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+++ b/m4/mode_t.m4
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+# mode_t.m4 serial 1
+dnl Copyright (C) 2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+dnl This file is free software; the Free Software Foundation
+dnl gives unlimited permission to copy and/or distribute it,
+dnl with or without modifications, as long as this notice is preserved.
+
+# For using mode_t, it's sufficient to use AC_TYPE_MODE_T and
+# include <sys/types.h>.
+
+# Define PROMOTED_MODE_T to the type that is the result of "default argument
+# promotion" (ISO C 6.5.2.2.(6)) of the type mode_t.
+AC_DEFUN([gl_PROMOTED_TYPE_MODE_T],
+[
+  AC_REQUIRE([AC_TYPE_MODE_T])
+  AC_CACHE_CHECK([for promoted mode_t type], [gl_cv_promoted_mode_t], [
+    dnl Assume mode_t promotes to 'int' if and only if it is smaller than 'int',
+    dnl and to itself otherwise. This assumption is not guaranteed by the ISO C
+    dnl standard, but we don't know of any real-world counterexamples.
+    AC_TRY_COMPILE([#include <sys/types.h>],
+      [typedef int array[2 * (sizeof (mode_t) < sizeof (int)) - 1];],
+      [gl_cv_promoted_mode_t='int'],
+      [gl_cv_promoted_mode_t='mode_t'])
+  ])
+  AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([PROMOTED_MODE_T], [$gl_cv_promoted_mode_t],
+    [Define to the type that is the result of default argument promotions of type mode_t.])
+])