title: is mknod portable? if not, what is the alternative?
body: <p>I would like to use <code>mknod</code> in my code to create a file, but <code>man</code> says, that </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>The only portable use of mknod() is to create a FIFO-special file.  If mode is not S_IFIFO or dev is not  0,  the  behavior  of
           mknod()  is unspecified.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Does that mean, that mknod is not really portable and I should use some other way to create a function? How about calling <code>open</code> and the instantly <code>close</code>? Which way is safer?</p>