You can use Perl in various ways to create new processes as per your requirements. This tutorial will list down few important and most frequently used methods of creating and managing Perl processes.
The fork() function is used to clone a current process. This call create a new process running the same program at the same point. It returns the child pid to the parent process, 0 to the child process, or undef if the fork is unsuccessful.
You can use exec() function within a process to launch the requested executable, which will be executed in a separate process area and exec() will wait for it to complete before exiting with the same exit status as that process.
Note that using kill('KILL', (Process List)) on a pseudo-process() may typically cause memory leaks, because the thread that implements the pseudo-process does not get a chance to clean up its resources.
You can use kill() function to send any other signal to target processes, for example following will send SIGINT to a process IDs 104 and 102 −
- You can use special variables $$ or $PROCESS_ID to get current process ID.
- Every process created using any of the mentioned methods, maintains its own virtual environment with-in %ENV variable.
- The exit() function always exits just the child process which executes this function and the main process as a whole will not exit unless all running child-processes have exited.
- All open handles are dup()-ed in child-processes, so that closing any handles in one process does not affect the others.
Backstick Operator
This simplest way of executing any Unix command is by using backstick operator. You simply put your command inside the backstick operator, which will result in execution of the command and returns its result which can be stored as follows −#!/usr/bin/perl @files = `ls -l`; foreach $file (@files){ print $file; } 1;When the above code is executed, it lists down all the files and directories available in the current directory −
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 Sep 14 06:46 9-14 drwxr-xr-x 4 root root 4096 Sep 13 07:54 android -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 574 Sep 17 15:16 index.htm drwxr-xr-x 3 544 401 4096 Jul 6 16:49 MIME-Lite-3.01 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 71 Sep 17 15:16 test.pl drwx------ 2 root root 4096 Sep 17 15:11 vAtrJdy
The system() Function
You can also use system() function to execute any Unix command, whose output will go to the output of the perl script. By default, it is the screen, i.e., STDOUT, but you can redirect it to any file by using redirection operator > −#!/usr/bin/perl system( "ls -l") 1;When above code is executed, it lists down all the files and directories available in the current directory −
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 Sep 14 06:46 9-14 drwxr-xr-x 4 root root 4096 Sep 13 07:54 android -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 574 Sep 17 15:16 index.htm drwxr-xr-x 3 544 401 4096 Jul 6 16:49 MIME-Lite-3.01 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 71 Sep 17 15:16 test.pl drwx------ 2 root root 4096 Sep 17 15:11 vAtrJdyBe careful when your command contains shell environmental variables like $PATH or $HOME. Try following three scenarios −
#!/usr/bin/perl $PATH = "I am Perl Variable"; system('echo $PATH'); # Treats $PATH as shell variable system("echo $PATH"); # Treats $PATH as Perl variable system("echo \$PATH"); # Escaping $ works. 1;When above code is executed, it produces the following result depending on what is set in shell variable $PATH.
/usr/local/bin:/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin:/sbin I am Perl Variable /usr/local/bin:/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin:/sbin
The fork() Function
Perl provides a fork() function that corresponds to the Unix system call of the same name. On most Unix-like platforms where the fork() system call is available, Perl's fork() simply calls it. On some platforms such as Windows where the fork() system call is not available, Perl can be built to emulate fork() at the interpreter level.The fork() function is used to clone a current process. This call create a new process running the same program at the same point. It returns the child pid to the parent process, 0 to the child process, or undef if the fork is unsuccessful.
You can use exec() function within a process to launch the requested executable, which will be executed in a separate process area and exec() will wait for it to complete before exiting with the same exit status as that process.
#!/usr/bin/perl if(!defined($pid = fork())) { # fork returned undef, so unsuccessful die "Cannot fork a child: $!"; }elsif ($pid == 0) { print "Printed by child process\n"; exec("date") || die "can't exec date: $!"; } else { # fork returned 0 nor undef # so this branch is parent print "Printed by parent process\n"; $ret = waitpid($pid, 0); print "Completed process id: $ret\n"; } 1;When above code is executed, it produces the following result −
Printed by parent process Printed by child process Tue Sep 17 15:41:08 CDT 2013 Completed process id: 17777The wait() and waitpid() can be passed as a pseudo-process ID returned by fork(). These calls will properly wait for the termination of the pseudo-process and return its status. If you fork without ever waiting on your children using waitpid() function, you will accumulate zombies. On Unix systems, you can avoid this by setting $SIG{CHLD} to "IGNORE" as follows −
#!/usr/bin/perl local $SIG{CHLD} = "IGNORE"; if(!defined($pid = fork())) { # fork returned undef, so unsuccessful die "Cannot fork a child: $!"; }elsif ($pid == 0) { print "Printed by child process\n"; exec("date") || die "can't exec date: $!"; } else { # fork returned 0 nor undef # so this branch is parent print "Printed by parent process\n"; $ret = waitpid($pid, 0); print "Completed process id: $ret\n"; } 1;When above code is executed, it produces the following result −
Printed by parent process Printed by child process Tue Sep 17 15:44:07 CDT 2013 Completed process id: -1
The kill() Function
Perl kill('KILL', (Process List)) function can be used to terminate a pseudo-process by passing it the ID returned by fork().Note that using kill('KILL', (Process List)) on a pseudo-process() may typically cause memory leaks, because the thread that implements the pseudo-process does not get a chance to clean up its resources.
You can use kill() function to send any other signal to target processes, for example following will send SIGINT to a process IDs 104 and 102 −
#!/usr/bin/perl kill('INT', 104, 102); 1;
If you think that this might be an interesting wealth-building home business for you, or perhaps something to supplement your
ReplyDeleterevenue, then use a look. You do not need a physical, tangible product to generate money with internet marketing.
Your investment is liquid and you can exchange quickly -
Land for sale is perhaps the most under rated investment coming
from all despite the fact that it.