From: Jim Meyering <meyering@redhat.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:59:56 +0000 (+0200)
Subject: generator.ml: use new "Pathname" designation
X-Git-Tag: 1.0.67~20
X-Git-Url: http://git.annexia.org/?a=commitdiff_plain;h=84fc760439e82e6b3616abd0d1f9bd7d7eb01ec0;p=libguestfs.git

generator.ml: use new "Pathname" designation

Nearly every file-related function in daemons/*.c is affected:
Remove this pair of statements from each affected do_* function:
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (dir, return -1);
and change the type of the corresponding parameter to "const char *".
* src/generator.ml: Emit NEED_ROOT just once, even when there are two or
more Pathname args.
---

diff --git a/daemon/augeas.c b/daemon/augeas.c
index b6cc8f0..7de3624 100644
--- a/daemon/augeas.c
+++ b/daemon/augeas.c
@@ -49,14 +49,11 @@ static augeas *aug = NULL;
 
 /* We need to rewrite the root path so it is based at /sysroot. */
 int
-do_aug_init (char *root, int flags)
+do_aug_init (const char *root, int flags)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_AUGEAS
   char *buf;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (root, return -1);
-
   if (aug) {
     aug_close (aug);
     aug = NULL;
@@ -100,7 +97,7 @@ do_aug_close (void)
 }
 
 int
-do_aug_defvar (char *name, char *expr)
+do_aug_defvar (const char *name, const char *expr)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_AUG_DEFVAR
   int r;
@@ -120,7 +117,7 @@ do_aug_defvar (char *name, char *expr)
 }
 
 guestfs_int_int_bool *
-do_aug_defnode (char *name, char *expr, char *val)
+do_aug_defnode (const char *name, const char *expr, const char *val)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_AUG_DEFNODE
   static guestfs_int_int_bool r;
@@ -142,7 +139,7 @@ do_aug_defnode (char *name, char *expr, char *val)
 }
 
 char *
-do_aug_get (char *path)
+do_aug_get (const char *path)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_AUGEAS
   const char *value = NULL;
@@ -185,7 +182,7 @@ do_aug_get (char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_aug_set (char *path, char *val)
+do_aug_set (const char *path, const char *val)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_AUGEAS
   int r;
@@ -206,7 +203,7 @@ do_aug_set (char *path, char *val)
 }
 
 int
-do_aug_insert (char *path, char *label, int before)
+do_aug_insert (const char *path, const char *label, int before)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_AUGEAS
   int r;
@@ -227,7 +224,7 @@ do_aug_insert (char *path, char *label, int before)
 }
 
 int
-do_aug_rm (char *path)
+do_aug_rm (const char *path)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_AUGEAS
   int r;
@@ -248,7 +245,7 @@ do_aug_rm (char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_aug_mv (char *src, char *dest)
+do_aug_mv (const char *src, const char *dest)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_AUGEAS
   int r;
@@ -269,7 +266,7 @@ do_aug_mv (char *src, char *dest)
 }
 
 char **
-do_aug_match (char *path)
+do_aug_match (const char *path)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_AUGEAS
   char **matches = NULL;
@@ -341,7 +338,7 @@ do_aug_load (void)
 
 /* Simpler version of aug-match, which also sorts the output. */
 char **
-do_aug_ls (char *path)
+do_aug_ls (const char *path)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_AUGEAS
   char **matches;
diff --git a/daemon/blockdev.c b/daemon/blockdev.c
index 46ee994..0745007 100644
--- a/daemon/blockdev.c
+++ b/daemon/blockdev.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
  * we centralize it in one call.
  */
 static int64_t
-call_blockdev (char *device, char *switc, int extraarg, int prints)
+call_blockdev (const char *device, char *switc, int extraarg, int prints)
 {
   int r;
   int64_t rv;
@@ -78,37 +78,37 @@ call_blockdev (char *device, char *switc, int extraarg, int prints)
 }
 
 int
-do_blockdev_setro (char *device)
+do_blockdev_setro (const char *device)
 {
   return (int) call_blockdev (device, "--setro", 0, 0);
 }
 
 int
-do_blockdev_setrw (char *device)
+do_blockdev_setrw (const char *device)
 {
   return (int) call_blockdev (device, "--setrw", 0, 0);
 }
 
 int
-do_blockdev_getro (char *device)
+do_blockdev_getro (const char *device)
 {
   return (int) call_blockdev (device, "--getro", 0, 1);
 }
 
 int
-do_blockdev_getss (char *device)
+do_blockdev_getss (const char *device)
 {
   return (int) call_blockdev (device, "--getss", 0, 1);
 }
 
 int
-do_blockdev_getbsz (char *device)
+do_blockdev_getbsz (const char *device)
 {
   return (int) call_blockdev (device, "--getbsz", 0, 1);
 }
 
 int
-do_blockdev_setbsz (char *device, int blocksize)
+do_blockdev_setbsz (const char *device, int blocksize)
 {
   if (blocksize <= 0 /* || blocksize >= what? */) {
     reply_with_error ("blockdev_setbsz: blocksize must be > 0");
@@ -118,25 +118,25 @@ do_blockdev_setbsz (char *device, int blocksize)
 }
 
 int64_t
-do_blockdev_getsz (char *device)
+do_blockdev_getsz (const char *device)
 {
   return call_blockdev (device, "--getsz", 0, 1);
 }
 
 int64_t
-do_blockdev_getsize64 (char *device)
+do_blockdev_getsize64 (const char *device)
 {
   return call_blockdev (device, "--getsize64", 0, 1);
 }
 
 int
-do_blockdev_flushbufs (char *device)
+do_blockdev_flushbufs (const char *device)
 {
   return call_blockdev (device, "--flushbufs", 0, 0);
 }
 
 int
-do_blockdev_rereadpt (char *device)
+do_blockdev_rereadpt (const char *device)
 {
   return call_blockdev (device, "--rereadpt", 0, 0);
 }
diff --git a/daemon/checksum.c b/daemon/checksum.c
index c06a697..2423265 100644
--- a/daemon/checksum.c
+++ b/daemon/checksum.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 char *
-do_checksum (char *csumtype, char *path)
+do_checksum (const char *csumtype, const char *path)
 {
   const char *program;
   char *buf;
@@ -36,9 +36,6 @@ do_checksum (char *csumtype, char *path)
   int r;
   int len;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   if (strcasecmp (csumtype, "crc") == 0)
     program = "cksum";
   else if (strcasecmp (csumtype, "md5") == 0)
diff --git a/daemon/cmp.c b/daemon/cmp.c
index a48e924..56717c5 100644
--- a/daemon/cmp.c
+++ b/daemon/cmp.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 int
-do_equal (char *file1, char *file2)
+do_equal (const char *file1, const char *file2)
 {
   char *file1buf, *file2buf;
   char *err;
diff --git a/daemon/command.c b/daemon/command.c
index f7a6dcf..9e23e57 100644
--- a/daemon/command.c
+++ b/daemon/command.c
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ do_command_lines (char **argv)
 }
 
 char *
-do_sh (char *command)
+do_sh (const char *command)
 {
   char *argv[] = { "/bin/sh", "-c", command, NULL };
 
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ do_sh (char *command)
 }
 
 char **
-do_sh_lines (char *command)
+do_sh_lines (const char *command)
 {
   char *argv[] = { "/bin/sh", "-c", command, NULL };
 
diff --git a/daemon/cpmv.c b/daemon/cpmv.c
index 4fdee6b..1007203 100644
--- a/daemon/cpmv.c
+++ b/daemon/cpmv.c
@@ -28,19 +28,19 @@
 static int cpmv_cmd (const char *cmd, const char *flags, const char *src, const char *dest);
 
 int
-do_cp (char *src, char *dest)
+do_cp (const char *src, const char *dest)
 {
   return cpmv_cmd ("cp", NULL, src, dest);
 }
 
 int
-do_cp_a (char *src, char *dest)
+do_cp_a (const char *src, const char *dest)
 {
   return cpmv_cmd ("cp", "-a", src, dest);
 }
 
 int
-do_mv (char *src, char *dest)
+do_mv (const char *src, const char *dest)
 {
   return cpmv_cmd ("mv", NULL, src, dest);
 }
diff --git a/daemon/debug.c b/daemon/debug.c
index 5083398..58a5061 100644
--- a/daemon/debug.c
+++ b/daemon/debug.c
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ static struct cmd cmds[] = {
 #endif
 
 char *
-do_debug (char *subcmd MAYBE_UNUSED, char **argv MAYBE_UNUSED)
+do_debug (const char *subcmd MAYBE_UNUSED, char **argv MAYBE_UNUSED)
 {
 #if ENABLE_DEBUG_COMMAND
   int argc, i;
diff --git a/daemon/devsparts.c b/daemon/devsparts.c
index 04585ed..b4ea578 100644
--- a/daemon/devsparts.c
+++ b/daemon/devsparts.c
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ do_list_partitions (void)
 }
 
 int
-do_mkfs (char *fstype, char *device)
+do_mkfs (const char *fstype, const char *device)
 {
   char *err;
   int r;
diff --git a/daemon/dir.c b/daemon/dir.c
index ec072dd..ad1c7c9 100644
--- a/daemon/dir.c
+++ b/daemon/dir.c
@@ -30,13 +30,10 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 int
-do_rmdir (char *path)
+do_rmdir (const char *path)
 {
   int r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   r = rmdir (path);
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -54,14 +51,11 @@ do_rmdir (char *path)
  * do stupid stuff, who are we to try to stop them?
  */
 int
-do_rm_rf (char *path)
+do_rm_rf (const char *path)
 {
   int r;
   char *buf, *err;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   if (strcmp (path, "/") == 0) {
     reply_with_error ("rm -rf: cannot remove root directory");
     return -1;
@@ -89,13 +83,10 @@ do_rm_rf (char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_mkdir (char *path)
+do_mkdir (const char *path)
 {
   int r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   r = mkdir (path, 0777);
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -155,13 +146,10 @@ recursive_mkdir (const char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_mkdir_p (char *path)
+do_mkdir_p (const char *path)
 {
   int r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   r = recursive_mkdir (path);
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -175,14 +163,11 @@ do_mkdir_p (char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_is_dir (char *path)
+do_is_dir (const char *path)
 {
   int r;
   struct stat buf;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   r = lstat (path, &buf);
   CHROOT_OUT;
diff --git a/daemon/du.c b/daemon/du.c
index f5f083d..e6df245 100644
--- a/daemon/du.c
+++ b/daemon/du.c
@@ -29,16 +29,13 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 int64_t
-do_du (char *path)
+do_du (const char *path)
 {
   int r;
   int64_t rv;
   char *out, *err;
   char *buf;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   /* Make the path relative to /sysroot. */
   buf = sysroot_path (path);
   if (!buf) {
diff --git a/daemon/ext2.c b/daemon/ext2.c
index 04869da..f181b8d 100644
--- a/daemon/ext2.c
+++ b/daemon/ext2.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 char **
-do_tune2fs_l (char *device)
+do_tune2fs_l (const char *device)
 {
   int r;
   char *out, *err;
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ do_tune2fs_l (char *device)
 }
 
 int
-do_set_e2label (char *device, char *label)
+do_set_e2label (const char *device, const char *label)
 {
   int r;
   char *err;
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ do_set_e2label (char *device, char *label)
 }
 
 char *
-do_get_e2label (char *device)
+do_get_e2label (const char *device)
 {
   int r, len;
   char *out, *err;
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ do_get_e2label (char *device)
 }
 
 int
-do_set_e2uuid (char *device, char *uuid)
+do_set_e2uuid (const char *device, const char *uuid)
 {
   int r;
   char *err;
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ do_set_e2uuid (char *device, char *uuid)
 }
 
 char *
-do_get_e2uuid (char *device)
+do_get_e2uuid (const char *device)
 {
   int r;
   char *out, *err, *p, *q;
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ do_get_e2uuid (char *device)
 }
 
 int
-do_resize2fs (char *device)
+do_resize2fs (const char *device)
 {
   char *err;
   int r;
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ do_resize2fs (char *device)
 }
 
 int
-do_e2fsck_f (char *device)
+do_e2fsck_f (const char *device)
 {
   char *err;
   int r;
diff --git a/daemon/fallocate.c b/daemon/fallocate.c
index 9c5a3dd..eb84145 100644
--- a/daemon/fallocate.c
+++ b/daemon/fallocate.c
@@ -28,13 +28,10 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 int
-do_fallocate (char *path, int len)
+do_fallocate (const char *path, int len)
 {
   int fd, r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   fd = open (path, O_WRONLY | O_CREAT | O_TRUNC | O_NOCTTY, 0666);
   CHROOT_OUT;
diff --git a/daemon/file.c b/daemon/file.c
index d8425e9..ed3221d 100644
--- a/daemon/file.c
+++ b/daemon/file.c
@@ -30,14 +30,11 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 int
-do_touch (char *path)
+do_touch (const char *path)
 {
   int fd;
   int r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   fd = open (path, O_WRONLY | O_CREAT | O_NOCTTY, 0666);
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -67,15 +64,12 @@ do_touch (char *path)
 }
 
 char *
-do_cat (char *path)
+do_cat (const char *path)
 {
   int fd;
   int alloc, size, r, max;
   char *buf, *buf2;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   fd = open (path, O_RDONLY);
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -138,7 +132,7 @@ do_cat (char *path)
 }
 
 char **
-do_read_lines (char *path)
+do_read_lines (const char *path)
 {
   char **r = NULL;
   int size = 0, alloc = 0;
@@ -147,9 +141,6 @@ do_read_lines (char *path)
   size_t len = 0;
   ssize_t n;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   fp = fopen (path, "r");
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -190,13 +181,10 @@ do_read_lines (char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_rm (char *path)
+do_rm (const char *path)
 {
   int r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   r = unlink (path);
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -210,13 +198,10 @@ do_rm (char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_chmod (int mode, char *path)
+do_chmod (int mode, const char *path)
 {
   int r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   r = chmod (path, mode);
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -230,13 +215,10 @@ do_chmod (int mode, char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_chown (int owner, int group, char *path)
+do_chown (int owner, int group, const char *path)
 {
   int r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   r = chown (path, owner, group);
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -250,13 +232,10 @@ do_chown (int owner, int group, char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_exists (char *path)
+do_exists (const char *path)
 {
   int r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   r = access (path, F_OK);
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -265,14 +244,11 @@ do_exists (char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_is_file (char *path)
+do_is_file (const char *path)
 {
   int r;
   struct stat buf;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   r = lstat (path, &buf);
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -290,13 +266,10 @@ do_is_file (char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_write_file (char *path, char *content, int size)
+do_write_file (const char *path, const char *content, int size)
 {
   int fd;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   if (size == 0)
     size = strlen (content);
 
@@ -324,15 +297,12 @@ do_write_file (char *path, char *content, int size)
 }
 
 char *
-do_read_file (char *path, size_t *size_r)
+do_read_file (const char *path, size_t *size_r)
 {
   int fd;
   struct stat statbuf;
   char *r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   fd = open (path, O_RDONLY);
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -384,7 +354,7 @@ do_read_file (char *path, size_t *size_r)
 
 /* This runs the 'file' command. */
 char *
-do_file (char *path)
+do_file (const char *path)
 {
   char *out, *err;
   int r, freeit = 0;
@@ -436,7 +406,7 @@ do_file (char *path)
 
 /* zcat | file */
 char *
-do_zfile (char *method, char *path)
+do_zfile (const char *method, const char *path)
 {
   int len;
   const char *zcat;
@@ -444,9 +414,6 @@ do_zfile (char *method, char *path)
   FILE *fp;
   char line[256];
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   if (strcmp (method, "gzip") == 0 || strcmp (method, "compress") == 0)
     zcat = "zcat";
   else if (strcmp (method, "bzip2") == 0)
diff --git a/daemon/find.c b/daemon/find.c
index 950a0fc..2147c57 100644
--- a/daemon/find.c
+++ b/daemon/find.c
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ input_to_nul (FILE *fp, char *buf, int maxlen)
 }
 
 char **
-do_find (char *dir)
+do_find (const char *dir)
 {
   struct stat statbuf;
   int r, len, sysrootdirlen;
@@ -59,9 +59,6 @@ do_find (char *dir)
   char *sysrootdir;
   char str[PATH_MAX];
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (dir, return NULL);
-
   sysrootdir = sysroot_path (dir);
   if (!sysrootdir) {
     reply_with_perror ("malloc");
diff --git a/daemon/fsck.c b/daemon/fsck.c
index 825f97e..7139094 100644
--- a/daemon/fsck.c
+++ b/daemon/fsck.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 int
-do_fsck (char *fstype, char *device)
+do_fsck (const char *fstype, const char *device)
 {
   char *err;
   int r;
diff --git a/daemon/glob.c b/daemon/glob.c
index 40b7c50..4fe76f3 100644
--- a/daemon/glob.c
+++ b/daemon/glob.c
@@ -26,14 +26,11 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 char **
-do_glob_expand (char *pattern)
+do_glob_expand (const char *pattern)
 {
   int r;
   glob_t buf;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (pattern, return NULL);	/* Required so chroot can be used. */
-
   /* glob(3) in glibc never calls chdir, so this seems to be safe: */
   CHROOT_IN;
   r = glob (pattern, GLOB_MARK|GLOB_BRACE, NULL, &buf);
diff --git a/daemon/grep.c b/daemon/grep.c
index f0dbefd..d1f5a3f 100644
--- a/daemon/grep.c
+++ b/daemon/grep.c
@@ -28,16 +28,13 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 static char **
-grep (const char *prog, const char *flag, char *regex, char *path)
+grep (const char *prog, const char *flag, const char *regex, const char *path)
 {
   char *buf;
   char *out, *err;
   int r;
   char **lines;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   /* Make the path relative to /sysroot. */
   buf = sysroot_path (path);
   if (!buf) {
@@ -67,74 +64,74 @@ grep (const char *prog, const char *flag, char *regex, char *path)
 }
 
 char **
-do_grep (char *regex, char *path)
+do_grep (const char *regex, const char *path)
 {
   /* The "--" is not really needed, but it helps when we don't need a flag. */
   return grep ("grep", "--", regex, path);
 }
 
 char **
-do_egrep (char *regex, char *path)
+do_egrep (const char *regex, const char *path)
 {
   return grep ("egrep", "--", regex, path);
 }
 
 char **
-do_fgrep (char *regex, char *path)
+do_fgrep (const char *regex, const char *path)
 {
   return grep ("fgrep", "--", regex, path);
 }
 
 char **
-do_grepi (char *regex, char *path)
+do_grepi (const char *regex, const char *path)
 {
   return grep ("grep", "-i", regex, path);
 }
 
 char **
-do_egrepi (char *regex, char *path)
+do_egrepi (const char *regex, const char *path)
 {
   return grep ("egrep", "-i", regex, path);
 }
 
 char **
-do_fgrepi (char *regex, char *path)
+do_fgrepi (const char *regex, const char *path)
 {
   return grep ("fgrep", "-i", regex, path);
 }
 
 char **
-do_zgrep (char *regex, char *path)
+do_zgrep (const char *regex, const char *path)
 {
   return grep ("zgrep", "--", regex, path);
 }
 
 char **
-do_zegrep (char *regex, char *path)
+do_zegrep (const char *regex, const char *path)
 {
   return grep ("zegrep", "--", regex, path);
 }
 
 char **
-do_zfgrep (char *regex, char *path)
+do_zfgrep (const char *regex, const char *path)
 {
   return grep ("zfgrep", "--", regex, path);
 }
 
 char **
-do_zgrepi (char *regex, char *path)
+do_zgrepi (const char *regex, const char *path)
 {
   return grep ("zgrep", "-i", regex, path);
 }
 
 char **
-do_zegrepi (char *regex, char *path)
+do_zegrepi (const char *regex, const char *path)
 {
   return grep ("zegrep", "-i", regex, path);
 }
 
 char **
-do_zfgrepi (char *regex, char *path)
+do_zfgrepi (const char *regex, const char *path)
 {
   return grep ("zfgrep", "-i", regex, path);
 }
diff --git a/daemon/grub.c b/daemon/grub.c
index 8476619..657abbb 100644
--- a/daemon/grub.c
+++ b/daemon/grub.c
@@ -26,15 +26,12 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 int
-do_grub_install (char *root, char *device)
+do_grub_install (const char *root, const char *device)
 {
   int r;
   char *err;
   char *buf;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (root, return -1);
-
   if (asprintf_nowarn (&buf, "--root-directory=%R", root) == -1) {
     reply_with_perror ("asprintf");
     return -1;
diff --git a/daemon/headtail.c b/daemon/headtail.c
index 79dcfbb..9175cf0 100644
--- a/daemon/headtail.c
+++ b/daemon/headtail.c
@@ -28,16 +28,13 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 static char **
-headtail (const char *prog, const char *flag, const char *n, char *path)
+headtail (const char *prog, const char *flag, const char *n, const char *path)
 {
   char *buf;
   char *out, *err;
   int r;
   char **lines;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   /* Make the path relative to /sysroot. */
   buf = sysroot_path (path);
   if (!buf) {
@@ -70,19 +67,19 @@ headtail (const char *prog, const char *flag, const char *n, char *path)
 }
 
 char **
-do_head (char *path)
+do_head (const char *path)
 {
   return headtail ("head", "-n", "10", path);
 }
 
 char **
-do_tail (char *path)
+do_tail (const char *path)
 {
   return headtail ("tail", "-n", "10", path);
 }
 
 char **
-do_head_n (int n, char *path)
+do_head_n (int n, const char *path)
 {
   char nbuf[16];
 
@@ -92,7 +89,7 @@ do_head_n (int n, char *path)
 }
 
 char **
-do_tail_n (int n, char *path)
+do_tail_n (int n, const char *path)
 {
   char nbuf[16];
 
diff --git a/daemon/hexdump.c b/daemon/hexdump.c
index faf3dc5..7016faf 100644
--- a/daemon/hexdump.c
+++ b/daemon/hexdump.c
@@ -26,15 +26,12 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 char *
-do_hexdump (char *path)
+do_hexdump (const char *path)
 {
   char *buf;
   int r;
   char *out, *err;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   buf = sysroot_path (path);
   if (!buf) {
     reply_with_perror ("malloc");
diff --git a/daemon/initrd.c b/daemon/initrd.c
index c1c7ce0..9431ef1 100644
--- a/daemon/initrd.c
+++ b/daemon/initrd.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 char **
-do_initrd_list (char *path)
+do_initrd_list (const char *path)
 {
   FILE *fp;
   char *cmd;
@@ -37,9 +37,6 @@ do_initrd_list (char *path)
   int size = 0, alloc = 0;
   size_t len;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   /* "zcat /sysroot/<path> | cpio --quiet -it", but path must be quoted. */
   if (asprintf_nowarn (&cmd, "zcat %R | cpio --quiet -it", path) == -1) {
     reply_with_perror ("asprintf");
diff --git a/daemon/inotify.c b/daemon/inotify.c
index 96b9681..7834dcb 100644
--- a/daemon/inotify.c
+++ b/daemon/inotify.c
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ do_inotify_close (void)
 }
 
 int64_t
-do_inotify_add_watch (char *path, int mask)
+do_inotify_add_watch (const char *path, int mask)
 {
   int64_t r;
   char *buf;
diff --git a/daemon/link.c b/daemon/link.c
index 9129b5c..a77c2e8 100644
--- a/daemon/link.c
+++ b/daemon/link.c
@@ -28,15 +28,12 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 char *
-do_readlink (char *path)
+do_readlink (const char *path)
 {
   ssize_t r;
   char *ret;
   char link[PATH_MAX];
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   r = readlink (path, link, sizeof link);
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -62,10 +59,6 @@ _link (const char *flag, int symbolic, const char *target, const char *linkname)
   char *buf_linkname;
   char *buf_target;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (linkname, return -1);
-  /* but target does not need to be absolute */
-
   /* Prefix linkname with sysroot. */
   buf_linkname = sysroot_path (linkname);
   if (!buf_linkname) {
@@ -113,25 +106,25 @@ _link (const char *flag, int symbolic, const char *target, const char *linkname)
 }
 
 int
-do_ln (char *target, char *linkname)
+do_ln (const char *target, const char *linkname)
 {
   return _link (NULL, 0, target, linkname);
 }
 
 int
-do_ln_f (char *target, char *linkname)
+do_ln_f (const char *target, const char *linkname)
 {
   return _link ("-f", 0, target, linkname);
 }
 
 int
-do_ln_s (char *target, char *linkname)
+do_ln_s (const char *target, const char *linkname)
 {
   return _link ("-s", 1, target, linkname);
 }
 
 int
-do_ln_sf (char *target, char *linkname)
+do_ln_sf (const char *target, const char *linkname)
 {
   return _link ("-sf", 1, target, linkname);
 }
diff --git a/daemon/ls.c b/daemon/ls.c
index 8dba1bf..9d2ca89 100644
--- a/daemon/ls.c
+++ b/daemon/ls.c
@@ -30,16 +30,13 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 char **
-do_ls (char *path)
+do_ls (const char *path)
 {
   char **r = NULL;
   int size = 0, alloc = 0;
   DIR *dir;
   struct dirent *d;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   dir = opendir (path);
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -84,15 +81,12 @@ do_ls (char *path)
  */
 
 char *
-do_ll (char *path)
+do_ll (const char *path)
 {
   int r;
   char *out, *err;
   char *spath;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, NULL);
-
   spath = sysroot_path (path);
   if (!spath) {
     reply_with_perror ("malloc");
diff --git a/daemon/lvm.c b/daemon/lvm.c
index bee62d4..ddc125c 100644
--- a/daemon/lvm.c
+++ b/daemon/lvm.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
  */
 
 static char **
-convert_lvm_output (char *out, char *prefix)
+convert_lvm_output (char *out, const char *prefix)
 {
   char *p, *pend;
   char **r = NULL;
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ do_lvs_full (void)
 }
 
 int
-do_pvcreate (char *device)
+do_pvcreate (const char *device)
 {
   char *err;
   int r;
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ do_pvcreate (char *device)
 }
 
 int
-do_vgcreate (char *volgroup, char **physvols)
+do_vgcreate (const char *volgroup, char **physvols)
 {
   char *err;
   int r, argc, i;
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ do_vgcreate (char *volgroup, char **physvols)
 }
 
 int
-do_lvcreate (char *logvol, char *volgroup, int mbytes)
+do_lvcreate (const char *logvol, const char *volgroup, int mbytes)
 {
   char *err;
   int r;
@@ -254,14 +254,12 @@ do_lvcreate (char *logvol, char *volgroup, int mbytes)
 }
 
 int
-do_lvresize (char *logvol, int mbytes)
+do_lvresize (const char *logvol, int mbytes)
 {
   char *err;
   int r;
   char size[64];
 
-  RESOLVE_DEVICE (logvol, return -1);
-
   snprintf (size, sizeof size, "%d", mbytes);
 
   r = command (NULL, &err,
@@ -345,7 +343,7 @@ do_lvm_remove_all (void)
 }
 
 int
-do_lvremove (char *device)
+do_lvremove (const char *device)
 {
   char *err;
   int r;
@@ -366,7 +364,7 @@ do_lvremove (char *device)
 }
 
 int
-do_vgremove (char *device)
+do_vgremove (const char *device)
 {
   char *err;
   int r;
@@ -387,7 +385,7 @@ do_vgremove (char *device)
 }
 
 int
-do_pvremove (char *device)
+do_pvremove (const char *device)
 {
   char *err;
   int r;
@@ -408,7 +406,7 @@ do_pvremove (char *device)
 }
 
 int
-do_pvresize (char *device)
+do_pvresize (const char *device)
 {
   char *err;
   int r;
diff --git a/daemon/mknod.c b/daemon/mknod.c
index a6e6eca..adaeb80 100644
--- a/daemon/mknod.c
+++ b/daemon/mknod.c
@@ -31,13 +31,10 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 int
-do_mknod (int mode, int devmajor, int devminor, char *path)
+do_mknod (int mode, int devmajor, int devminor, const char *path)
 {
   int r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   r = mknod (path, mode, makedev (devmajor, devminor));
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -51,19 +48,19 @@ do_mknod (int mode, int devmajor, int devminor, char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_mkfifo (int mode, char *path)
+do_mkfifo (int mode, const char *path)
 {
   return do_mknod (mode | S_IFIFO, 0, 0, path);
 }
 
 int
-do_mknod_b (int mode, int devmajor, int devminor, char *path)
+do_mknod_b (int mode, int devmajor, int devminor, const char *path)
 {
   return do_mknod (mode | S_IFBLK, devmajor, devminor, path);
 }
 
 int
-do_mknod_c (int mode, int devmajor, int devminor, char *path)
+do_mknod_c (int mode, int devmajor, int devminor, const char *path)
 {
   return do_mknod (mode | S_IFCHR, devmajor, devminor, path);
 }
diff --git a/daemon/mount.c b/daemon/mount.c
index 4f60682..89bef34 100644
--- a/daemon/mount.c
+++ b/daemon/mount.c
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ int root_mounted = 0;
  */
 
 int
-do_mount_vfs (char *options, char *vfstype,
-              char *device, char *mountpoint)
+do_mount_vfs (const char *options, const char *vfstype,
+              const char *device, const char *mountpoint)
 {
   int r, is_root;
   char *mp;
@@ -81,20 +81,20 @@ do_mount_vfs (char *options, char *vfstype,
 }
 
 int
-do_mount (char *device, char *mountpoint)
+do_mount (const char *device, const char *mountpoint)
 {
   return do_mount_vfs ("sync,noatime", NULL, device, mountpoint);
 }
 
 int
-do_mount_ro (char *device, char *mountpoint)
+do_mount_ro (const char *device, const char *mountpoint)
 {
   return do_mount_vfs ("ro", NULL, device, mountpoint);
 }
 
 int
-do_mount_options (char *options, char *device,
-                  char *mountpoint)
+do_mount_options (const char *options, const char *device,
+                  const char *mountpoint)
 {
   return do_mount_vfs (options, NULL, device, mountpoint);
 }
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ do_mount_options (char *options, char *device,
  * is kept updated.
  */
 int
-do_umount (char *pathordevice)
+do_umount (const char *pathordevice)
 {
   int freeit = 0, r;
   char *buf;
@@ -311,15 +311,12 @@ do_umount_all (void)
  * device.
  */
 int
-do_mount_loop (char *file, char *mountpoint)
+do_mount_loop (const char *file, const char *mountpoint)
 {
   int r;
   char *buf, *mp;
   char *error;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (file, return -1);
-
   /* We have to prefix /sysroot on both the filename and the mountpoint. */
   mp = sysroot_path (mountpoint);
   if (!mp) {
@@ -351,7 +348,7 @@ do_mount_loop (char *file, char *mountpoint)
  * mkmountpoint case) set the root_mounted flag.
  */
 int
-do_mkmountpoint (char *path)
+do_mkmountpoint (const char *path)
 {
   int r;
 
@@ -376,13 +373,10 @@ do_mkmountpoint (char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_rmmountpoint (char *path)
+do_rmmountpoint (const char *path)
 {
   int r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   r = rmdir (path);
   CHROOT_OUT;
diff --git a/daemon/ntfs.c b/daemon/ntfs.c
index 1d73f2e..85deb65 100644
--- a/daemon/ntfs.c
+++ b/daemon/ntfs.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 int
-do_ntfs_3g_probe (int rw, char *device)
+do_ntfs_3g_probe (int rw, const char *device)
 {
   char *err;
   int r;
diff --git a/daemon/readdir.c b/daemon/readdir.c
index 45256b2..ab42dfd 100644
--- a/daemon/readdir.c
+++ b/daemon/readdir.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 guestfs_int_dirent_list *
-do_readdir (char *path)
+do_readdir (const char *path)
 {
   guestfs_int_dirent_list *ret;
   guestfs_int_dirent v;
@@ -36,9 +36,6 @@ do_readdir (char *path)
   struct dirent *d;
   int i;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   ret = malloc (sizeof *ret);
   if (ret == NULL) {
     reply_with_perror ("malloc");
diff --git a/daemon/realpath.c b/daemon/realpath.c
index c081a45..706af42 100644
--- a/daemon/realpath.c
+++ b/daemon/realpath.c
@@ -28,13 +28,10 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 char *
-do_realpath (char *path)
+do_realpath (const char *path)
 {
   char *ret;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   ret = realpath (path, NULL);
   CHROOT_OUT;
diff --git a/daemon/scrub.c b/daemon/scrub.c
index 5530c69..15c8b6c 100644
--- a/daemon/scrub.c
+++ b/daemon/scrub.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 int
-do_scrub_device (char *device)
+do_scrub_device (const char *device)
 {
   char *err;
   int r;
@@ -46,15 +46,12 @@ do_scrub_device (char *device)
 }
 
 int
-do_scrub_file (char *file)
+do_scrub_file (const char *file)
 {
   char *buf;
   char *err;
   int r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (file, return -1);
-
   /* Make the path relative to /sysroot. */
   buf = sysroot_path (file);
   if (!buf) {
@@ -76,15 +73,12 @@ do_scrub_file (char *file)
 }
 
 int
-do_scrub_freespace (char *dir)
+do_scrub_freespace (const char *dir)
 {
   char *buf;
   char *err;
   int r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (dir, return -1);
-
   /* Make the path relative to /sysroot. */
   buf = sysroot_path (dir);
   if (!buf) {
diff --git a/daemon/selinux.c b/daemon/selinux.c
index 6e2b347..ad5eaa1 100644
--- a/daemon/selinux.c
+++ b/daemon/selinux.c
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
  * - enforcing=0
  */
 int
-do_setcon (char *context)
+do_setcon (const char *context)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_SETCON
   if (setcon ((char *) context) == -1) {
diff --git a/daemon/sfdisk.c b/daemon/sfdisk.c
index e16e8c9..1ec0c85 100644
--- a/daemon/sfdisk.c
+++ b/daemon/sfdisk.c
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 static int
-sfdisk (char *device, int n, int cyls, int heads, int sectors,
+sfdisk (const char *device, int n, int cyls, int heads, int sectors,
         const char *extra_flag,
         char * const* const lines)
 {
@@ -82,15 +82,15 @@ sfdisk (char *device, int n, int cyls, int heads, int sectors,
 }
 
 int
-do_sfdisk (char *device, int cyls, int heads, int sectors,
+do_sfdisk (const char *device, int cyls, int heads, int sectors,
            char **lines)
 {
   return sfdisk (device, 0, cyls, heads, sectors, NULL, lines);
 }
 
 int
-do_sfdisk_N (char *device, int n, int cyls, int heads, int sectors,
-             char *line)
+do_sfdisk_N (const char *device, int n, int cyls, int heads, int sectors,
+             const char *line)
 {
   const char *lines[2] = { line, NULL };
 
@@ -98,13 +98,13 @@ do_sfdisk_N (char *device, int n, int cyls, int heads, int sectors,
 }
 
 int
-do_sfdiskM (char *device, char **lines)
+do_sfdiskM (const char *device, char **lines)
 {
   return sfdisk (device, 0, 0, 0, 0, "-uM", lines);
 }
 
 static char *
-sfdisk_flag (char *device, const char *flag)
+sfdisk_flag (const char *device, const char *flag)
 {
   char *out, *err;
   int r;
@@ -125,19 +125,19 @@ sfdisk_flag (char *device, const char *flag)
 }
 
 char *
-do_sfdisk_l (char *device)
+do_sfdisk_l (const char *device)
 {
   return sfdisk_flag (device, "-l");
 }
 
 char *
-do_sfdisk_kernel_geometry (char *device)
+do_sfdisk_kernel_geometry (const char *device)
 {
   return sfdisk_flag (device, "-g");
 }
 
 char *
-do_sfdisk_disk_geometry (char *device)
+do_sfdisk_disk_geometry (const char *device)
 {
   return sfdisk_flag (device, "-G");
 }
diff --git a/daemon/stat.c b/daemon/stat.c
index 4845851..4ff2711 100644
--- a/daemon/stat.c
+++ b/daemon/stat.c
@@ -31,15 +31,12 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 guestfs_int_stat *
-do_stat (char *path)
+do_stat (const char *path)
 {
   int r;
   guestfs_int_stat *ret;
   struct stat statbuf;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   r = stat (path, &statbuf);
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -73,15 +70,12 @@ do_stat (char *path)
 }
 
 guestfs_int_stat *
-do_lstat (char *path)
+do_lstat (const char *path)
 {
   int r;
   guestfs_int_stat *ret;
   struct stat statbuf;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   r = lstat (path, &statbuf);
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -115,15 +109,12 @@ do_lstat (char *path)
 }
 
 guestfs_int_statvfs *
-do_statvfs (char *path)
+do_statvfs (const char *path)
 {
   int r;
   guestfs_int_statvfs *ret;
   struct statvfs statbuf;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   r = statvfs (path, &statbuf);
   CHROOT_OUT;
diff --git a/daemon/strings.c b/daemon/strings.c
index e5aefca..d7dc392 100644
--- a/daemon/strings.c
+++ b/daemon/strings.c
@@ -26,16 +26,13 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 char **
-do_strings_e (char *encoding, char *path)
+do_strings_e (const char *encoding, const char *path)
 {
   char *buf;
   int r;
   char *out, *err;
   char **lines;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   buf = sysroot_path (path);
   if (!buf) {
     reply_with_perror ("malloc");
@@ -64,7 +61,7 @@ do_strings_e (char *encoding, char *path)
 }
 
 char **
-do_strings (char *path)
+do_strings (const char *path)
 {
   return do_strings_e ("s", path);
 }
diff --git a/daemon/swap.c b/daemon/swap.c
index 580482f..bcc5f1b 100644
--- a/daemon/swap.c
+++ b/daemon/swap.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 static int
-mkswap (char *device, const char *flag, const char *value)
+mkswap (const char *device, const char *flag, const char *value)
 {
   char *err;
   int r;
@@ -50,32 +50,29 @@ mkswap (char *device, const char *flag, const char *value)
 }
 
 int
-do_mkswap (char *device)
+do_mkswap (const char *device)
 {
   return mkswap (device, NULL, NULL);
 }
 
 int
-do_mkswap_L (char *label, char *device)
+do_mkswap_L (const char *label, const char *device)
 {
   return mkswap (device, "-L", label);
 }
 
 int
-do_mkswap_U (char *uuid, char *device)
+do_mkswap_U (const char *uuid, const char *device)
 {
   return mkswap (device, "-U", uuid);
 }
 
 int
-do_mkswap_file (char *path)
+do_mkswap_file (const char *path)
 {
   char *buf;
   int r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   buf = sysroot_path (path);
   if (!buf) {
     reply_with_perror ("malloc");
@@ -110,26 +107,23 @@ swaponoff (const char *cmd, const char *flag, const char *value)
 }
 
 int
-do_swapon_device (char *device)
+do_swapon_device (const char *device)
 {
   return swaponoff ("/sbin/swapon", NULL, device);
 }
 
 int
-do_swapoff_device (char *device)
+do_swapoff_device (const char *device)
 {
   return swaponoff ("/sbin/swapoff", NULL, device);
 }
 
 int
-do_swapon_file (char *path)
+do_swapon_file (const char *path)
 {
   char *buf;
   int r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   buf = sysroot_path (path);
   if (!buf) {
     reply_with_perror ("malloc");
@@ -142,14 +136,11 @@ do_swapon_file (char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_swapoff_file (char *path)
+do_swapoff_file (const char *path)
 {
   char *buf;
   int r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   buf = sysroot_path (path);
   if (!buf) {
     reply_with_perror ("malloc");
@@ -162,25 +153,25 @@ do_swapoff_file (char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_swapon_label (char *label)
+do_swapon_label (const char *label)
 {
   return swaponoff ("/sbin/swapon", "-L", label);
 }
 
 int
-do_swapoff_label (char *label)
+do_swapoff_label (const char *label)
 {
   return swaponoff ("/sbin/swapoff", "-L", label);
 }
 
 int
-do_swapon_uuid (char *uuid)
+do_swapon_uuid (const char *uuid)
 {
   return swaponoff ("/sbin/swapon", "-U", uuid);
 }
 
 int
-do_swapoff_uuid (char *uuid)
+do_swapoff_uuid (const char *uuid)
 {
   return swaponoff ("/sbin/swapoff", "-U", uuid);
 }
diff --git a/daemon/tar.c b/daemon/tar.c
index 9d21e79..03dc512 100644
--- a/daemon/tar.c
+++ b/daemon/tar.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ fwrite_cb (void *fp_ptr, const void *buf, int len)
 
 /* Has one FileIn parameter. */
 int
-do_tar_in (char *dir)
+do_tar_in (const char *dir)
 {
   int err, r;
   FILE *fp;
@@ -99,16 +99,13 @@ do_tar_in (char *dir)
 
 /* Has one FileOut parameter. */
 int
-do_tar_out (char *dir)
+do_tar_out (const char *dir)
 {
   int r;
   FILE *fp;
   char *cmd;
   char buf[GUESTFS_MAX_CHUNK_SIZE];
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (dir, return -1);
-
   /* "tar -C /sysroot%s -cf - ." but we have to quote the dir. */
   if (asprintf_nowarn (&cmd, "tar -C %R -cf - .", dir) == -1) {
     reply_with_perror ("asprintf");
@@ -158,7 +155,7 @@ do_tar_out (char *dir)
 
 /* Has one FileIn parameter. */
 int
-do_tgz_in (char *dir)
+do_tgz_in (const char *dir)
 {
   int err, r;
   FILE *fp;
@@ -221,16 +218,13 @@ do_tgz_in (char *dir)
 
 /* Has one FileOut parameter. */
 int
-do_tgz_out (char *dir)
+do_tgz_out (const char *dir)
 {
   int r;
   FILE *fp;
   char *cmd;
   char buf[GUESTFS_MAX_CHUNK_SIZE];
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (dir, return -1);
-
   /* "tar -C /sysroot%s -zcf - ." but we have to quote the dir. */
   if (asprintf_nowarn (&cmd, "tar -C %R -zcf - .", dir) == -1) {
     reply_with_perror ("asprintf");
diff --git a/daemon/upload.c b/daemon/upload.c
index 5c1adaf..aede24a 100644
--- a/daemon/upload.c
+++ b/daemon/upload.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ write_cb (void *fd_ptr, const void *buf, int len)
 
 /* Has one FileIn parameter. */
 int
-do_upload (char *filename)
+do_upload (const char *filename)
 {
   int err, fd, r, is_dev;
 
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ do_upload (char *filename)
 
 /* Has one FileOut parameter. */
 int
-do_download (char *filename)
+do_download (const char *filename)
 {
   int fd, r, is_dev;
   char buf[GUESTFS_MAX_CHUNK_SIZE];
diff --git a/daemon/wc.c b/daemon/wc.c
index 9720443..93d4ebb 100644
--- a/daemon/wc.c
+++ b/daemon/wc.c
@@ -28,15 +28,12 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 static int
-wc (char *flag, char *path)
+wc (char *flag, const char *path)
 {
   char *buf;
   char *out, *err;
   int r;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return -1);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return -1);
-
   /* Make the path relative to /sysroot. */
   buf = sysroot_path (path);
   if (!buf) {
@@ -73,19 +70,19 @@ wc (char *flag, char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_wc_l (char *path)
+do_wc_l (const char *path)
 {
   return wc ("-l", path);
 }
 
 int
-do_wc_w (char *path)
+do_wc_w (const char *path)
 {
   return wc ("-w", path);
 }
 
 int
-do_wc_c (char *path)
+do_wc_c (const char *path)
 {
   return wc ("-c", path);
 }
diff --git a/daemon/xattr.c b/daemon/xattr.c
index d521321..17d9382 100644
--- a/daemon/xattr.c
+++ b/daemon/xattr.c
@@ -35,12 +35,12 @@
 #endif
 #endif
 
-static guestfs_int_xattr_list *getxattrs (char *path, ssize_t (*listxattr) (const char *path, char *list, size_t size), ssize_t (*getxattr) (const char *path, const char *name, void *value, size_t size));
-static int _setxattr (char *xattr, char *val, int vallen, char *path, int (*setxattr) (const char *path, const char *name, const void *value, size_t size, int flags));
-static int _removexattr (char *xattr, char *path, int (*removexattr) (const char *path, const char *name));
+static guestfs_int_xattr_list *getxattrs (const char *path, ssize_t (*listxattr) (const char *path, char *list, size_t size), ssize_t (*getxattr) (const char *path, const char *name, void *value, size_t size));
+static int _setxattr (const char *xattr, const char *val, int vallen, const char *path, int (*setxattr) (const char *path, const char *name, const void *value, size_t size, int flags));
+static int _removexattr (const char *xattr, const char *path, int (*removexattr) (const char *path, const char *name));
 
 guestfs_int_xattr_list *
-do_getxattrs (char *path)
+do_getxattrs (const char *path)
 {
 #if defined(HAVE_LISTXATTR) && defined(HAVE_GETXATTR)
   return getxattrs (path, listxattr, getxattr);
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ do_getxattrs (char *path)
 }
 
 guestfs_int_xattr_list *
-do_lgetxattrs (char *path)
+do_lgetxattrs (const char *path)
 {
 #if defined(HAVE_LLISTXATTR) && defined(HAVE_LGETXATTR)
   return getxattrs (path, llistxattr, lgetxattr);
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ do_lgetxattrs (char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_setxattr (char *xattr, char *val, int vallen, char *path)
+do_setxattr (const char *xattr, const char *val, int vallen, const char *path)
 {
 #if defined(HAVE_SETXATTR)
   return _setxattr (xattr, val, vallen, path, setxattr);
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ do_setxattr (char *xattr, char *val, int vallen, char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_lsetxattr (char *xattr, char *val, int vallen, char *path)
+do_lsetxattr (const char *xattr, const char *val, int vallen, const char *path)
 {
 #if defined(HAVE_LSETXATTR)
   return _setxattr (xattr, val, vallen, path, lsetxattr);
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ do_lsetxattr (char *xattr, char *val, int vallen, char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_removexattr (char *xattr, char *path)
+do_removexattr (const char *xattr, const char *path)
 {
 #if defined(HAVE_REMOVEXATTR)
   return _removexattr (xattr, path, removexattr);
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ do_removexattr (char *xattr, char *path)
 }
 
 int
-do_lremovexattr (char *xattr, char *path)
+do_lremovexattr (const char *xattr, const char *path)
 {
 #if defined(HAVE_LREMOVEXATTR)
   return _removexattr (xattr, path, lremovexattr);
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ do_lremovexattr (char *xattr, char *path)
 }
 
 static guestfs_int_xattr_list *
-getxattrs (char *path,
+getxattrs (const char *path,
            ssize_t (*listxattr) (const char *path, char *list, size_t size),
            ssize_t (*getxattr) (const char *path, const char *name,
                                 void *value, size_t size))
@@ -116,9 +116,6 @@ getxattrs (char *path,
   int i, j;
   guestfs_int_xattr_list *r = NULL;
 
-  NEED_ROOT (return NULL);
-  ABS_PATH (path, return NULL);
-
   CHROOT_IN;
   len = listxattr (path, NULL, 0);
   CHROOT_OUT;
@@ -210,7 +207,7 @@ getxattrs (char *path,
 }
 
 static int
-_setxattr (char *xattr, char *val, int vallen, char *path,
+_setxattr (const char *xattr, const char *val, int vallen, const char *path,
            int (*setxattr) (const char *path, const char *name,
                             const void *value, size_t size, int flags))
 {
@@ -228,7 +225,7 @@ _setxattr (char *xattr, char *val, int vallen, char *path,
 }
 
 static int
-_removexattr (char *xattr, char *path,
+_removexattr (const char *xattr, const char *path,
               int (*removexattr) (const char *path, const char *name))
 {
   int r;
@@ -247,42 +244,42 @@ _removexattr (char *xattr, char *path,
 #else /* no xattr.h */
 
 guestfs_int_xattr_list *
-do_getxattrs (char *path)
+do_getxattrs (const char *path)
 {
   reply_with_error ("getxattrs: no support for xattrs");
   return NULL;
 }
 
 guestfs_int_xattr_list *
-do_lgetxattrs (char *path)
+do_lgetxattrs (const char *path)
 {
   reply_with_error ("lgetxattrs: no support for xattrs");
   return NULL;
 }
 
 int
-do_setxattr (char *xattr, char *val, int vallen, char *path)
+do_setxattr (const char *xattr, const char *val, int vallen, const char *path)
 {
   reply_with_error ("setxattr: no support for xattrs");
   return -1;
 }
 
 int
-do_lsetxattr (char *xattr, char *val, int vallen, char *path)
+do_lsetxattr (const char *xattr, const char *val, int vallen, const char *path)
 {
   reply_with_error ("lsetxattr: no support for xattrs");
   return -1;
 }
 
 int
-do_removexattr (char *xattr, char *path)
+do_removexattr (const char *xattr, const char *path)
 {
   reply_with_error ("removexattr: no support for xattrs");
   return -1;
 }
 
 int
-do_lremovexattr (char *xattr, char *path)
+do_lremovexattr (const char *xattr, const char *path)
 {
   reply_with_error ("lremovexattr: no support for xattrs");
   return -1;
diff --git a/daemon/zero.c b/daemon/zero.c
index 864e9a6..ce45ae2 100644
--- a/daemon/zero.c
+++ b/daemon/zero.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 int
-do_zero (char *device)
+do_zero (const char *device)
 {
   int fd, i;
   char buf[4096];
diff --git a/daemon/zerofree.c b/daemon/zerofree.c
index 457f8db..ffb9b70 100644
--- a/daemon/zerofree.c
+++ b/daemon/zerofree.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #include "actions.h"
 
 int
-do_zerofree (char *device)
+do_zerofree (const char *device)
 {
   char *err;
   int r;
diff --git a/src/generator.ml b/src/generator.ml
index 940d1a7..8892de5 100755
--- a/src/generator.ml
+++ b/src/generator.ml
@@ -1008,7 +1008,7 @@ Note that this function cannot correctly handle binary files
 as end of line).  For those you need to use the C<guestfs_read_file>
 function which has a more complex interface.");
 
-  ("aug_init", (RErr, [String "root"; Int "flags"]), 16, [],
+  ("aug_init", (RErr, [Pathname "root"; Int "flags"]), 16, [],
    [], (* XXX Augeas code needs tests. *)
    "create a new Augeas handle",
    "\
@@ -2157,7 +2157,7 @@ any partition tables, filesystem superblocks and so on.
 
 See also: C<guestfs_scrub_device>.");
 
-  ("grub_install", (RErr, [String "root"; Device "device"]), 86, [],
+  ("grub_install", (RErr, [Pathname "root"; Device "device"]), 86, [],
    (* Test disabled because grub-install incompatible with virtio-blk driver.
     * See also: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=479760
     *)
@@ -2253,7 +2253,7 @@ the qemu subprocess.  Calling this function checks that the
 daemon responds to the ping message, without affecting the daemon
 or attached block device(s) in any other way.");
 
-  ("equal", (RBool "equality", [String "file1"; String "file2"]), 93, [],
+  ("equal", (RBool "equality", [Pathname "file1"; Pathname "file2"]), 93, [],
    [InitBasicFS, Always, TestOutputTrue (
       [["write_file"; "/file1"; "contents of a file"; "0"];
        ["cp"; "/file1"; "/file2"];
@@ -2444,7 +2444,7 @@ C<resize2fs> sometimes gives an error about this and sometimes not.
 In any case, it is always safe to call C<guestfs_e2fsck_f> before
 calling this function.");
 
-  ("find", (RStringList "names", [String "directory"]), 107, [],
+  ("find", (RStringList "names", [Pathname "directory"]), 107, [],
    [InitBasicFS, Always, TestOutputList (
       [["find"; "/"]], ["lost+found"]);
     InitBasicFS, Always, TestOutputList (
@@ -2550,7 +2550,11 @@ into a list of lines.
 
 See also: C<guestfs_command_lines>");
 
-  ("glob_expand", (RStringList "paths", [String "pattern"]), 113, [],
+  ("glob_expand", (RStringList "paths", [Pathname "pattern"]), 113, [],
+   (* Use Pathname here, and hence ABS_PATH (pattern,... in generated
+    * code in stubs.c, since all valid glob patterns must start with "/".
+    * There is no concept of "cwd" in libguestfs, hence no "."-relative names.
+    *)
    [InitBasicFS, Always, TestOutputList (
       [["mkdir_p"; "/a/b/c"];
        ["touch"; "/a/b/c/d"];
@@ -2617,7 +2621,8 @@ containing C<dir>.
 It is an interface to the L<scrub(1)> program.  See that
 manual page for more details.");
 
-  ("mkdtemp", (RString "dir", [Pathname "template"]), 117, [],
+(* FIXME: make this a WritableString? *)
+  ("mkdtemp", (RString "dir", [String "template"]), 117, [],
    [InitBasicFS, Always, TestRun (
       [["mkdir"; "/tmp"];
        ["mkdtemp"; "/tmp/tmpXXXXXX"]])],
@@ -3026,7 +3031,12 @@ This call is similar to C<guestfs_mounts>.  That call returns
 a list of devices.  This one returns a hash table (map) of
 device name to directory where the device is mounted.");
 
-  ("mkmountpoint", (RErr, [Pathname "path"]), 148, [],
+  ("mkmountpoint", (RErr, [String "exemptpath"]), 148, [],
+  (* This is a special case: while you would expect a parameter
+   * of type "Pathname", that doesn't work, because it implies
+   * NEED_ROOT in the generated calling code in stubs.c, and
+   * this function cannot use NEED_ROOT.
+   *)
    [],
    "create a mountpoint",
    "\
@@ -3181,7 +3191,7 @@ matching lines.");
 Return the canonicalized absolute pathname of C<path>.  The
 returned path has no C<.>, C<..> or symbolic link path elements.");
 
-  ("ln", (RErr, [String "target"; String "linkname"]), 164, [],
+  ("ln", (RErr, [String "target"; Pathname "linkname"]), 164, [],
    [InitBasicFS, Always, TestOutputStruct (
       [["touch"; "/a"];
        ["ln"; "/a"; "/b"];
@@ -3190,7 +3200,7 @@ returned path has no C<.>, C<..> or symbolic link path elements.");
    "\
 This command creates a hard link using the C<ln> command.");
 
-  ("ln_f", (RErr, [String "target"; String "linkname"]), 165, [],
+  ("ln_f", (RErr, [String "target"; Pathname "linkname"]), 165, [],
    [InitBasicFS, Always, TestOutputStruct (
       [["touch"; "/a"];
        ["touch"; "/b"];
@@ -3201,7 +3211,7 @@ This command creates a hard link using the C<ln> command.");
 This command creates a hard link using the C<ln -f> command.
 The C<-f> option removes the link (C<linkname>) if it exists already.");
 
-  ("ln_s", (RErr, [String "target"; String "linkname"]), 166, [],
+  ("ln_s", (RErr, [String "target"; Pathname "linkname"]), 166, [],
    [InitBasicFS, Always, TestOutputStruct (
       [["touch"; "/a"];
        ["ln_s"; "a"; "/b"];
@@ -3210,7 +3220,7 @@ The C<-f> option removes the link (C<linkname>) if it exists already.");
    "\
 This command creates a symbolic link using the C<ln -s> command.");
 
-  ("ln_sf", (RErr, [String "target"; String "linkname"]), 167, [],
+  ("ln_sf", (RErr, [String "target"; Pathname "linkname"]), 167, [],
    [InitBasicFS, Always, TestOutput (
       [["mkdir_p"; "/a/b"];
        ["touch"; "/a/b/c"];
@@ -4726,8 +4736,8 @@ and generate_daemon_actions () =
            pr "  struct guestfs_%s_args args;\n" name;
            List.iter (
              function
-	     (* FIXME: eventually, make String "const", too *)
-             | Pathname n | Device n -> pr "  const char *%s;\n" n
+             | Device n -> pr "  const char *%s;\n" n
+             | Pathname n
              | String n
              | OptString n -> pr "  char *%s;\n" n
              | StringList n -> pr "  char **%s;\n" n
@@ -4750,7 +4760,7 @@ and generate_daemon_actions () =
            List.iter (
              function
              | Pathname n ->
-                 pr "  NEED_ROOT (goto done);\n";
+                 pr "  %s = args.%s;\n" n n;
                  pr "  ABS_PATH (%s, goto done);\n" n;
 	     | Device n ->
                  pr "  %s = args.%s;\n" n n;
@@ -4773,6 +4783,13 @@ and generate_daemon_actions () =
            pr "\n"
       );
 
+      (* this is used at least for do_equal *)
+      if List.exists (function Pathname _ -> true | _ -> false) (snd style) then (
+        (* Emit NEED_ROOT just once, even when there are two or
+           more Pathname args *)
+        pr "  NEED_ROOT (goto done);\n";
+      );
+
       (* Don't want to call the impl with any FileIn or FileOut
        * parameters, since these go "outside" the RPC protocol.
        *)