diff --git a/library/std/src/os/unix/fs.rs b/library/std/src/os/unix/fs.rs index 7464ac6069c..88326aaf295 100644 --- a/library/std/src/os/unix/fs.rs +++ b/library/std/src/os/unix/fs.rs @@ -149,7 +149,36 @@ fn read_exact_at(&self, mut buf: &mut [u8], mut offset: u64) -> io::Result<()> { /// Note that similar to [`File::write`], it is not an error to return a /// short write. /// + /// # Bug + /// On some systems, `write_at` utilises [`pwrite64`] to write to files. + /// However, this syscall has a [bug] where files opened with the `O_APPEND` + /// flag fail to respect the offset parameter, always appending to the end + /// of the file instead. + /// + /// It is possible to inadvertantly set this flag, like in the example below. + /// Therefore, it is important to be vigilant while changing options to mitigate + /// unexpected behaviour. + /// + /// ```no_run + /// use std::fs::File; + /// use std::io; + /// use std::os::unix::prelude::FileExt; + /// + /// fn main() -> io::Result<()> { + /// // Open a file with the append option (sets the `O_APPEND` flag) + /// let file = File::options().append(true).open("foo.txt")?; + /// + /// // We attempt to write at offset 10; instead appended to EOF + /// file.write_at(b"sushi", 10)?; + /// + /// // foo.txt is 5 bytes long instead of 15 + /// Ok(()) + /// } + /// ``` + /// /// [`File::write`]: fs::File::write + /// [`pwrite64`]: https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man2/pwrite.2.html + /// [bug]: https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man2/pwrite.2.html#BUGS /// /// # Examples /// @@ -159,7 +188,7 @@ fn read_exact_at(&self, mut buf: &mut [u8], mut offset: u64) -> io::Result<()> { /// use std::os::unix::prelude::FileExt; /// /// fn main() -> io::Result<()> { - /// let file = File::open("foo.txt")?; + /// let file = File::create("foo.txt")?; /// /// // We now write at the offset 10. /// file.write_at(b"sushi", 10)?;