In what instance would Main() return a value?

[SlowCoder74]

According to MS, Main() can return a value: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/k1sx6ed2.aspx

I'm trying to think of an instance when Main() would need to return a value, being that it's the main program control.

Is it for cases where main may be used iteratively, calling itself multiple times? That, in itself, seems like it would be bad coding design.

[Arjay]

Think of a console app utility program. Most beginners make the mistake of creating a utility program that simply outputs text to the console for success or failure.

However, if you call the utility app via scripting or a batch file, it's a headache to have to pipe and parse the text to determine if the utility succeeded.

A better way is to always return an error code (or 0 for success) along with the text. Then the script or batch file can simply check the utility's return value.

[SlowCoder74]

Think of a console app utility program. Most beginners make the mistake of creating a utility program that simply outputs text to the console for success or failure.

However, if you call the utility app via scripting or a batch file, it's a headache to have to pipe and parse the text to determine if the utility succeeded.

A better way is to always return an error code (or 0 for success) along with the text. Then the script or batch file can simply check the utility's return value.

Ah. I'd always thought the value was returned via console. This makes sense.

[willmotil]

here is a example on the msdn
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/0fwzzxz2.aspx
it could just be in a app that starts another process or exe as well
you might want to get the error code if it failed, then toss a message to the user.
"like error code -1 the application failed to load the file the file maybe corrupt"

I'm trying to think of an instance when Main() would need to return a value, being that it's the main program control.

os executes your program (the os needs to know if it has exited gracefully or crashed to send a messege)