Error Codes

Error codes are returned by various functions to indicate the success or to describe the failure of a requested operation.

All Be error constants except for B_OK (B_NO_ERROR) are negative integers; any function that returns an error code can thus be lazily tested for success or failure by the following:

   if ( funcCall() < B_NO_ERROR )
      /* failure */
   else
      /* success */

All constants (except B_NO_ERROR and B_ERROR) are less than or equal to the value of the B_ERRORS_END constant. If you want to define your own negative-valued error codes, you should begin with the value (B_ERRORS_END + 1) and work your way toward 0.

POSIX Errors

The BeOS supports the POSIX error code constants (these constants start with the letter "E", as in EBADF or ENOENT). A number of Be-defined constants are synonyms for the POSIX constants; for example, the Be equivalent for ENOENT is B_ENTRY_NOT_FOUND.

Most of the General Error Codes, and all the File System Error Codes are covers for POSIX errors. The POSIX equivalents are listed where applicable.

The POSIX constants, and the Be synonyms, can be passed to the POSIX strerror() function. The function, defined in posix/string.h, returns a human-readable description of the error:

   char *strerror(int error_code)

General Error Codes

Code POSIX Description
B_NO_MEMORY ENOMEM There isn't enough memory for the operation
B_IO_ERROR EIO A general input/output error occurred
B_PERMISSION_DENIED EACCESS Illegal access
B_BAD_INDEX The index is out of range
B_BAD_VALUE EINVAL An illegal value was passed to the function
B_MISMATCHED_VALUES Conflicting values were passed to the function
B_BAD_TYPE An illegal argument type was named or passed
B_NAME_NOT_FOUND There's no match for the specified name.
B_NAME_IN_USE The requested (unique) name is already used
B_BUSY EBUSY A device is busy, or a file is locked
B_NOT_ALLOWED EPERM Operation not allowed
B_NO_INIT An object or structure isn't properly initialized
B_TIMED_OUT ETIMEDOUT Time expired before the operation was finished
B_INTERRUPTED EINTR A signal interrupted the operation
B_WOULD_BLOCK EAGAIN But you don't want to block
B_WOULD_BLOCK EWOULD BLOCK Same as the above
B_ERROR = –1 A convenient catchall for general errors
B_NO_ERROR = 0 Everything's OK
B_OK Same as B_NO_ERROR

Code	POSIX	Description
`B_NO_MEMORY`	`ENOMEM`	There isn't enough memory for the operation
`B_IO_ERROR`	`EIO`	A general input/output error occurred
`B_PERMISSION_DENIED`	`EACCESS`	Illegal access
`B_BAD_INDEX`		The index is out of range
`B_BAD_VALUE`	`EINVAL`	An illegal value was passed to the function
`B_MISMATCHED_VALUES`		Conflicting values were passed to the function
`B_BAD_TYPE`		An illegal argument type was named or passed
`B_NAME_NOT_FOUND`		There's no match for the specified name.
`B_NAME_IN_USE`		The requested (unique) name is already used
`B_BUSY`	`EBUSY`	A device is busy, or a file is locked
`B_NOT_ALLOWED`	`EPERM`	Operation not allowed
`B_NO_INIT`		An object or structure isn't properly initialized
`B_TIMED_OUT`	`ETIMEDOUT`	Time expired before the operation was finished
`B_INTERRUPTED`	`EINTR`	A signal interrupted the operation
`B_WOULD_BLOCK`	`EAGAIN`	But you don't want to block
`B_WOULD_BLOCK`	`EWOULD BLOCK`	Same as the above
`B_ERROR = –1`		A convenient catchall for general errors
`B_NO_ERROR = 0`		Everything's OK
`B_OK`		Same as `B_NO_ERROR`

File System Error Codes

Code POSIX Description
B_FILE_ERROR EBADF A file error occurred
B_FILE_EXISTS EEXIST And you don't want to clobber it
B_ENTRY_NOT_FOUND ENOENT The requested entry doesn't exist
B_NAME_TOO_LONG ENAME TOOLONG Leaf or pathname too long
B_NO_MORE_FDS EMFILE No more file descriptors
B_NOT_A_DIRECTORY ENOTDIR When it should have been
B_IS_A_DIRECTORY EISDIR When it shouldn't be
B_DIRECTORY_NOT_EMPTY ENOTEMPTY Attempt to delete a non-empty directory
B_DEVICE_FULL ENOSPC Full disk
B_READ_ONLY_DEVICE EROFS Write request on a read-only file system
B_CROSS_DEVICE_LINK EXDEV Hard link across devices not allowed
B_LINK_LIMIT ELOOP Nested links too deep
B_BUSTED_PIPE EPIPE Pipe no longer functional.
B_UNSUPPORTED An unsupported operation was attempted.
B_PARTITION_TOO_SMALL A partition is too small for the attempted operation.

Code	`POSIX`	Description
`B_FILE_ERROR`	`EBADF`	A file error occurred
`B_FILE_EXISTS`	`EEXIST`	And you don't want to clobber it
`B_ENTRY_NOT_FOUND`	`ENOENT`	The requested entry doesn't exist
`B_NAME_TOO_LONG`	`ENAME TOOLONG`	Leaf or pathname too long
`B_NO_MORE_FDS`	`EMFILE`	No more file descriptors
`B_NOT_A_DIRECTORY`	`ENOTDIR`	When it should have been
`B_IS_A_DIRECTORY`	`EISDIR`	When it shouldn't be
`B_DIRECTORY_NOT_EMPTY`	`ENOTEMPTY`	Attempt to delete a non-empty directory
`B_DEVICE_FULL`	`ENOSPC`	Full disk
`B_READ_ONLY_DEVICE`	`EROFS`	Write request on a read-only file system
`B_CROSS_DEVICE_LINK`	`EXDEV`	Hard link across devices not allowed
`B_LINK_LIMIT`	`ELOOP`	Nested links too deep
`B_BUSTED_PIPE`	`EPIPE`	Pipe no longer functional.
`B_UNSUPPORTED`		An unsupported operation was attempted.
`B_PARTITION_TOO_SMALL`		A partition is too small for the attempted operation.

Application Kit Error Codes

Code Description
B_DUPLICATE_REPLY A reply message has already been sent
B_BAD_REPLY The reply message is inappropriate and can't be sent
B_BAD_HANDLER The designated message handler isn't valid
B_MESSAGE_TO_SELF A thread is trying to send a message to itself
B_ALREADY_RUNNING The application can't be launched again
B_LAUNCH_FAILED The attempt to launch the application failed
B_AMBIGUOUS_APP_LAUNCH Odd things happening in app land
B_UNKOWN_MIME_TYPE Application signature unknown
B_BAD_SCRIPT_SYNTAX Script syntax malformed
B_LAUNCH_FAILED_NO_RESOLVE_LINK Unable to resolve a link to the application to be launched
B_LAUNCH_FAILED_EXECUTABLE The attempt to launch the application failed because the application isn't a valid executable
B_LAUNCH_FAILED_APP_NOT_FOUND The attempt to launch the application failed because the application wasn't found
B_LAUNCH_FAILED_APP_IN_TRASH The attempt to launch the application failed because the application was in the trash
B_LAUNCH_FAILED_NO_PREFERRED_APP The attempt to launch the application failed because there is no preferred application for the document
B_LAUNCH_FAILED_FILES_APP_NOT_FOU ND The attempt to launch the application failed because the document's application is missing
B_BAD_MIME_SNIFFER_RULE A MIME type sniffer rule is invalid

Code	Description
`B_DUPLICATE_REPLY`	A reply message has already been sent
`B_BAD_REPLY`	The reply message is inappropriate and can't be sent
`B_BAD_HANDLER`	The designated message handler isn't valid
`B_MESSAGE_TO_SELF`	A thread is trying to send a message to itself
`B_ALREADY_RUNNING`	The application can't be launched again
`B_LAUNCH_FAILED`	The attempt to launch the application failed
`B_AMBIGUOUS_APP_LAUNCH`	Odd things happening in app land
`B_UNKOWN_MIME_TYPE`	Application signature unknown
`B_BAD_SCRIPT_SYNTAX`	Script syntax malformed
`B_LAUNCH_FAILED_NO_RESOLVE_LINK`	Unable to resolve a link to the application to be launched
`B_LAUNCH_FAILED_EXECUTABLE`	The attempt to launch the application failed because the application isn't a valid executable
`B_LAUNCH_FAILED_APP_NOT_FOUND`	The attempt to launch the application failed because the application wasn't found
`B_LAUNCH_FAILED_APP_IN_TRASH`	The attempt to launch the application failed because the application was in the trash
`B_LAUNCH_FAILED_NO_PREFERRED_APP`	The attempt to launch the application failed because there is no preferred application for the document
`B_LAUNCH_FAILED_FILES_APP_NOT_FOU ND`	The attempt to launch the application failed because the document's application is missing
`B_BAD_MIME_SNIFFER_RULE`	A MIME type sniffer rule is invalid

Kernel Kit Error Codes

Code Description
B_BAD_THREAD_ID Specified thread identifier (thread_id) is invalid
B_BAD_THREAD_STATE The thread is in the wrong state for the operation
B_NO_MORE_THREADS All thread identifiers are currently taken
B_BAD_TEAM_ID Specified team identifier (team_id) is invalid
B_NO_MORE_TEAMS All team identifiers are currently taken
B_BAD_PORT_ID Specified port identifier (port_id) is invalid
B_NO_MORE_PORTS All port identifiers have been taken
B_BAD_SEM_ID Semaphore identifier (sem_id) is invalid
B_NO_MORE_SEMS All semaphores are currently taken
B_BAD_IMAGE_ID Specified image identifier (image_id)is invalid
B_NOT_AN_EXECUTABLE An executable image was expected
B_BAD_ADDRESS Illegal address
B_MISSING_LIBRARY A library needed by an application is missing
B_MISSING_SYMBOL A symbol needed by an application is missing
B_DEBUGGER_ALREADY_ INSTALLED An attempt was made to install the debugger when it was already installed.

Code	Description
`B_BAD_THREAD_ID`	Specified thread identifier (`thread_id`) is invalid
`B_BAD_THREAD_STATE`	The thread is in the wrong state for the operation
`B_NO_MORE_THREADS`	All thread identifiers are currently taken
`B_BAD_TEAM_ID`	Specified team identifier (`team_id`) is invalid
`B_NO_MORE_TEAMS`	All team identifiers are currently taken
`B_BAD_PORT_ID`	Specified port identifier (`port_id`) is invalid
`B_NO_MORE_PORTS`	All port identifiers have been taken
`B_BAD_SEM_ID`	Semaphore identifier (`sem_id`) is invalid
`B_NO_MORE_SEMS`	All semaphores are currently taken
`B_BAD_IMAGE_ID`	Specified image identifier (`image_id`)is invalid
`B_NOT_AN_EXECUTABLE`	An executable image was expected
`B_BAD_ADDRESS`	Illegal address
`B_MISSING_LIBRARY`	A library needed by an application is missing
`B_MISSING_SYMBOL`	A symbol needed by an application is missing
`B_DEBUGGER_ALREADY_ INSTALLED`	An attempt was made to install the debugger when it was already installed.

Media Kit Error Codes

Code Description
B_MEDIA_SYSTEM_FAILURE The media system has failed spectacularly
B_MEDIA_BAD_NODE An invalid or nonexistent node was specified
B_MEDIA_NODE_BUSY The specified node was busy
B_MEDIA_BAD_FORMAT The specified media_format is invalid
B_MEDIA_TOO_MANY_NODE S The media system has reached its limit of nodes
B_MEDIA_TOO_MANY_BUFFE RS The media system has too many buffers
B_MEDIA_NODE_ALREADY_EX ISTS Trying to create a node that already exists is a no-no
B_MEDIA_BUFFER_ALREADY_E XISTS Trying to create a buffer that already exists is a bad idea
B_MEDIA_CANNOT_SEEK A seek failure occurred
B_MEDIA_CANNOT_CHANGE _RUN_MODE Unable to change run mode
B_MEDIA_APP_ALREADY_REGI STERED An application has already registered with the media system
B_MEDIA_APP_NOT_REGISTER ED An application hasn't registered with the media system
B_MEDIA_CANNOT_RECLAIM_ BUFFERS Reclaiming of BBuffers failed
B_MEDIA_BUFFERS_NOT_RECL AIMED BBuffers weren't reclaimed
B_MEDIA_TIME_SOURCE_STOP PED The time source isn't running
B_MEDIA_TIME_SOURCE_BUSY The time source is busy
B_MEDIA_BAD_SOURCE The specified media_source is invalid
B_MEDIA_BAD_DESTINATION The specified media_destination is invalid
B_MEDIA_ALREADY_CONNEC TED Can't connect nodes that are already connected
B_MEDIA_NOT_CONNECTED There's no connection in place
B_MEDIA_BAD_CLIP_FORMAT The clip format isn't valid
B_MEDIA_ADDON_FAILED An add-on failed
B_MEDIA_ADDON_DISABLED The add-on is disabled
B_MEDIA_CHANGE_IN_PROG RESS A change is in progress, preventing the requested action
B_MEDIA_STALE_CHANGE_CO UNT The change count is stale
B_MEDIA_ADDON_RESTRICTE D The add-on is restricted
B_MEDIA_NO_HANDLER There's no handler available meeting the specified needs
B_MEDIA_DUPLICATE_FORMA T The specified format already exists
B_MEDIA_REALTIME_DISABLED Real-time memory allocation is disabled
B_MEDIA_REALTIME_UNAVAIL ABLE Real-time memory allocation isn't available

Code	Description
`B_MEDIA_SYSTEM_FAILURE`	The media system has failed spectacularly
`B_MEDIA_BAD_NODE`	An invalid or nonexistent node was specified
`B_MEDIA_NODE_BUSY`	The specified node was busy
`B_MEDIA_BAD_FORMAT`	The specified media_format is invalid
`B_MEDIA_TOO_MANY_NODE S`	The media system has reached its limit of nodes
`B_MEDIA_TOO_MANY_BUFFE RS`	The media system has too many buffers
`B_MEDIA_NODE_ALREADY_EX ISTS`	Trying to create a node that already exists is a no-no
`B_MEDIA_BUFFER_ALREADY_E XISTS`	Trying to create a buffer that already exists is a bad idea
`B_MEDIA_CANNOT_SEEK`	A seek failure occurred
`B_MEDIA_CANNOT_CHANGE _RUN_MODE`	Unable to change run mode
`B_MEDIA_APP_ALREADY_REGI STERED`	An application has already registered with the media system
`B_MEDIA_APP_NOT_REGISTER ED`	An application hasn't registered with the media system
`B_MEDIA_CANNOT_RECLAIM_ BUFFERS`	Reclaiming of BBuffers failed
`B_MEDIA_BUFFERS_NOT_RECL AIMED`	BBuffers weren't reclaimed
`B_MEDIA_TIME_SOURCE_STOP PED`	The time source isn't running
`B_MEDIA_TIME_SOURCE_BUSY`	The time source is busy
`B_MEDIA_BAD_SOURCE`	The specified media_source is invalid
`B_MEDIA_BAD_DESTINATION`	The specified media_destination is invalid
`B_MEDIA_ALREADY_CONNEC TED`	Can't connect nodes that are already connected
`B_MEDIA_NOT_CONNECTED`	There's no connection in place
`B_MEDIA_BAD_CLIP_FORMAT`	The clip format isn't valid
`B_MEDIA_ADDON_FAILED`	An add-on failed
`B_MEDIA_ADDON_DISABLED`	The add-on is disabled
`B_MEDIA_CHANGE_IN_PROG RESS`	A change is in progress, preventing the requested action
`B_MEDIA_STALE_CHANGE_CO UNT`	The change count is stale
`B_MEDIA_ADDON_RESTRICTE D`	The add-on is restricted
`B_MEDIA_NO_HANDLER`	There's no handler available meeting the specified needs
`B_MEDIA_DUPLICATE_FORMA T`	The specified format already exists
`B_MEDIA_REALTIME_DISABLED`	Real-time memory allocation is disabled
`B_MEDIA_REALTIME_UNAVAIL ABLE`	Real-time memory allocation isn't available

Mail Errors

Code Description
B_MAIL_NO_DAEMON mail_daemon not running
B_MAIL_UNKNOWN_USER User unknown
B_MAIL_WRONG_PASSWORD Password doesn't match user
B_MAIL_UNKNOWN_HOST POP or SMTP host unrecognized
B_MAIL_ACCESS_ERROR Couldn't access host
B_MAIL_UNKNOWN_FIELD Unrecognized message field name
B_MAIL_NO_RECIPIENT Return to sender, address unknown
B_MAIL_INVALID_MAIL Invalid mail invalid mail invalid

Code	Description
`B_MAIL_NO_DAEMON`	mail_daemon not running
`B_MAIL_UNKNOWN_USER`	User unknown
`B_MAIL_WRONG_PASSWORD`	Password doesn't match user
`B_MAIL_UNKNOWN_HOST`	POP or SMTP host unrecognized
`B_MAIL_ACCESS_ERROR`	Couldn't access host
`B_MAIL_UNKNOWN_FIELD`	Unrecognized message field name
`B_MAIL_NO_RECIPIENT`	Return to sender, address unknown
`B_MAIL_INVALID_MAIL`	Invalid mail invalid mail invalid

Device Kit Errors

Code
B_DEV_INVALID_IOCTL
B_DEV_NO_MEMORY
B_DEV_BAD_DRIVE_NUM
B_DEV_NO_MEDIA
B_DEV_UNREADABLE
B_DEV_FORMAT_ERROR
B_DEV_TIMEOUT
B_DEV_RECALIBRATE_ERROR
B_DEV_SEEK_ERROR
B_DEV_ID_ERROR
B_DEV_READ_ERROR
B_DEV_WRITE_ERROR
B_DEV_NOT_READY
B_DEV_MEDIA_CHANGED

Code
`B_DEV_INVALID_IOCTL`
`B_DEV_NO_MEMORY`
`B_DEV_BAD_DRIVE_NUM`
`B_DEV_NO_MEDIA`
`B_DEV_UNREADABLE`
`B_DEV_FORMAT_ERROR`
`B_DEV_TIMEOUT`
`B_DEV_RECALIBRATE_ERROR`
`B_DEV_SEEK_ERROR`
`B_DEV_ID_ERROR`
`B_DEV_READ_ERROR`
`B_DEV_WRITE_ERROR`
`B_DEV_NOT_READY`
`B_DEV_MEDIA_CHANGED`

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