@deftypefun {int} {gnutls_global_init} ( @var{void})

Since GnuTLS 3.3.0 this function is no longer necessary to be explicitly
called. To disable the implicit call (in a library constructor) of this
function set the environment variable @code{GNUTLS_NO_EXPLICIT_INIT}  to 1.

This function performs any required precalculations, detects
the supported CPU capabilities and initializes the underlying
cryptographic backend. In order to free any resources 
taken by this call you should @code{gnutls_global_deinit()}  
when gnutls usage is no longer needed.

This function increments a global counter, so that
@code{gnutls_global_deinit()}  only releases resources when it has been
called as many times as @code{gnutls_global_init()} .  This is useful when
GnuTLS is used by more than one library in an application.  This
function can be called many times, but will only do something the
first time.

A subsequent call of this function if the initial has failed will
return the same error code.

@strong{Returns:} On success, @code{GNUTLS_E_SUCCESS}  (0) is returned,
otherwise a negative error code is returned.
@end deftypefun