CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#.net
NetPenguin21
NetPenguin21

Reputation: 103

Proper usage of Environment.ExitCode = -1

I am developing a .NET Console Application and keep seeing where another developer has used Environment.ExitCode = -1; in their catch statements. I have read the answer here and was satisfied to discover

You can set the exit code using properties: Environment.ExitCode = -1;. This will be used if nothing else sets the return code or uses one of the other options above).

Again the link I have placed above is not the same question this is a question regarding method usage not about how to set the code.

To my understanding this is stating that if no other exit code has been provided and no other exit method is given -1 is used. If I am wrong on that assumption it would be great to get clarification.

Which leaves me with wondering if this would be the same as calling Environment.Exit(-1);? In both cases the ExitCode is being set to -1 to be reported to the operating system. Is reporting it directly by calling Environment.Exit(-1); undermining the ability of Environment.ExitCode = -1;?

Upvotes: 1

Views: 3016

Answers (1)

DutchJelly
DutchJelly

Reputation: 196

Environment.Exit(-1) terminates the process and sends an exit code of -1 to the operating system. Environment.ExitCode = -1 does not terminate the process, but sets the exit code to -1 for when the process terminates.

I found this information here and here.

So here's an example of the difference in usage:

public class ExitCodeUsage
{
   public static void Main()
   {
      string[] args = Environment.GetCommandLineArgs();
      if (args.Length == 1) {
         Environment.ExitCode = -1;  
      }
      else {
         //Do stuff that requires the length of args to be not equal to 1.
      }
   }
}

public class ExitUsage
{
   public static void Main()
   {
      string[] args = Environment.GetCommandLineArgs();
      if (args.Length == 1) {
         Environment.Exit(-1);  
      }

      //Do stuff that requires the length of args to be not equal to 1.

   }
}

Upvotes: 2

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