How to Reliably Access the User\'s Home Directory in C for Linux?

Obtain User Home Directory in Linux

In developing C programs for Linux, it is often necessary to access the user's home directory path. However, relying on the HOME environment variable is not recommended. Here's how to obtain the home directory using the getpwuid and getuid functions:

<code class="c++">#include <unistd.h>
#include <sys/types.h>
#include <pwd.h>

struct passwd *pw = getpwuid(getuid());

const char *homedir = pw->pw_dir;</code>

The getuid() function retrieves the current user's ID, and getpwuid() uses this ID to obtain the corresponding password entry, which includes the user's home directory path stored in pw->pw_dir. This approach works for both Linux and Unix systems.

Creating Files/Folders in Root Home Directory

If your program runs as the root user, avoid creating files/folders in the root home directory (/root). Modifying the root home directory is generally not recommended, as it can impact system stability and security. Instead, consider using a dedicated directory specifically created for your program's use, such as /var/[program-name] or /opt/[program-name].

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