errno 26 (ETXTBSY): meaning and diagnosis

Status / error code:		Category:

Constant name:
Source:		Operating System:
Description: An executable image is still active while another operation attempts to open or replace it for writing.

Could be also:
Constant	Type	OS
ERROR_NOT_DOS_DISK	Win32 error	Windows
KERN_INVALID_PROCESSOR_SET	Kern return	Mac
ippStsOvermuchStrings	Intel Ipp Status	Any
ETXTBSY	errno	Linux
ETXTBSY	errno	Solaris
MEMORY_MANAGEMENT	BugCheck Code	Windows

Previous	Next
EDEADLK	EAGAIN

ETXTBSY

An executable is not an ordinary writable file at this moment

ETXTBSY is the historical “text file busy” condition. It identifies a conflict between executable-image use and an operation that needs write access to that image. The useful question is not merely which pathname failed, but whether the target is running, mapped as an executable image, or being replaced while another process still depends on it.

Do not treat this as a permission failure. Changing mode bits or ownership does not release the conflicting executable use. A deployment tool should use a versioned output file followed by an atomic name switch where the filesystem and update model permit it, rather than overwriting a live executable in place.

Evidence worth collecting

Record the operation (open, replacement, install, or updater step), the exact path, and whether the file is an executable, helper, or loaded component.
Identify processes that still execute or map that image before attempting another replacement.
Keep the old and new build artifacts distinct; retrying the same in-place overwrite can repeatedly hit the same lifetime conflict.

References

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