Jaromir Dolecek writes:

>This isn't portable of course - the fd is opaque int number,
>kernel can return to you e.g. 18278932 even if you have only
>descriptors 0, 1, 2 open. The fact that Unix returns consequent
>descripts number is implementation detail. Also, using your
>way, you always waste three slots (0, 1, 2).

That is not true.  A standards-conforming open(2) is required
to return the lowest available file descriptor (and that's also
how it has been traditionally.)  From IEEE Std 1003.1-2001 (SUSv3):

	The open() function shall return a file descriptor for the
	named file that is the lowest file descriptor not currently
	open for that process.

--mkb