best attempt'' to abort all tasks in the group
> >    of comm. This function does not require that the invoking environment
> >    take any action with the error code. However, a Unix or POSIX
> >    environment should handle this as a return errorcode from the main
> >    program or an abort(errorcode).
> >
> >This is a minor nit, but POSIX and ANSI C specify that the abort()
> >function does not take an argument.  Hence the meaning of
> >"abort(errorcode)" above is unclear.  I think we should queue up a
> >clarification/fix to the standard unless there's a meaning here that I'm
> >misunderstanding.
>
> Thanks; I've added it to the clarification list.
>
> My interpretation followed the "handle this as a return errorcode from the
> main program" branch; but either interpretation is ok.  However, note that
> the "should" here was not intended to be mandatory; it merely suggests what
> a user-friendly implementation might do.   As a *user*, I'd like the
> specified error code returned by mpirun to the invoking
> environment.  However, any clarification should make clear that there is no
> required return value (this is a quality of implementation issue).
>
> I can see environments where the return status indicates not only the code
> but the processes that caused the abort ...
>
> Bill

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