amiga-bootcamp/07_dos/environment.md
Ilia Sharin 21751c0025 docs(amiga): complete AmigaOS 3.1/3.2 developer reference — 172 files across 17 sections
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2026-04-23 12:17:35 -04:00

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Environment Variables — GetVar, SetVar

Overview

AmigaDOS supports both local (per-process) and global (system-wide) environment variables. Local variables are stored in the process's pr_LocalVars MinList; global variables are stored as files in ENV: (RAM-backed) and ENVARC: (persistent on disk).


API

LVO Function Description
900 GetVar(name, buf, size, flags) Read a variable
906 SetVar(name, buf, size, flags) Set or create a variable
912 DeleteVar(name, flags) Remove a variable
918 FindVar(name, type) Find a LocalVar node

Flags

/* dos/var.h — NDK39 */
#define GVF_GLOBAL_ONLY   0x100   /* search only ENV: */
#define GVF_LOCAL_ONLY    0x200   /* search only pr_LocalVars */
#define GVF_BINARY_VAR    0x10    /* treat value as binary data */
#define GVF_DONT_NULL_TERM 0x20   /* don't null-terminate result */
#define LV_VAR            0       /* standard variable */
#define LV_ALIAS          1       /* shell alias */

Usage

/* Set a global variable: */
SetVar("EDITOR", "ed", -1, GVF_GLOBAL_ONLY);

/* Read it back: */
char buf[256];
if (GetVar("EDITOR", buf, sizeof(buf), 0) >= 0) {
    Printf("EDITOR = %s\n", buf);
}

/* Delete: */
DeleteVar("EDITOR", GVF_GLOBAL_ONLY);

Storage Locations

Scope Storage Persistent?
Local pr_LocalVars MinList (in-memory) No — dies with process
Global (volatile) ENV: — assign to RAM:Env/ No — lost on reboot
Global (persistent) ENVARC: — assign to SYS:Prefs/Env-Archive/ Yes — survives reboot

The startup-sequence copies ENVARC: to ENV: at boot.


References

  • NDK39: dos/var.h
  • ADCD 2.1: GetVar, SetVar, DeleteVar