[fuse-devel] question about pointers in C

[Stef B. <st...@gm...>]

Hello,

I've a general question about the use of pointers.

I'm using the function basename, and I've read that it gives back a pointer.

but I can assign is to an array of char:
#define MAX_PATHLEN 1024

static signed int testfunction(const char *path);
{
char testpath[MAX_PATHLEN];

fprintf(stdout, '"Value of path: %s.\n", path);

testpath = basename(path);

fprintf(stdout, "Value of testpath: %s.\n", testpath);
return 0;
}

Well this is possible, but very confusing. Is this good C?? I've read
that the function basename can alter the parameter,
so it should be something like:

basename(strdup(path))

Futher, the line with basename: basename is returning a pointer, so
how can I assign the value of the pointer to the
var testpath?? I've tried:

testpath = *basename(path);

but this gives anerror:

error: invalid type argument of 'unary *'

Now unary , the * is the indirection operator, not the unary operator,
according

http://www.cs.cf.ac.uk/Dave/C/node10.html#SECTION001000000000000000000

Can someone please shine some light here? I know that it's not fuse
specific, and please do not start with RTFM or something of that sort,
I've read enough and still don't get it.

Thanks in advance,

Stef