# module Process

Module `Process` represents a process in the underlying operating system. Its methods support management of the current process and its child processes.

## Process Creation¶ ↑

Each of the following methods executes a given command in a new process or subshell, or multiple commands in new processes and/or subshells. The choice of process or subshell depends on the form of the command; see Argument command_line or exe_path.

- `Process.spawn`, `Kernel#spawn`: Executes the command; returns the new pid without waiting for completion.

- `Process.exec`: Replaces the current process by executing the command.

In addition:

- Method `Kernel#system` executes a given command-line (string) in a subshell; returns `true`, `false`, or `nil`.

- Method `Kernel#`` executes a given command-line (string) in a subshell; returns its $stdout string.

- Module `Open3` supports creating child processes with access to their $stdin, $stdout, and $stderr streams.

### Execution Environment¶ ↑

Optional leading argument `env` is a hash of name/value pairs, where each name is a string and each value is a string or `nil`; each name/value pair is added to `ENV` in the new process.

    Process.spawn(                'ruby -e "p ENV[\"Foo\"]"')
    Process.spawn({'Foo' => '0'}, 'ruby -e "p ENV[\"Foo\"]"')

Output:

    "0"

The effect is usually similar to that of calling ENV#update with argument `env`, where each named environment variable is created or updated (if the value is non-`nil`), or deleted (if the value is `nil`).

However, some modifications to the calling process may remain if the new process fails. For example, hard resource limits are not restored.

### Argument `command_line` or `exe_path`¶ ↑

The required string argument is one of the following:

- `command_line` if it begins with a shell reserved word or special built-in, or if it contains one or more meta characters.

- `exe_path` otherwise.

Argument `command_line`

String argument `command_line` is a command line to be passed to a shell; it must begin with a shell reserved word, begin with a special built-in, or contain meta characters:

    system('if true; then echo "Foo"; fi')          # => true  # Shell reserved word.
    system('echo')                                  # => true  # Built-in.
    system('date > /tmp/date.tmp')                  # => true  # Contains meta character.
    system('date > /nop/date.tmp')                  # => false
    system('date > /nop/date.tmp', exception: true) # Raises RuntimeError.

The command line may also contain arguments and options for the command:

    system('echo "Foo"') # => true

Output:

    Foo

See Execution Shell for details about the shell.

Argument `exe_path`

Argument `exe_path` is one of the following:

- The string path to an executable to be called.

- A 2-element array containing the path to an executable to be called, and the string to be used as the name of the executing process.

Example:

    system('/usr/bin/date') # => true # Path to date on Unix-style system.
    system('foo')           # => nil  # Command failed.

Output:

    Mon Aug 28 11:43:10 AM CDT 2023

### Execution Options¶ ↑

Optional trailing argument `options` is a hash of execution options.

#### Working Directory (`:chdir`)¶ ↑

By default, the working directory for the new process is the same as that of the current process:

    Dir.chdir('/var')
    Process.spawn('ruby -e "puts Dir.pwd"')

Output:

    /var

Use option `:chdir` to set the working directory for the new process:

    Process.spawn('ruby -e "puts Dir.pwd"', {chdir: '/tmp'})

Output:

    /tmp

The working directory of the current process is not changed:

    Dir.pwd # => "/var"

#### File Redirection (File Descriptor)¶ ↑

Use execution options for file redirection in the new process.

The key for such an option may be an integer file descriptor (fd), specifying a source, or an array of fds, specifying multiple sources.

An integer source fd may be specified as:

- n: Specifies file descriptor n.

There are these shorthand symbols for fds:

- `:in`: Specifies file descriptor 0 (STDIN).

- `:out`: Specifies file descriptor 1 (STDOUT).

- `:err`: Specifies file descriptor 2 (STDERR).

The value given with a source is one of:

- n: Redirects to fd n in the parent process.

- `filepath`: Redirects from or to the file at `filepath` via `open(filepath, mode, 0644)`, where `mode` is `'r'` for source `:in`, or `'w'` for source `:out` or `:err`.

- `[filepath]`: Redirects from the file at `filepath` via `open(filepath, 'r', 0644)`.

- `[filepath, mode]`: Redirects from or to the file at `filepath` via `open(filepath, mode, 0644)`.

- `[filepath, mode, perm]`: Redirects from or to the file at `filepath` via `open(filepath, mode, perm)`.

- `[:child, fd]`: Redirects to the redirected `fd`.

- `:close`: Closes the file descriptor in child process.

See Access Modes and File Permissions.

#### Environment Variables (`:unsetenv_others`)¶ ↑

By default, the new process inherits environment variables from the parent process; use execution option key `:unsetenv_others` with value `true` to clear environment variables in the new process.

Any changes specified by execution option `env` are made after the new process inherits or clears its environment variables; see Execution Environment.

#### File-Creation Access (`:umask`)¶ ↑

Use execution option `:umask` to set the file-creation access for the new process; see Access Modes:

    command = 'ruby -e "puts sprintf(\"0%o\", File.umask)"'
    options = {:umask => 0644}
    Process.spawn(command, options)

Output:

    0644

#### Process Groups (`:pgroup` and `:new_pgroup`)¶ ↑

By default, the new process belongs to the same process group as the parent process.

To specify a different process group. use execution option `:pgroup` with one of the following values:

- `true`: Create a new process group for the new process.

- pgid: Create the new process in the process group whose id is pgid.

On Windows only, use execution option `:new_pgroup` with value `true` to create a new process group for the new process.

#### Resource Limits¶ ↑

Use execution options to set resource limits.

The keys for these options are symbols of the form `:rlimit_resource_name`, where resource_name is the downcased form of one of the string resource names described at method `Process.setrlimit`. For example, key `:rlimit_cpu` corresponds to resource limit `'CPU'`.

The value for such as key is one of:

- An integer, specifying both the current and maximum limits.

- A 2-element array of integers, specifying the current and maximum limits.

#### File Descriptor Inheritance¶ ↑

By default, the new process inherits file descriptors from the parent process.

Use execution option `:close_others => true` to modify that inheritance by closing non-standard fds (3 and greater) that are not otherwise redirected.

### Execution Shell¶ ↑

On a Unix-like system, the shell invoked is `/bin/sh`; otherwise the shell invoked is determined by environment variable `ENV['RUBYSHELL']`, if defined, or `ENV['COMSPEC']` otherwise.

Except for the `COMSPEC` case, the entire string `command_line` is passed as an argument to shell option -c.

The shell performs normal shell expansion on the command line:

    spawn('echo C*') # => 799139
    Process.wait     # => 799139

Output:

    CONTRIBUTING.md COPYING COPYING.ja

## What’s Here¶ ↑

### Current-Process Getters¶ ↑

- `::argv0`: Returns the process name as a frozen string.

- `::egid`: Returns the effective group ID.

- `::euid`: Returns the effective user ID.

- `::getpgrp`: Return the process group ID.

- `::getrlimit`: Returns the resource limit.

- `::gid`: Returns the (real) group ID.

- `::pid`: Returns the process ID.

- `::ppid`: Returns the process ID of the parent process.

- `::uid`: Returns the (real) user ID.

### Current-Process Setters¶ ↑

- `::egid=`: Sets the effective group ID.

- `::euid=`: Sets the effective user ID.

- `::gid=`: Sets the (real) group ID.

- `::setproctitle`: Sets the process title.

- `::setpgrp`: Sets the process group ID of the process to zero.

- `::setrlimit`: Sets a resource limit.

- `::setsid`: Establishes the process as a new session and process group leader, with no controlling tty.

- `::uid=`: Sets the user ID.

### Current-Process Execution¶ ↑

- `::abort`: Immediately terminates the process.

- `::daemon`: Detaches the process from its controlling terminal and continues running it in the background as system daemon.

- `::exec`: Replaces the process by running a given external command.

- `::exit`: Initiates process termination by raising exception `SystemExit` (which may be caught).

- `::exit!`: Immediately exits the process.

- `::warmup`: Notifies the Ruby virtual machine that the boot sequence for the application is completed, and that the VM may begin optimizing the application.

### Child Processes¶ ↑

- `::detach`: Guards against a child process becoming a zombie.

- `::fork`: Creates a child process.

- `::kill`: Sends a given signal to processes.

- `::spawn`: Creates a child process.

- `::wait`, `::waitpid`: Waits for a child process to exit; returns its process ID.

- `::wait2`, `::waitpid2`: Waits for a child process to exit; returns its process ID and status.

- `::waitall`: Waits for all child processes to exit; returns their process IDs and statuses.

### Process Groups¶ ↑

- `::getpgid`: Returns the process group ID for a process.

- `::getpriority`: Returns the scheduling priority for a process, process group, or user.

- `::getsid`: Returns the session ID for a process.

- `::groups`: Returns an array of the group IDs in the supplemental group access list for this process.

- `::groups=`: Sets the supplemental group access list to the given array of group IDs.

- `::initgroups`: Initializes the supplemental group access list.

- `::last_status`: Returns the status of the last executed child process in the current thread.

- `::maxgroups`: Returns the maximum number of group IDs allowed in the supplemental group access list.

- `::maxgroups=`: Sets the maximum number of group IDs allowed in the supplemental group access list.

- `::setpgid`: Sets the process group ID of a process.

- `::setpriority`: Sets the scheduling priority for a process, process group, or user.

### Timing¶ ↑

- `::clock_getres`: Returns the resolution of a system clock.

- `::clock_gettime`: Returns the time from a system clock.

- `::times`: Returns a `Process::Tms` object containing times for the current process and its child processes.

### Constants

CLOCK_BOOTTIME

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_BOOTTIME_ALARM

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_MONOTONIC

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_MONOTONIC_COARSE

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_MONOTONIC_FAST

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_MONOTONIC_PRECISE

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_MONOTONIC_RAW

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_MONOTONIC_RAW_APPROX

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_PROF

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_REALTIME

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_REALTIME_ALARM

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_REALTIME_COARSE

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_REALTIME_FAST

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_REALTIME_PRECISE

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_SECOND

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_TAI

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_THREAD_CPUTIME_ID

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_UPTIME

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_UPTIME_FAST

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_UPTIME_PRECISE

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_UPTIME_RAW

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_UPTIME_RAW_APPROX

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

CLOCK_VIRTUAL

  see `Process.clock_gettime`

PRIO_PGRP

  see `Process.setpriority`

PRIO_PROCESS

  see `Process.setpriority`

PRIO_USER

  see `Process.setpriority`

RLIMIT_AS

  Maximum size of the process’s virtual memory (address space) in bytes.

  see the system getrlimit(2) manual for details.

RLIMIT_CORE

  Maximum size of the core file.

  see the system getrlimit(2) manual for details.

RLIMIT_CPU

  CPU time limit in seconds.

  see the system getrlimit(2) manual for details.

RLIMIT_DATA

  Maximum size of the process’s data segment.

  see the system getrlimit(2) manual for details.

RLIMIT_FSIZE

  Maximum size of files that the process may create.

  see the system getrlimit(2) manual for details.

RLIMIT_MEMLOCK

  Maximum number of bytes of memory that may be locked into RAM.

  see the system getrlimit(2) manual for details.

RLIMIT_MSGQUEUE

  Specifies the limit on the number of bytes that can be allocated for POSIX message queues for the real user ID of the calling process.

  see the system getrlimit(2) manual for details.

RLIMIT_NICE

  Specifies a ceiling to which the process’s nice value can be raised.

  see the system getrlimit(2) manual for details.

RLIMIT_NOFILE

  Specifies a value one greater than the maximum file descriptor number that can be opened by this process.

  see the system getrlimit(2) manual for details.

RLIMIT_NPROC

  The maximum number of processes that can be created for the real user ID of the calling process.

  see the system getrlimit(2) manual for details.

RLIMIT_NPTS

  The maximum number of pseudo-terminals that can be created for the real user ID of the calling process.

  see the system getrlimit(2) manual for details.

RLIMIT_RSS

  Specifies the limit (in pages) of the process’s resident set.

  see the system getrlimit(2) manual for details.

RLIMIT_RTPRIO

  Specifies a ceiling on the real-time priority that may be set for this process.

  see the system getrlimit(2) manual for details.

RLIMIT_RTTIME

  Specifies limit on CPU time this process scheduled under a real-time scheduling policy can consume.

  see the system getrlimit(2) manual for details.

RLIMIT_SBSIZE

  Maximum size of the socket buffer.

RLIMIT_SIGPENDING

  Specifies a limit on the number of signals that may be queued for the real user ID of the calling process.

  see the system getrlimit(2) manual for details.

RLIMIT_STACK

  Maximum size of the stack, in bytes.

  see the system getrlimit(2) manual for details.

RLIM_INFINITY

  see `Process.setrlimit`

RLIM_SAVED_CUR

  see `Process.setrlimit`

RLIM_SAVED_MAX

  see `Process.setrlimit`

WNOHANG

  see `Process.wait`

WUNTRACED

  see `Process.wait`

### Public Class Methods

_fork → integer click to toggle source

An internal API for fork. Do not call this method directly. Currently, this is called via `Kernel#fork`, `Process.fork`, and `IO.popen` with `"-"`.

This method is not for casual code but for application monitoring libraries. You can add custom code before and after fork events by overriding this method.

Note: `Process.daemon` may be implemented using fork(2) BUT does not go through this method. Thus, depending on your reason to hook into this method, you may also want to hook into that one. See this issue for a more detailed discussion of this.

    VALUE
    rb_proc__fork(VALUE _obj)
    {
        rb_pid_t pid = proc_fork_pid();
        return PIDT2NUM(pid);
    }

abort click to toggle source
abort(msg = nil)

Terminates execution immediately, effectively by calling `Kernel.exit(false)`.

If string argument `msg` is given, it is written to STDERR prior to termination; otherwise, if an exception was raised, prints its message and backtrace.

    static VALUE
    f_abort(int c, const VALUE *a, VALUE _)
    {
        rb_f_abort(c, a);
        UNREACHABLE_RETURN(Qnil);
    }

argv0 → frozen_string click to toggle source

Returns the name of the script being executed. The value is not affected by assigning a new value to $0.

This method first appeared in Ruby 2.1 to serve as a global variable free means to get the script name.

    static VALUE
    proc_argv0(VALUE process)
    {
        return rb_orig_progname;
    }

clock_getres(clock_id, unit = :float_second) → number click to toggle source

Returns a clock resolution as determined by POSIX function clock_getres():

    Process.clock_getres(:CLOCK_REALTIME) # => 1.0e-09

See `Process.clock_gettime` for the values of `clock_id` and `unit`.

Examples:

    Process.clock_getres(:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID, :float_microsecond) # => 0.001
    Process.clock_getres(:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID, :float_millisecond) # => 1.0e-06
    Process.clock_getres(:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID, :float_second)      # => 1.0e-09
    Process.clock_getres(:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID, :microsecond)       # => 0
    Process.clock_getres(:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID, :millisecond)       # => 0
    Process.clock_getres(:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID, :nanosecond)        # => 1
    Process.clock_getres(:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID, :second)            # => 0

In addition to the values for `unit` supported in `Process.clock_gettime`, this method supports `:hertz`, the integer number of clock ticks per second (which is the reciprocal of `:float_second`):

    Process.clock_getres(:TIMES_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID, :hertz)        # => 100.0
    Process.clock_getres(:TIMES_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID, :float_second) # => 0.01

Accuracy: Note that the returned resolution may be inaccurate on some platforms due to underlying bugs. Inaccurate resolutions have been reported for various clocks including `:CLOCK_MONOTONIC` and `:CLOCK_MONOTONIC_RAW` on Linux, macOS, BSD or AIX platforms, when using ARM processors, or when using virtualization.

    static VALUE
    rb_clock_getres(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE _)
    {
        int ret;

        struct timetick tt;
        timetick_int_t numerators[2];
        timetick_int_t denominators[2];
        int num_numerators = 0;
        int num_denominators = 0;
    #ifdef HAVE_CLOCK_GETRES
        clockid_t c;
    #endif

        VALUE unit = (rb_check_arity(argc, 1, 2) == 2) ? argv[1] : Qnil;
        VALUE clk_id = argv[0];

        if (SYMBOL_P(clk_id)) {
    #ifdef CLOCK_REALTIME
            if (clk_id == RUBY_CLOCK_REALTIME) {
                c = CLOCK_REALTIME;
                goto getres;
            }
    #endif

    #ifdef CLOCK_MONOTONIC
            if (clk_id == RUBY_CLOCK_MONOTONIC) {
                c = CLOCK_MONOTONIC;
                goto getres;
            }
    #endif

    #ifdef CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID
            if (clk_id == RUBY_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID) {
                c = CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID;
                goto getres;
            }
    #endif

    #ifdef CLOCK_THREAD_CPUTIME_ID
            if (clk_id == RUBY_CLOCK_THREAD_CPUTIME_ID) {
                c = CLOCK_THREAD_CPUTIME_ID;
                goto getres;
            }
    #endif

    #ifdef RUBY_GETTIMEOFDAY_BASED_CLOCK_REALTIME
            if (clk_id == RUBY_GETTIMEOFDAY_BASED_CLOCK_REALTIME) {
                tt.giga_count = 0;
                tt.count = 1000;
                denominators[num_denominators++] = 1000000000;
                goto success;
            }
    #endif

    #ifdef RUBY_TIME_BASED_CLOCK_REALTIME
            if (clk_id == RUBY_TIME_BASED_CLOCK_REALTIME) {
                tt.giga_count = 1;
                tt.count = 0;
                denominators[num_denominators++] = 1000000000;
                goto success;
            }
    #endif

    #ifdef RUBY_TIMES_BASED_CLOCK_MONOTONIC
            if (clk_id == RUBY_TIMES_BASED_CLOCK_MONOTONIC) {
                tt.count = 1;
                tt.giga_count = 0;
                denominators[num_denominators++] = get_clk_tck();
                goto success;
            }
    #endif

    #ifdef RUBY_GETRUSAGE_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID
            if (clk_id == RUBY_GETRUSAGE_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID) {
                tt.giga_count = 0;
                tt.count = 1000;
                denominators[num_denominators++] = 1000000000;
                goto success;
            }
    #endif

    #ifdef RUBY_TIMES_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID
            if (clk_id == RUBY_TIMES_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID) {
                tt.count = 1;
                tt.giga_count = 0;
                denominators[num_denominators++] = get_clk_tck();
                goto success;
            }
    #endif

    #ifdef RUBY_CLOCK_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID
            if (clk_id == RUBY_CLOCK_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID) {
                tt.count = 1;
                tt.giga_count = 0;
                denominators[num_denominators++] = CLOCKS_PER_SEC;
                goto success;
            }
    #endif

    #ifdef RUBY_MACH_ABSOLUTE_TIME_BASED_CLOCK_MONOTONIC
            if (clk_id == RUBY_MACH_ABSOLUTE_TIME_BASED_CLOCK_MONOTONIC) {
                const mach_timebase_info_data_t *info = get_mach_timebase_info();
                tt.count = 1;
                tt.giga_count = 0;
                numerators[num_numerators++] = info->numer;
                denominators[num_denominators++] = info->denom;
                denominators[num_denominators++] = 1000000000;
                goto success;
            }
    #endif
        }
        else if (NUMERIC_CLOCKID) {
    #if defined(HAVE_CLOCK_GETRES)
            struct timespec ts;
            c = NUM2CLOCKID(clk_id);
          getres:
            ret = clock_getres(c, &ts);
            if (ret == -1)
                clock_failed("getres", errno, clk_id);
            tt.count = (int32_t)ts.tv_nsec;
            tt.giga_count = ts.tv_sec;
            denominators[num_denominators++] = 1000000000;
            goto success;
    #endif
        }
        else {
            rb_unexpected_type(clk_id, T_SYMBOL);
        }
        clock_failed("getres", EINVAL, clk_id);

      success:
        if (unit == ID2SYM(id_hertz)) {
            return timetick2dblnum_reciprocal(&tt, numerators, num_numerators, denominators, num_denominators);
        }
        else {
            return make_clock_result(&tt, numerators, num_numerators, denominators, num_denominators, unit);
        }
    }

clock_gettime(clock_id, unit = :float_second) → number click to toggle source

Returns a clock time as determined by POSIX function clock_gettime():

    Process.clock_gettime(:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID) # => 198.650379677

Argument `clock_id` should be a symbol or a constant that specifies the clock whose time is to be returned; see below.

Optional argument `unit` should be a symbol that specifies the unit to be used in the returned clock time; see below.

Argument `clock_id`

Argument `clock_id` specifies the clock whose time is to be returned; it may be a constant such as `Process::CLOCK_REALTIME`, or a symbol shorthand such as `:CLOCK_REALTIME`.

The supported clocks depend on the underlying operating system; this method supports the following clocks on the indicated platforms (raises Errno::EINVAL if called with an unsupported clock):

- `:CLOCK_BOOTTIME`: Linux 2.6.39.

- `:CLOCK_BOOTTIME_ALARM`: Linux 3.0.

- `:CLOCK_MONOTONIC`: SUSv3 to 4, Linux 2.5.63, FreeBSD 3.0, NetBSD 2.0, OpenBSD 3.4, macOS 10.12, Windows-2000.

- `:CLOCK_MONOTONIC_COARSE`: Linux 2.6.32.

- `:CLOCK_MONOTONIC_FAST`: FreeBSD 8.1.

- `:CLOCK_MONOTONIC_PRECISE`: FreeBSD 8.1.

- `:CLOCK_MONOTONIC_RAW`: Linux 2.6.28, macOS 10.12.

- `:CLOCK_MONOTONIC_RAW_APPROX`: macOS 10.12.

- `:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID`: SUSv3 to 4, Linux 2.5.63, FreeBSD 9.3, OpenBSD 5.4, macOS 10.12.

- `:CLOCK_PROF`: FreeBSD 3.0, OpenBSD 2.1.

- `:CLOCK_REALTIME`: SUSv2 to 4, Linux 2.5.63, FreeBSD 3.0, NetBSD 2.0, OpenBSD 2.1, macOS 10.12, Windows-8/Server-2012. `Time.now` is recommended over +:CLOCK_REALTIME:.

- `:CLOCK_REALTIME_ALARM`: Linux 3.0.

- `:CLOCK_REALTIME_COARSE`: Linux 2.6.32.

- `:CLOCK_REALTIME_FAST`: FreeBSD 8.1.

- `:CLOCK_REALTIME_PRECISE`: FreeBSD 8.1.

- `:CLOCK_SECOND`: FreeBSD 8.1.

- `:CLOCK_TAI`: Linux 3.10.

- `:CLOCK_THREAD_CPUTIME_ID`: SUSv3 to 4, Linux 2.5.63, FreeBSD 7.1, OpenBSD 5.4, macOS 10.12.

- `:CLOCK_UPTIME`: FreeBSD 7.0, OpenBSD 5.5.

- `:CLOCK_UPTIME_FAST`: FreeBSD 8.1.

- `:CLOCK_UPTIME_PRECISE`: FreeBSD 8.1.

- `:CLOCK_UPTIME_RAW`: macOS 10.12.

- `:CLOCK_UPTIME_RAW_APPROX`: macOS 10.12.

- `:CLOCK_VIRTUAL`: FreeBSD 3.0, OpenBSD 2.1.

Note that SUS stands for Single Unix Specification. SUS contains POSIX and `clock_gettime` is defined in the POSIX part. SUS defines `:CLOCK_REALTIME` as mandatory but `:CLOCK_MONOTONIC`, `:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID`, and `:CLOCK_THREAD_CPUTIME_ID` are optional.

Certain emulations are used when the given `clock_id` is not supported directly:

- Emulations for `:CLOCK_REALTIME`:

  - `:GETTIMEOFDAY_BASED_CLOCK_REALTIME`: Use gettimeofday() defined by SUS (deprecated in SUSv4). The resolution is 1 microsecond.

  - `:TIME_BASED_CLOCK_REALTIME`: Use time() defined by ISO C. The resolution is 1 second.

- Emulations for `:CLOCK_MONOTONIC`:

  - `:MACH_ABSOLUTE_TIME_BASED_CLOCK_MONOTONIC`: Use mach_absolute_time(), available on Darwin. The resolution is CPU dependent.

  - `:TIMES_BASED_CLOCK_MONOTONIC`: Use the result value of times() defined by POSIX, thus:

    > Upon successful completion, times() shall return the elapsed real time, in clock ticks, since an arbitrary point in the past (for example, system start-up time).

    For example, GNU/Linux returns a value based on jiffies and it is monotonic. However, 4.4BSD uses gettimeofday() and it is not monotonic. (FreeBSD uses `:CLOCK_MONOTONIC` instead, though.)

    The resolution is the clock tick. “getconf CLK_TCK” command shows the clock ticks per second. (The clock ticks-per-second is defined by HZ macro in older systems.) If it is 100 and clock_t is 32 bits integer type, the resolution is 10 millisecond and cannot represent over 497 days.

- Emulations for `:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID`:

  - `:GETRUSAGE_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID`: Use getrusage() defined by SUS. getrusage() is used with RUSAGE_SELF to obtain the time only for the calling process (excluding the time for child processes). The result is addition of user time (ru_utime) and system time (ru_stime). The resolution is 1 microsecond.

  - `:TIMES_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID`: Use times() defined by POSIX. The result is addition of user time (tms_utime) and system time (tms_stime). tms_cutime and tms_cstime are ignored to exclude the time for child processes. The resolution is the clock tick. “getconf CLK_TCK” command shows the clock ticks per second. (The clock ticks per second is defined by HZ macro in older systems.) If it is 100, the resolution is 10 millisecond.

  - `:CLOCK_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID`: Use clock() defined by ISO C. The resolution is `1/CLOCKS_PER_SEC`. `CLOCKS_PER_SEC` is the C-level macro defined by time.h. SUS defines `CLOCKS_PER_SEC` as 1000000; other systems may define it differently. If `CLOCKS_PER_SEC` is 1000000 (as in SUS), the resolution is 1 microsecond. If `CLOCKS_PER_SEC` is 1000000 and clock_t is a 32-bit integer type, it cannot represent over 72 minutes.

Argument `unit`

Optional argument `unit` (default `:float_second`) specifies the unit for the returned value.

- `:float_microsecond`: Number of microseconds as a float.

- `:float_millisecond`: Number of milliseconds as a float.

- `:float_second`: Number of seconds as a float.

- `:microsecond`: Number of microseconds as an integer.

- `:millisecond`: Number of milliseconds as an integer.

- `:nanosecond`: Number of nanoseconds as an integer.

- `::second`: Number of seconds as an integer.

Examples:

    Process.clock_gettime(:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID, :float_microsecond)
    # => 203605054.825
    Process.clock_gettime(:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID, :float_millisecond)
    # => 203643.696848
    Process.clock_gettime(:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID, :float_second)
    # => 203.762181929
    Process.clock_gettime(:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID, :microsecond)
    # => 204123212
    Process.clock_gettime(:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID, :millisecond)
    # => 204298
    Process.clock_gettime(:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID, :nanosecond)
    # => 204602286036
    Process.clock_gettime(:CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID, :second)
    # => 204

The underlying function, `clock_gettime`(), returns a number of nanoseconds. `Float` object (IEEE 754 double) is not enough to represent the return value for `:CLOCK_REALTIME`. If the exact nanoseconds value is required, use `:nanosecond` as the `unit`.

The origin (time zero) of the returned value is system-dependent, and may be, for example, system start up time, process start up time, the Epoch, etc.

The origin in `:CLOCK_REALTIME` is defined as the Epoch: `1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC`; some systems count leap seconds and others don’t, so the result may vary across systems.

    static VALUE
    rb_clock_gettime(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE _)
    {
        int ret;

        struct timetick tt;
        timetick_int_t numerators[2];
        timetick_int_t denominators[2];
        int num_numerators = 0;
        int num_denominators = 0;

        VALUE unit = (rb_check_arity(argc, 1, 2) == 2) ? argv[1] : Qnil;
        VALUE clk_id = argv[0];
    #ifdef HAVE_CLOCK_GETTIME
        clockid_t c;
    #endif

        if (SYMBOL_P(clk_id)) {
    #ifdef CLOCK_REALTIME
            if (clk_id == RUBY_CLOCK_REALTIME) {
                c = CLOCK_REALTIME;
                goto gettime;
            }
    #endif

    #ifdef CLOCK_MONOTONIC
            if (clk_id == RUBY_CLOCK_MONOTONIC) {
                c = CLOCK_MONOTONIC;
                goto gettime;
            }
    #endif

    #ifdef CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID
            if (clk_id == RUBY_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID) {
                c = CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID;
                goto gettime;
            }
    #endif

    #ifdef CLOCK_THREAD_CPUTIME_ID
            if (clk_id == RUBY_CLOCK_THREAD_CPUTIME_ID) {
                c = CLOCK_THREAD_CPUTIME_ID;
                goto gettime;
            }
    #endif

            /*
             * Non-clock_gettime clocks are provided by symbol clk_id.
             */
    #ifdef HAVE_GETTIMEOFDAY
            /*
             * GETTIMEOFDAY_BASED_CLOCK_REALTIME is used for
             * CLOCK_REALTIME if clock_gettime is not available.
             */
    #define RUBY_GETTIMEOFDAY_BASED_CLOCK_REALTIME ID2SYM(id_GETTIMEOFDAY_BASED_CLOCK_REALTIME)
            if (clk_id == RUBY_GETTIMEOFDAY_BASED_CLOCK_REALTIME) {
                struct timeval tv;
                ret = gettimeofday(&tv, 0);
                if (ret != 0)
                    rb_sys_fail("gettimeofday");
                tt.giga_count = tv.tv_sec;
                tt.count = (int32_t)tv.tv_usec * 1000;
                denominators[num_denominators++] = 1000000000;
                goto success;
            }
    #endif

    #define RUBY_TIME_BASED_CLOCK_REALTIME ID2SYM(id_TIME_BASED_CLOCK_REALTIME)
            if (clk_id == RUBY_TIME_BASED_CLOCK_REALTIME) {
                time_t t;
                t = time(NULL);
                if (t == (time_t)-1)
                    rb_sys_fail("time");
                tt.giga_count = t;
                tt.count = 0;
                denominators[num_denominators++] = 1000000000;
                goto success;
            }

    #ifdef HAVE_TIMES
    #define RUBY_TIMES_BASED_CLOCK_MONOTONIC \
            ID2SYM(id_TIMES_BASED_CLOCK_MONOTONIC)
            if (clk_id == RUBY_TIMES_BASED_CLOCK_MONOTONIC) {
                struct tms buf;
                clock_t c;
                unsigned_clock_t uc;
                c = times(&buf);
                if (c ==  (clock_t)-1)
                    rb_sys_fail("times");
                uc = (unsigned_clock_t)c;
                tt.count = (int32_t)(uc % 1000000000);
                tt.giga_count = (uc / 1000000000);
                denominators[num_denominators++] = get_clk_tck();
                goto success;
            }
    #endif

    #ifdef RUSAGE_SELF
    #define RUBY_GETRUSAGE_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID \
            ID2SYM(id_GETRUSAGE_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID)
            if (clk_id == RUBY_GETRUSAGE_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID) {
                struct rusage usage;
                int32_t usec;
                ret = getrusage(RUSAGE_SELF, &usage);
                if (ret != 0)
                    rb_sys_fail("getrusage");
                tt.giga_count = usage.ru_utime.tv_sec + usage.ru_stime.tv_sec;
                usec = (int32_t)(usage.ru_utime.tv_usec + usage.ru_stime.tv_usec);
                if (1000000 <= usec) {
                    tt.giga_count++;
                    usec -= 1000000;
                }
                tt.count = usec * 1000;
                denominators[num_denominators++] = 1000000000;
                goto success;
            }
    #endif

    #ifdef HAVE_TIMES
    #define RUBY_TIMES_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID \
            ID2SYM(id_TIMES_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID)
            if (clk_id == RUBY_TIMES_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID) {
                struct tms buf;
                unsigned_clock_t utime, stime;
                if (times(&buf) ==  (clock_t)-1)
                    rb_sys_fail("times");
                utime = (unsigned_clock_t)buf.tms_utime;
                stime = (unsigned_clock_t)buf.tms_stime;
                tt.count = (int32_t)((utime % 1000000000) + (stime % 1000000000));
                tt.giga_count = (utime / 1000000000) + (stime / 1000000000);
                if (1000000000 <= tt.count) {
                    tt.count -= 1000000000;
                    tt.giga_count++;
                }
                denominators[num_denominators++] = get_clk_tck();
                goto success;
            }
    #endif

    #define RUBY_CLOCK_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID \
            ID2SYM(id_CLOCK_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID)
            if (clk_id == RUBY_CLOCK_BASED_CLOCK_PROCESS_CPUTIME_ID) {
                clock_t c;
                unsigned_clock_t uc;
                errno = 0;
                c = clock();
                if (c == (clock_t)-1)
                    rb_sys_fail("clock");
                uc = (unsigned_clock_t)c;
                tt.count = (int32_t)(uc % 1000000000);
                tt.giga_count = uc / 1000000000;
                denominators[num_denominators++] = CLOCKS_PER_SEC;
                goto success;
            }

    #ifdef __APPLE__
            if (clk_id == RUBY_MACH_ABSOLUTE_TIME_BASED_CLOCK_MONOTONIC) {
                const mach_timebase_info_data_t *info = get_mach_timebase_info();
                uint64_t t = mach_absolute_time();
                tt.count = (int32_t)(t % 1000000000);
                tt.giga_count = t / 1000000000;
                numerators[num_numerators++] = info->numer;
                denominators[num_denominators++] = info->denom;
                denominators[num_denominators++] = 1000000000;
                goto success;
            }
    #endif
        }
        else if (NUMERIC_CLOCKID) {
    #if defined(HAVE_CLOCK_GETTIME)
            struct timespec ts;
            c = NUM2CLOCKID(clk_id);
          gettime:
            ret = clock_gettime(c, &ts);
            if (ret == -1)
                clock_failed("gettime", errno, clk_id);
            tt.count = (int32_t)ts.tv_nsec;
            tt.giga_count = ts.tv_sec;
            denominators[num_denominators++] = 1000000000;
            goto success;
    #endif
        }
        else {
            rb_unexpected_type(clk_id, T_SYMBOL);
        }
        clock_failed("gettime", EINVAL, clk_id);

      success:
        return make_clock_result(&tt, numerators, num_numerators, denominators, num_denominators, unit);
    }

daemon(nochdir = nil, noclose = nil) → 0 click to toggle source

Detaches the current process from its controlling terminal and runs it in the background as system daemon; returns zero.

By default:

- Changes the current working directory to the root directory.

- Redirects $stdin, $stdout, and $stderr to the null device.

If optional argument `nochdir` is `true`, does not change the current working directory.

If optional argument `noclose` is `true`, does not redirect $stdin, $stdout, or $stderr.

    static VALUE
    proc_daemon(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE _)
    {
        int n, nochdir = FALSE, noclose = FALSE;

        switch (rb_check_arity(argc, 0, 2)) {
          case 2: noclose = TO_BOOL(argv[1], "noclose");
          case 1: nochdir = TO_BOOL(argv[0], "nochdir");
        }

        prefork();
        n = rb_daemon(nochdir, noclose);
        if (n < 0) rb_sys_fail("daemon");
        return INT2FIX(n);
    }

detach(pid) → thread click to toggle source

Avoids the potential for a child process to become a zombie process. `Process.detach` prevents this by setting up a separate Ruby thread whose sole job is to reap the status of the process pid when it terminates.

This method is needed only when the parent process will never wait for the child process.

This example does not reap the second child process; that process appears as a zombie in the process status (`ps`) output:

    pid = Process.spawn('ruby', '-e', 'exit 13') # => 312691
    sleep(1)
    # Find zombies.
    system("ps -ho pid,state -p #{pid}")

Output:

    312716 Z

This example also does not reap the second child process, but it does detach the process so that it does not become a zombie:

    pid = Process.spawn('ruby', '-e', 'exit 13') # => 313213
    thread = Process.detach(pid)
    sleep(1)
    # => #<Process::Waiter:0x00007f038f48b838 run>
    system("ps -ho pid,state -p #{pid}")        # Finds no zombies.

The waiting thread can return the pid of the detached child process:

    thread.join.pid                       # => 313262

    static VALUE
    proc_detach(VALUE obj, VALUE pid)
    {
        return rb_detach_process(NUM2PIDT(pid));
    }

egid → integer click to toggle source
Process::GID.eid → integer
Process::Sys.geteid → integer

Returns the effective group ID for the current process:

    Process.egid # => 500

Not available on all platforms.

    static VALUE
    proc_getegid(VALUE obj)
    {
        rb_gid_t egid = getegid();

        return GIDT2NUM(egid);
    }

egid = new_egid → new_egid click to toggle source

Sets the effective group ID for the current process.

Not available on all platforms.

    static VALUE
    proc_setegid(VALUE obj, VALUE egid)
    {
    #if defined(HAVE_SETRESGID) || defined(HAVE_SETREGID) || defined(HAVE_SETEGID) || defined(HAVE_SETGID)
        rb_gid_t gid;
    #endif

        check_gid_switch();

    #if defined(HAVE_SETRESGID) || defined(HAVE_SETREGID) || defined(HAVE_SETEGID) || defined(HAVE_SETGID)
        gid = OBJ2GID(egid);
    #endif

    #if defined(HAVE_SETRESGID)
        if (setresgid(-1, gid, -1) < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
    #elif defined HAVE_SETREGID
        if (setregid(-1, gid) < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
    #elif defined HAVE_SETEGID
        if (setegid(gid) < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
    #elif defined HAVE_SETGID
        if (gid == getgid()) {
            if (setgid(gid) < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
        }
        else {
            rb_notimplement();
        }
    #else
        rb_notimplement();
    #endif
        return egid;
    }

euid → integer click to toggle source
Process::UID.eid → integer
Process::Sys.geteuid → integer

Returns the effective user ID for the current process.

    Process.euid # => 501

    static VALUE
    proc_geteuid(VALUE obj)
    {
        rb_uid_t euid = geteuid();
        return UIDT2NUM(euid);
    }

euid = new_euid → new_euid click to toggle source

Sets the effective user ID for the current process.

Not available on all platforms.

    static VALUE
    proc_seteuid_m(VALUE mod, VALUE euid)
    {
        check_uid_switch();
        proc_seteuid(OBJ2UID(euid));
        return euid;
    }

exec([env, ] command_line, options = {}) click to toggle source
exec([env, ] exe_path, *args, options = {})

Replaces the current process by doing one of the following:

- Passing string `command_line` to the shell.

- Invoking the executable at `exe_path`.

This method has potential security vulnerabilities if called with untrusted input; see Command Injection.

The new process is created using the exec system call; it may inherit some of its environment from the calling program (possibly including open file descriptors).

Argument `env`, if given, is a hash that affects `ENV` for the new process; see Execution Environment.

Argument `options` is a hash of options for the new process; see Execution Options.

The first required argument is one of the following:

- `command_line` if it is a string, and if it begins with a shell reserved word or special built-in, or if it contains one or more meta characters.

- `exe_path` otherwise.

Argument `command_line`

String argument `command_line` is a command line to be passed to a shell; it must begin with a shell reserved word, begin with a special built-in, or contain meta characters:

    exec('if true; then echo "Foo"; fi') # Shell reserved word.
    exec('echo')                         # Built-in.
    exec('date > date.tmp')              # Contains meta character.

The command line may also contain arguments and options for the command:

    exec('echo "Foo"')

Output:

    Foo

See Execution Shell for details about the shell.

Raises an exception if the new process could not execute.

Argument `exe_path`

Argument `exe_path` is one of the following:

- The string path to an executable to be called.

- A 2-element array containing the path to an executable and the string to be used as the name of the executing process.

Example:

    exec('/usr/bin/date')

Output:

    Sat Aug 26 09:38:00 AM CDT 2023

Ruby invokes the executable directly, with no shell and no shell expansion:

    exec('doesnt_exist') # Raises Errno::ENOENT

If one or more `args` is given, each is an argument or option to be passed to the executable:

    exec('echo', 'C*')
    exec('echo', 'hello', 'world')

Output:

    C*
    hello world

Raises an exception if the new process could not execute.

    static VALUE
    f_exec(int c, const VALUE *a, VALUE _)
    {
        rb_f_exec(c, a);
        UNREACHABLE_RETURN(Qnil);
    }

exit(status = true) click to toggle source
exit(status = true)

Initiates termination of the Ruby script by raising `SystemExit`; the exception may be caught. Returns exit status `status` to the underlying operating system.

Values `true` and `false` for argument `status` indicate, respectively, success and failure; The meanings of integer values are system-dependent.

Example:

    begin
      exit
      puts 'Never get here.'
    rescue SystemExit
      puts 'Rescued a SystemExit exception.'
    end
    puts 'After begin block.'

Output:

    Rescued a SystemExit exception.
    After begin block.

Just prior to final termination, Ruby executes any at-exit procedures (see Kernel::at_exit) and any object finalizers (see `ObjectSpace::define_finalizer`).

Example:

    at_exit { puts 'In at_exit function.' }
    ObjectSpace.define_finalizer('string', proc { puts 'In finalizer.' })
    exit

Output:

    In at_exit function.
    In finalizer.

    static VALUE
    f_exit(int c, const VALUE *a, VALUE _)
    {
        rb_f_exit(c, a);
        UNREACHABLE_RETURN(Qnil);
    }

exit!(status = false) click to toggle source
exit!(status = false)

Exits the process immediately; no exit handlers are called. Returns exit status `status` to the underlying operating system.

    Process.exit!(true)

Values `true` and `false` for argument `status` indicate, respectively, success and failure; The meanings of integer values are system-dependent.

    static VALUE
    rb_f_exit_bang(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE obj)
    {
        int istatus;

        if (rb_check_arity(argc, 0, 1) == 1) {
            istatus = exit_status_code(argv[0]);
        }
        else {
            istatus = EXIT_FAILURE;
        }
        _exit(istatus);

        UNREACHABLE_RETURN(Qnil);
    }

fork { ... } → integer or nil click to toggle source
fork → integer or nil

Creates a child process.

With a block given, runs the block in the child process; on block exit, the child terminates with a status of zero:

    puts "Before the fork: #{Process.pid}"
    fork do
      puts "In the child process: #{Process.pid}"
    end                   # => 382141
    puts "After the fork: #{Process.pid}"

Output:

    Before the fork: 420496
    After the fork: 420496
    In the child process: 420520

With no block given, the `fork` call returns twice:

- Once in the parent process, returning the pid of the child process.

- Once in the child process, returning `nil`.

Example:

    puts "This is the first line before the fork (pid #{Process.pid})"
    puts fork
    puts "This is the second line after the fork (pid #{Process.pid})"

Output:

    This is the first line before the fork (pid 420199)
    420223
    This is the second line after the fork (pid 420199)

    This is the second line after the fork (pid 420223)

In either case, the child process may exit using `Kernel.exit!` to avoid the call to `Kernel#at_exit`.

To avoid zombie processes, the parent process should call either:

- `Process.wait`, to collect the termination statuses of its children.

- `Process.detach`, to register disinterest in their status.

The thread calling `fork` is the only thread in the created child process; `fork` doesn’t copy other threads.

Note that method `fork` is available on some platforms, but not on others:

    Process.respond_to?(:fork) # => true # Would be false on some.

If not, you may use `::spawn` instead of `fork`.

    static VALUE
    rb_f_fork(VALUE obj)
    {
        rb_pid_t pid;

        pid = rb_call_proc__fork();

        if (pid == 0) {
            if (rb_block_given_p()) {
                int status;
                rb_protect(rb_yield, Qundef, &status);
                ruby_stop(status);
            }
            return Qnil;
        }

        return PIDT2NUM(pid);
    }

getpgid(pid) → integer click to toggle source

    Returns the process group ID for the given process ID +pid+:

      Process.getpgid(Process.ppid) # => 25527

Not available on all platforms.

    static VALUE
    proc_getpgid(VALUE obj, VALUE pid)
    {
        rb_pid_t i;

        i = getpgid(NUM2PIDT(pid));
        if (i < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
        return PIDT2NUM(i);
    }

getpgrp → integer click to toggle source

Returns the process group ID for the current process:

    Process.getpgid(0) # => 25527
    Process.getpgrp    # => 25527

    static VALUE
    proc_getpgrp(VALUE _)
    {
        rb_pid_t pgrp;

    #if defined(HAVE_GETPGRP) && defined(GETPGRP_VOID)
        pgrp = getpgrp();
        if (pgrp < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
        return PIDT2NUM(pgrp);
    #else /* defined(HAVE_GETPGID) */
        pgrp = getpgid(0);
        if (pgrp < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
        return PIDT2NUM(pgrp);
    #endif
    }

getpriority(kind, id) → integer click to toggle source

Returns the scheduling priority for specified process, process group, or user.

Argument `kind` is one of:

- `Process::PRIO_PROCESS`: return priority for process.

- `Process::PRIO_PGRP`: return priority for process group.

- `Process::PRIO_USER`: return priority for user.

Argument `id` is the ID for the process, process group, or user; zero specified the current ID for `kind`.

Examples:

    Process.getpriority(Process::PRIO_USER, 0)    # => 19
    Process.getpriority(Process::PRIO_PROCESS, 0) # => 19

Not available on all platforms.

    static VALUE
    proc_getpriority(VALUE obj, VALUE which, VALUE who)
    {
        int prio, iwhich, iwho;

        iwhich = NUM2INT(which);
        iwho   = NUM2INT(who);

        errno = 0;
        prio = getpriority(iwhich, iwho);
        if (errno) rb_sys_fail(0);
        return INT2FIX(prio);
    }

getrlimit(resource) → [cur_limit, max_limit] click to toggle source

Returns a 2-element array of the current (soft) limit and maximum (hard) limit for the given `resource`.

Argument `resource` specifies the resource whose limits are to be returned; see `Process.setrlimit`.

Each of the returned values `cur_limit` and `max_limit` is an integer; see `Process.setrlimit`.

Example:

    Process.getrlimit(:CORE) # => [0, 18446744073709551615]

See `Process.setrlimit`.

Not available on all platforms.

    static VALUE
    proc_getrlimit(VALUE obj, VALUE resource)
    {
        struct rlimit rlim;

        if (getrlimit(rlimit_resource_type(resource), &rlim) < 0) {
            rb_sys_fail("getrlimit");
        }
        return rb_assoc_new(RLIM2NUM(rlim.rlim_cur), RLIM2NUM(rlim.rlim_max));
    }

getsid(pid = nil) → integer click to toggle source

Returns the session ID of the given process ID `pid`, or of the current process if not given:

    Process.getsid                # => 27422
    Process.getsid(0)             # => 27422
    Process.getsid(Process.pid()) # => 27422

Not available on all platforms.

    static VALUE
    proc_getsid(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE _)
    {
        rb_pid_t sid;
        rb_pid_t pid = 0;

        if (rb_check_arity(argc, 0, 1) == 1 && !NIL_P(argv[0]))
            pid = NUM2PIDT(argv[0]);

        sid = getsid(pid);
        if (sid < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
        return PIDT2NUM(sid);
    }

gid → integer click to toggle source
Process::GID.rid → integer
Process::Sys.getgid → integer

Returns the (real) group ID for the current process:

    Process.gid # => 1000

    static VALUE
    proc_getgid(VALUE obj)
    {
        rb_gid_t gid = getgid();
        return GIDT2NUM(gid);
    }

gid = new_gid → new_gid click to toggle source

Sets the group ID for the current process to `new_gid`:

    Process.gid = 1000 # => 1000

    static VALUE
    proc_setgid(VALUE obj, VALUE id)
    {
        rb_gid_t gid;

        check_gid_switch();

        gid = OBJ2GID(id);
    #if defined(HAVE_SETRESGID)
        if (setresgid(gid, -1, -1) < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
    #elif defined HAVE_SETREGID
        if (setregid(gid, -1) < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
    #elif defined HAVE_SETRGID
        if (setrgid(gid) < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
    #elif defined HAVE_SETGID
        {
            if (getegid() == gid) {
                if (setgid(gid) < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
            }
            else {
                rb_notimplement();
            }
        }
    #endif
        return GIDT2NUM(gid);
    }

groups → array click to toggle source

Returns an array of the group IDs in the supplemental group access list for the current process:

    Process.groups # => [4, 24, 27, 30, 46, 122, 135, 136, 1000]

These properties of the returned array are system-dependent:

- Whether (and how) the array is sorted.

- Whether the array includes effective group IDs.

- Whether the array includes duplicate group IDs.

- Whether the array size exceeds the value of `Process.maxgroups`.

Use this call to get a sorted and unique array:

    Process.groups.uniq.sort

    static VALUE
    proc_getgroups(VALUE obj)
    {
        VALUE ary, tmp;
        int i, ngroups;
        rb_gid_t *groups;

        ngroups = getgroups(0, NULL);
        if (ngroups == -1)
            rb_sys_fail(0);

        groups = ALLOCV_N(rb_gid_t, tmp, ngroups);

        ngroups = getgroups(ngroups, groups);
        if (ngroups == -1)
            rb_sys_fail(0);

        ary = rb_ary_new();
        for (i = 0; i < ngroups; i++)
            rb_ary_push(ary, GIDT2NUM(groups[i]));

        ALLOCV_END(tmp);

        return ary;
    }

groups = new_groups → new_groups click to toggle source

Sets the supplemental group access list to the given array of group IDs.

    Process.groups                     # => [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 20, 26, 27]
    Process.groups = [27, 6, 10, 11]   # => [27, 6, 10, 11]
    Process.groups                     # => [27, 6, 10, 11]

    static VALUE
    proc_setgroups(VALUE obj, VALUE ary)
    {
        int ngroups, i;
        rb_gid_t *groups;
        VALUE tmp;
        PREPARE_GETGRNAM;

        Check_Type(ary, T_ARRAY);

        ngroups = RARRAY_LENINT(ary);
        if (ngroups > maxgroups())
            rb_raise(rb_eArgError, "too many groups, %d max", maxgroups());

        groups = ALLOCV_N(rb_gid_t, tmp, ngroups);

        for (i = 0; i < ngroups; i++) {
            VALUE g = RARRAY_AREF(ary, i);

            groups[i] = OBJ2GID1(g);
        }
        FINISH_GETGRNAM;

        if (setgroups(ngroups, groups) == -1) /* ngroups <= maxgroups */
            rb_sys_fail(0);

        ALLOCV_END(tmp);

        return proc_getgroups(obj);
    }

initgroups(username, gid) → array click to toggle source

Sets the supplemental group access list; the new list includes:

- The group IDs of those groups to which the user given by `username` belongs.

- The group ID `gid`.

Example:

    Process.groups                # => [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 20, 26, 27]
    Process.initgroups('me', 30)  # => [30, 6, 10, 11]
    Process.groups                # => [30, 6, 10, 11]

Not available on all platforms.

    static VALUE
    proc_initgroups(VALUE obj, VALUE uname, VALUE base_grp)
    {
        if (initgroups(StringValueCStr(uname), OBJ2GID(base_grp)) != 0) {
            rb_sys_fail(0);
        }
        return proc_getgroups(obj);
    }

kill(signal, *ids) → count click to toggle source

Sends a signal to each process specified by `ids` (which must specify at least one ID); returns the count of signals sent.

For each given `id`, if `id` is:

- Positive, sends the signal to the process whose process ID is `id`.

- Zero, send the signal to all processes in the current process group.

- Negative, sends the signal to a system-dependent collection of processes.

Argument `signal` specifies the signal to be sent; the argument may be:

- An integer signal number: e.g., `-29`, `0`, `29`.

- A signal name (string), with or without leading `'SIG'`, and with or without a further prefixed minus sign (`'-'`): e.g.:

  - `'SIGPOLL'`.

  - `'POLL'`,

  - `'-SIGPOLL'`.

  - `'-POLL'`.

- A signal symbol, with or without leading `'SIG'`, and with or without a further prefixed minus sign (`'-'`): e.g.:

  - `:SIGPOLL`.

  - `:POLL`.

  - `:'-SIGPOLL'`.

  - `:'-POLL'`.

If `signal` is:

- A non-negative integer, or a signal name or symbol without prefixed `'-'`, each process with process ID `id` is signalled.

- A negative integer, or a signal name or symbol with prefixed `'-'`, each process group with group ID `id` is signalled.

Use method `Signal.list` to see which signals are supported by Ruby on the underlying platform; the method returns a hash of the string names and non-negative integer values of the supported signals. The size and content of the returned hash varies widely among platforms.

Additionally, signal `0` is useful to determine if the process exists.

Example:

    pid = fork do
      Signal.trap('HUP') { puts 'Ouch!'; exit }
      # ... do some work ...
    end
    # ...
    Process.kill('HUP', pid)
    Process.wait

Output:

    Ouch!

Exceptions:

- Raises Errno::EINVAL or `RangeError` if `signal` is an integer but invalid.

- Raises `ArgumentError` if `signal` is a string or symbol but invalid.

- Raises Errno::ESRCH or `RangeError` if one of `ids` is invalid.

- Raises Errno::EPERM if needed permissions are not in force.

In the last two cases, signals may have been sent to some processes.

    static VALUE
    proc_rb_f_kill(int c, const VALUE *v, VALUE _)
    {
        return rb_f_kill(c, v);
    }

last_status → Process::Status or nil click to toggle source

Returns a `Process::Status` object representing the most recently exited child process in the current thread, or `nil` if none:

    Process.spawn('ruby', '-e', 'exit 13')
    Process.wait
    Process.last_status # => #<Process::Status: pid 14396 exit 13>

    Process.spawn('ruby', '-e', 'exit 14')
    Process.wait
    Process.last_status # => #<Process::Status: pid 4692 exit 14>

    Process.spawn('ruby', '-e', 'exit 15')
    # 'exit 15' has not been reaped by #wait.
    Process.last_status # => #<Process::Status: pid 4692 exit 14>
    Process.wait
    Process.last_status # => #<Process::Status: pid 1380 exit 15>

    static VALUE
    proc_s_last_status(VALUE mod)
    {
        return rb_last_status_get();
    }

maxgroups → integer click to toggle source

Returns the maximum number of group IDs allowed in the supplemental group access list:

    Process.maxgroups # => 32

    static VALUE
    proc_getmaxgroups(VALUE obj)
    {
        return INT2FIX(maxgroups());
    }

maxgroups = new_max → new_max click to toggle source

Sets the maximum number of group IDs allowed in the supplemental group access list.

    static VALUE
    proc_setmaxgroups(VALUE obj, VALUE val)
    {
        int ngroups = FIX2INT(val);
        int ngroups_max = get_sc_ngroups_max();

        if (ngroups <= 0)
            rb_raise(rb_eArgError, "maxgroups %d should be positive", ngroups);

        if (ngroups > RB_MAX_GROUPS)
            ngroups = RB_MAX_GROUPS;

        if (ngroups_max > 0 && ngroups > ngroups_max)
            ngroups = ngroups_max;

        _maxgroups = ngroups;

        return INT2FIX(_maxgroups);
    }

pid → integer click to toggle source

Returns the process ID of the current process:

    Process.pid # => 15668

    static VALUE
    proc_get_pid(VALUE _)
    {
        return get_pid();
    }

ppid → integer click to toggle source

Returns the process ID of the parent of the current process:

    puts "Pid is #{Process.pid}."
    fork { puts "Parent pid is #{Process.ppid}." }

Output:

    Pid is 271290.
    Parent pid is 271290.

May not return a trustworthy value on certain platforms.

    static VALUE
    proc_get_ppid(VALUE _)
    {
        return get_ppid();
    }

setpgid(pid, pgid) → 0 click to toggle source

Sets the process group ID for the process given by process ID `pid` to `pgid`.

Not available on all platforms.

    static VALUE
    proc_setpgid(VALUE obj, VALUE pid, VALUE pgrp)
    {
        rb_pid_t ipid, ipgrp;

        ipid = NUM2PIDT(pid);
        ipgrp = NUM2PIDT(pgrp);

        if (setpgid(ipid, ipgrp) < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
        return INT2FIX(0);
    }

setpgrp → 0 click to toggle source

Equivalent to `setpgid(0, 0)`.

Not available on all platforms.

    static VALUE
    proc_setpgrp(VALUE _)
    {
      /* check for posix setpgid() first; this matches the posix */
      /* getpgrp() above.  It appears that configure will set SETPGRP_VOID */
      /* even though setpgrp(0,0) would be preferred. The posix call avoids */
      /* this confusion. */
    #ifdef HAVE_SETPGID
        if (setpgid(0,0) < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
    #elif defined(HAVE_SETPGRP) && defined(SETPGRP_VOID)
        if (setpgrp() < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
    #endif
        return INT2FIX(0);
    }

setpriority(kind, integer, priority) → 0 click to toggle source

See `Process.getpriority`.

Examples:

    Process.setpriority(Process::PRIO_USER, 0, 19)    # => 0
    Process.setpriority(Process::PRIO_PROCESS, 0, 19) # => 0
    Process.getpriority(Process::PRIO_USER, 0)        # => 19
    Process.getpriority(Process::PRIO_PROCESS, 0)     # => 19

Not available on all platforms.

    static VALUE
    proc_setpriority(VALUE obj, VALUE which, VALUE who, VALUE prio)
    {
        int iwhich, iwho, iprio;

        iwhich = NUM2INT(which);
        iwho   = NUM2INT(who);
        iprio  = NUM2INT(prio);

        if (setpriority(iwhich, iwho, iprio) < 0)
            rb_sys_fail(0);
        return INT2FIX(0);
    }

setproctitle(string) → string click to toggle source

Sets the process title that appears on the ps(1) command. Not necessarily effective on all platforms. No exception will be raised regardless of the result, nor will `NotImplementedError` be raised even if the platform does not support the feature.

Calling this method does not affect the value of $0.

    Process.setproctitle('myapp: worker #%d' % worker_id)

This method first appeared in Ruby 2.1 to serve as a global variable free means to change the process title.

    static VALUE
    proc_setproctitle(VALUE process, VALUE title)
    {
        return ruby_setproctitle(title);
    }

setrlimit(resource, cur_limit, max_limit = cur_limit) → nil click to toggle source

Sets limits for the current process for the given `resource` to `cur_limit` (soft limit) and `max_limit` (hard limit); returns `nil`.

Argument `resource` specifies the resource whose limits are to be set; the argument may be given as a symbol, as a string, or as a constant beginning with `Process::RLIMIT_` (e.g., `:CORE`, `'CORE'`, or `Process::RLIMIT_CORE`.

The resources available and supported are system-dependent, and may include (here expressed as symbols):

- `:AS`: Total available memory (bytes) (SUSv3, NetBSD, FreeBSD, OpenBSD except 4.4BSD-Lite).

- `:CORE`: Core size (bytes) (SUSv3).

- `:CPU`: CPU time (seconds) (SUSv3).

- `:DATA`: `Data` segment (bytes) (SUSv3).

- `:FSIZE`: `File` size (bytes) (SUSv3).

- `:MEMLOCK`: Total size for mlock(2) (bytes) (4.4BSD, GNU/Linux).

- `:MSGQUEUE`: Allocation for POSIX message queues (bytes) (GNU/Linux).

- `:NICE`: Ceiling on process’s nice(2) value (number) (GNU/Linux).

- `:NOFILE`: `File` descriptors (number) (SUSv3).

- `:NPROC`: Number of processes for the user (number) (4.4BSD, GNU/Linux).

- `:NPTS`: Number of pseudo terminals (number) (FreeBSD).

- `:RSS`: Resident memory size (bytes) (4.2BSD, GNU/Linux).

- `:RTPRIO`: Ceiling on the process’s real-time priority (number) (GNU/Linux).

- `:RTTIME`: CPU time for real-time process (us) (GNU/Linux).

- `:SBSIZE`: All socket buffers (bytes) (NetBSD, FreeBSD).

- `:SIGPENDING`: Number of queued signals allowed (signals) (GNU/Linux).

- `:STACK`: Stack size (bytes) (SUSv3).

Arguments `cur_limit` and `max_limit` may be:

- Integers (`max_limit` should not be smaller than `cur_limit`).

- `Symbol` `:SAVED_MAX`, string `'SAVED_MAX'`, or constant `Process::RLIM_SAVED_MAX`: saved maximum limit.

- `Symbol` `:SAVED_CUR`, string `'SAVED_CUR'`, or constant `Process::RLIM_SAVED_CUR`: saved current limit.

- `Symbol` `:INFINITY`, string `'INFINITY'`, or constant `Process::RLIM_INFINITY`: no limit on resource.

This example raises the soft limit of core size to the hard limit to try to make core dump possible:

    Process.setrlimit(:CORE, Process.getrlimit(:CORE)[1])

Not available on all platforms.

    static VALUE
    proc_setrlimit(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE obj)
    {
        VALUE resource, rlim_cur, rlim_max;
        struct rlimit rlim;

        rb_check_arity(argc, 2, 3);
        resource = argv[0];
        rlim_cur = argv[1];
        if (argc < 3 || NIL_P(rlim_max = argv[2]))
            rlim_max = rlim_cur;

        rlim.rlim_cur = rlimit_resource_value(rlim_cur);
        rlim.rlim_max = rlimit_resource_value(rlim_max);

        if (setrlimit(rlimit_resource_type(resource), &rlim) < 0) {
            rb_sys_fail("setrlimit");
        }
        return Qnil;
    }

setsid → integer click to toggle source

Establishes the current process as a new session and process group leader, with no controlling tty; returns the session ID:

    Process.setsid # => 27422

Not available on all platforms.

    static VALUE
    proc_setsid(VALUE _)
    {
        rb_pid_t pid;

        pid = setsid();
        if (pid < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
        return PIDT2NUM(pid);
    }

spawn([env, ] command_line, options = {}) → pid click to toggle source
spawn([env, ] exe_path, *args, options = {}) → pid

Creates a new child process by doing one of the following in that process:

- Passing string `command_line` to the shell.

- Invoking the executable at `exe_path`.

This method has potential security vulnerabilities if called with untrusted input; see Command Injection.

Returns the process ID (pid) of the new process, without waiting for it to complete.

To avoid zombie processes, the parent process should call either:

- `Process.wait`, to collect the termination statuses of its children.

- `Process.detach`, to register disinterest in their status.

The new process is created using the exec system call; it may inherit some of its environment from the calling program (possibly including open file descriptors).

Argument `env`, if given, is a hash that affects `ENV` for the new process; see Execution Environment.

Argument `options` is a hash of options for the new process; see Execution Options.

The first required argument is one of the following:

- `command_line` if it is a string, and if it begins with a shell reserved word or special built-in, or if it contains one or more meta characters.

- `exe_path` otherwise.

Argument `command_line`

String argument `command_line` is a command line to be passed to a shell; it must begin with a shell reserved word, begin with a special built-in, or contain meta characters:

    spawn('if true; then echo "Foo"; fi') # => 798847 # Shell reserved word.
    Process.wait                          # => 798847
    spawn('echo')                         # => 798848 # Built-in.
    Process.wait                          # => 798848
    spawn('date > /tmp/date.tmp')         # => 798879 # Contains meta character.
    Process.wait                          # => 798849
    spawn('date > /nop/date.tmp')         # => 798882 # Issues error message.
    Process.wait                          # => 798882

The command line may also contain arguments and options for the command:

    spawn('echo "Foo"') # => 799031
    Process.wait        # => 799031

Output:

    Foo

See Execution Shell for details about the shell.

Raises an exception if the new process could not execute.

Argument `exe_path`

Argument `exe_path` is one of the following:

- The string path to an executable to be called:

      spawn('/usr/bin/date') # Path to date on Unix-style system.
      Process.wait

  Output:

      Thu Aug 31 10:06:48 AM CDT 2023

- A 2-element array containing the path to an executable and the string to be used as the name of the executing process:

      pid = spawn(['sleep', 'Hello!'], '1') # 2-element array.
      p `ps -p #{pid} -o command=`

  Output:

      "Hello! 1\n"

Ruby invokes the executable directly, with no shell and no shell expansion.

If one or more `args` is given, each is an argument or option to be passed to the executable:

    spawn('echo', 'C*')             # => 799392
    Process.wait                    # => 799392
    spawn('echo', 'hello', 'world') # => 799393
    Process.wait                    # => 799393

Output:

    C*
    hello world

Raises an exception if the new process could not execute.

    static VALUE
    rb_f_spawn(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE _)
    {
        rb_pid_t pid;
        char errmsg[CHILD_ERRMSG_BUFLEN] = { '\0' };
        VALUE execarg_obj, fail_str;
        struct rb_execarg *eargp;

        execarg_obj = rb_execarg_new(argc, argv, TRUE, FALSE);
        eargp = rb_execarg_get(execarg_obj);
        fail_str = eargp->use_shell ? eargp->invoke.sh.shell_script : eargp->invoke.cmd.command_name;

        pid = rb_execarg_spawn(execarg_obj, errmsg, sizeof(errmsg));

        if (pid == -1) {
            int err = errno;
            rb_exec_fail(eargp, err, errmsg);
            RB_GC_GUARD(execarg_obj);
            rb_syserr_fail_str(err, fail_str);
        }
    #if defined(HAVE_WORKING_FORK) || defined(HAVE_SPAWNV)
        return PIDT2NUM(pid);
    #else
        return Qnil;
    #endif
    }

times → process_tms click to toggle source

Returns a `Process::Tms` structure that contains user and system CPU times for the current process, and for its children processes:

    Process.times
    # => #<struct Process::Tms utime=55.122118, stime=35.533068, cutime=0.0, cstime=0.002846>

The precision is platform-defined.

    VALUE
    rb_proc_times(VALUE obj)
    {
        VALUE utime, stime, cutime, cstime, ret;
    #if defined(RUSAGE_SELF) && defined(RUSAGE_CHILDREN)
        struct rusage usage_s, usage_c;

        if (getrusage(RUSAGE_SELF, &usage_s) != 0 || getrusage(RUSAGE_CHILDREN, &usage_c) != 0)
            rb_sys_fail("getrusage");
        utime = DBL2NUM((double)usage_s.ru_utime.tv_sec + (double)usage_s.ru_utime.tv_usec/1e6);
        stime = DBL2NUM((double)usage_s.ru_stime.tv_sec + (double)usage_s.ru_stime.tv_usec/1e6);
        cutime = DBL2NUM((double)usage_c.ru_utime.tv_sec + (double)usage_c.ru_utime.tv_usec/1e6);
        cstime = DBL2NUM((double)usage_c.ru_stime.tv_sec + (double)usage_c.ru_stime.tv_usec/1e6);
    #else
        const double hertz = (double)get_clk_tck();
        struct tms buf;

        times(&buf);
        utime = DBL2NUM(buf.tms_utime / hertz);
        stime = DBL2NUM(buf.tms_stime / hertz);
        cutime = DBL2NUM(buf.tms_cutime / hertz);
        cstime = DBL2NUM(buf.tms_cstime / hertz);
    #endif
        ret = rb_struct_new(rb_cProcessTms, utime, stime, cutime, cstime);
        RB_GC_GUARD(utime);
        RB_GC_GUARD(stime);
        RB_GC_GUARD(cutime);
        RB_GC_GUARD(cstime);
        return ret;
    }

uid → integer click to toggle source
Process::UID.rid → integer
Process::Sys.getuid → integer

Returns the (real) user ID of the current process.

    Process.uid # => 1000

    static VALUE
    proc_getuid(VALUE obj)
    {
        rb_uid_t uid = getuid();
        return UIDT2NUM(uid);
    }

uid = new_uid → new_uid click to toggle source

Sets the (user) user ID for the current process to `new_uid`:

    Process.uid = 1000 # => 1000

Not available on all platforms.

    static VALUE
    proc_setuid(VALUE obj, VALUE id)
    {
        rb_uid_t uid;

        check_uid_switch();

        uid = OBJ2UID(id);
    #if defined(HAVE_SETRESUID)
        if (setresuid(uid, -1, -1) < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
    #elif defined HAVE_SETREUID
        if (setreuid(uid, -1) < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
    #elif defined HAVE_SETRUID
        if (setruid(uid) < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
    #elif defined HAVE_SETUID
        {
            if (geteuid() == uid) {
                if (setuid(uid) < 0) rb_sys_fail(0);
            }
            else {
                rb_notimplement();
            }
        }
    #endif
        return id;
    }

wait(pid = -1, flags = 0) → integer click to toggle source

Waits for a suitable child process to exit, returns its process ID, and sets `$?` to a `Process::Status` object containing information on that process. Which child it waits for depends on the value of the given `pid`:

- Positive integer: Waits for the child process whose process ID is `pid`:

      pid0 = Process.spawn('ruby', '-e', 'exit 13') # => 230866
      pid1 = Process.spawn('ruby', '-e', 'exit 14') # => 230891
      Process.wait(pid0)                            # => 230866
      $?                                            # => #<Process::Status: pid 230866 exit 13>
      Process.wait(pid1)                            # => 230891
      $?                                            # => #<Process::Status: pid 230891 exit 14>
      Process.wait(pid0)                            # Raises Errno::ECHILD

- `0`: Waits for any child process whose group ID is the same as that of the current process:

      parent_pgpid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
      puts "Parent process group ID is #{parent_pgpid}."
      child0_pid = fork do
        puts "Child 0 pid is #{Process.pid}"
        child0_pgid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
        puts "Child 0 process group ID is #{child0_pgid} (same as parent's)."
      end
      child1_pid = fork do
        puts "Child 1 pid is #{Process.pid}"
        Process.setpgid(0, Process.pid)
        child1_pgid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
        puts "Child 1 process group ID is #{child1_pgid} (different from parent's)."
      end
      retrieved_pid = Process.wait(0)
      puts "Process.wait(0) returned pid #{retrieved_pid}, which is child 0 pid."
      begin
        Process.wait(0)
      rescue Errno::ECHILD => x
        puts "Raised #{x.class}, because child 1 process group ID differs from parent process group ID."
      end

  Output:

      Parent process group ID is 225764.
      Child 0 pid is 225788
      Child 0 process group ID is 225764 (same as parent's).
      Child 1 pid is 225789
      Child 1 process group ID is 225789 (different from parent's).
      Process.wait(0) returned pid 225788, which is child 0 pid.
      Raised Errno::ECHILD, because child 1 process group ID differs from parent process group ID.

- `-1` (default): Waits for any child process:

      parent_pgpid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
      puts "Parent process group ID is #{parent_pgpid}."
      child0_pid = fork do
        puts "Child 0 pid is #{Process.pid}"
        child0_pgid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
        puts "Child 0 process group ID is #{child0_pgid} (same as parent's)."
      end
      child1_pid = fork do
        puts "Child 1 pid is #{Process.pid}"
        Process.setpgid(0, Process.pid)
        child1_pgid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
        puts "Child 1 process group ID is #{child1_pgid} (different from parent's)."
        sleep 3 # To force child 1 to exit later than child 0 exit.
      end
      child_pids = [child0_pid, child1_pid]
      retrieved_pid = Process.wait(-1)
      puts child_pids.include?(retrieved_pid)
      retrieved_pid = Process.wait(-1)
      puts child_pids.include?(retrieved_pid)

  Output:

      Parent process group ID is 228736.
      Child 0 pid is 228758
      Child 0 process group ID is 228736 (same as parent's).
      Child 1 pid is 228759
      Child 1 process group ID is 228759 (different from parent's).
      true
      true

- Less than `-1`: Waits for any child whose process group ID is `-pid`:

      parent_pgpid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
      puts "Parent process group ID is #{parent_pgpid}."
      child0_pid = fork do
        puts "Child 0 pid is #{Process.pid}"
        child0_pgid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
        puts "Child 0 process group ID is #{child0_pgid} (same as parent's)."
      end
      child1_pid = fork do
        puts "Child 1 pid is #{Process.pid}"
        Process.setpgid(0, Process.pid)
        child1_pgid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
        puts "Child 1 process group ID is #{child1_pgid} (different from parent's)."
      end
      sleep 1
      retrieved_pid = Process.wait(-child1_pid)
      puts "Process.wait(-child1_pid) returned pid #{retrieved_pid}, which is child 1 pid."
      begin
        Process.wait(-child1_pid)
      rescue Errno::ECHILD => x
        puts "Raised #{x.class}, because there's no longer a child with process group id #{child1_pid}."
      end

  Output:

      Parent process group ID is 230083.
      Child 0 pid is 230108
      Child 0 process group ID is 230083 (same as parent's).
      Child 1 pid is 230109
      Child 1 process group ID is 230109 (different from parent's).
      Process.wait(-child1_pid) returned pid 230109, which is child 1 pid.
      Raised Errno::ECHILD, because there's no longer a child with process group id 230109.

Argument `flags` should be given as one of the following constants, or as the logical OR of both:

- `Process::WNOHANG`: Does not block if no child process is available.

- Process:WUNTRACED: May return a stopped child process, even if not yet reported.

Not all flags are available on all platforms.

Raises Errno::ECHILD if there is no suitable child process.

Not available on all platforms.

`Process.waitpid` is an alias for `Process.wait`.

    static VALUE
    proc_m_wait(int c, VALUE *v, VALUE _)
    {
        return proc_wait(c, v);
    }

wait2(pid = -1, flags = 0) → [pid, status] click to toggle source

Like `Process.waitpid`, but returns an array containing the child process `pid` and `Process::Status` `status`:

    pid = Process.spawn('ruby', '-e', 'exit 13') # => 309581
    Process.wait2(pid)
    # => [309581, #<Process::Status: pid 309581 exit 13>]

`Process.waitpid2` is an alias for `Process.waitpid`.

    static VALUE
    proc_wait2(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE _)
    {
        VALUE pid = proc_wait(argc, argv);
        if (NIL_P(pid)) return Qnil;
        return rb_assoc_new(pid, rb_last_status_get());
    }

waitall → array click to toggle source

Waits for all children, returns an array of 2-element arrays; each subarray contains the integer pid and `Process::Status` status for one of the reaped child processes:

    pid0 = Process.spawn('ruby', '-e', 'exit 13') # => 325470
    pid1 = Process.spawn('ruby', '-e', 'exit 14') # => 325495
    Process.waitall
    # => [[325470, #<Process::Status: pid 325470 exit 13>], [325495, #<Process::Status: pid 325495 exit 14>]]

    static VALUE
    proc_waitall(VALUE _)
    {
        VALUE result;
        rb_pid_t pid;
        int status;

        result = rb_ary_new();
        rb_last_status_clear();

        for (pid = -1;;) {
            pid = rb_waitpid(-1, &status, 0);
            if (pid == -1) {
                int e = errno;
                if (e == ECHILD)
                    break;
                rb_syserr_fail(e, 0);
            }
            rb_ary_push(result, rb_assoc_new(PIDT2NUM(pid), rb_last_status_get()));
        }
        return result;
    }

wait(pid = -1, flags = 0) → integer click to toggle source

Waits for a suitable child process to exit, returns its process ID, and sets `$?` to a `Process::Status` object containing information on that process. Which child it waits for depends on the value of the given `pid`:

- Positive integer: Waits for the child process whose process ID is `pid`:

      pid0 = Process.spawn('ruby', '-e', 'exit 13') # => 230866
      pid1 = Process.spawn('ruby', '-e', 'exit 14') # => 230891
      Process.wait(pid0)                            # => 230866
      $?                                            # => #<Process::Status: pid 230866 exit 13>
      Process.wait(pid1)                            # => 230891
      $?                                            # => #<Process::Status: pid 230891 exit 14>
      Process.wait(pid0)                            # Raises Errno::ECHILD

- `0`: Waits for any child process whose group ID is the same as that of the current process:

      parent_pgpid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
      puts "Parent process group ID is #{parent_pgpid}."
      child0_pid = fork do
        puts "Child 0 pid is #{Process.pid}"
        child0_pgid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
        puts "Child 0 process group ID is #{child0_pgid} (same as parent's)."
      end
      child1_pid = fork do
        puts "Child 1 pid is #{Process.pid}"
        Process.setpgid(0, Process.pid)
        child1_pgid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
        puts "Child 1 process group ID is #{child1_pgid} (different from parent's)."
      end
      retrieved_pid = Process.wait(0)
      puts "Process.wait(0) returned pid #{retrieved_pid}, which is child 0 pid."
      begin
        Process.wait(0)
      rescue Errno::ECHILD => x
        puts "Raised #{x.class}, because child 1 process group ID differs from parent process group ID."
      end

  Output:

      Parent process group ID is 225764.
      Child 0 pid is 225788
      Child 0 process group ID is 225764 (same as parent's).
      Child 1 pid is 225789
      Child 1 process group ID is 225789 (different from parent's).
      Process.wait(0) returned pid 225788, which is child 0 pid.
      Raised Errno::ECHILD, because child 1 process group ID differs from parent process group ID.

- `-1` (default): Waits for any child process:

      parent_pgpid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
      puts "Parent process group ID is #{parent_pgpid}."
      child0_pid = fork do
        puts "Child 0 pid is #{Process.pid}"
        child0_pgid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
        puts "Child 0 process group ID is #{child0_pgid} (same as parent's)."
      end
      child1_pid = fork do
        puts "Child 1 pid is #{Process.pid}"
        Process.setpgid(0, Process.pid)
        child1_pgid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
        puts "Child 1 process group ID is #{child1_pgid} (different from parent's)."
        sleep 3 # To force child 1 to exit later than child 0 exit.
      end
      child_pids = [child0_pid, child1_pid]
      retrieved_pid = Process.wait(-1)
      puts child_pids.include?(retrieved_pid)
      retrieved_pid = Process.wait(-1)
      puts child_pids.include?(retrieved_pid)

  Output:

      Parent process group ID is 228736.
      Child 0 pid is 228758
      Child 0 process group ID is 228736 (same as parent's).
      Child 1 pid is 228759
      Child 1 process group ID is 228759 (different from parent's).
      true
      true

- Less than `-1`: Waits for any child whose process group ID is `-pid`:

      parent_pgpid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
      puts "Parent process group ID is #{parent_pgpid}."
      child0_pid = fork do
        puts "Child 0 pid is #{Process.pid}"
        child0_pgid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
        puts "Child 0 process group ID is #{child0_pgid} (same as parent's)."
      end
      child1_pid = fork do
        puts "Child 1 pid is #{Process.pid}"
        Process.setpgid(0, Process.pid)
        child1_pgid = Process.getpgid(Process.pid)
        puts "Child 1 process group ID is #{child1_pgid} (different from parent's)."
      end
      sleep 1
      retrieved_pid = Process.wait(-child1_pid)
      puts "Process.wait(-child1_pid) returned pid #{retrieved_pid}, which is child 1 pid."
      begin
        Process.wait(-child1_pid)
      rescue Errno::ECHILD => x
        puts "Raised #{x.class}, because there's no longer a child with process group id #{child1_pid}."
      end

  Output:

      Parent process group ID is 230083.
      Child 0 pid is 230108
      Child 0 process group ID is 230083 (same as parent's).
      Child 1 pid is 230109
      Child 1 process group ID is 230109 (different from parent's).
      Process.wait(-child1_pid) returned pid 230109, which is child 1 pid.
      Raised Errno::ECHILD, because there's no longer a child with process group id 230109.

Argument `flags` should be given as one of the following constants, or as the logical OR of both:

- `Process::WNOHANG`: Does not block if no child process is available.

- Process:WUNTRACED: May return a stopped child process, even if not yet reported.

Not all flags are available on all platforms.

Raises Errno::ECHILD if there is no suitable child process.

Not available on all platforms.

`Process.waitpid` is an alias for `Process.wait`.

    static VALUE
    proc_m_wait(int c, VALUE *v, VALUE _)
    {
        return proc_wait(c, v);
    }

wait2(pid = -1, flags = 0) → [pid, status] click to toggle source

Like `Process.waitpid`, but returns an array containing the child process `pid` and `Process::Status` `status`:

    pid = Process.spawn('ruby', '-e', 'exit 13') # => 309581
    Process.wait2(pid)
    # => [309581, #<Process::Status: pid 309581 exit 13>]

`Process.waitpid2` is an alias for `Process.waitpid`.

    static VALUE
    proc_wait2(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE _)
    {
        VALUE pid = proc_wait(argc, argv);
        if (NIL_P(pid)) return Qnil;
        return rb_assoc_new(pid, rb_last_status_get());
    }

warmup → true click to toggle source

Notify the Ruby virtual machine that the boot sequence is finished, and that now is a good time to optimize the application. This is useful for long running applications.

This method is expected to be called at the end of the application boot. If the application is deployed using a pre-forking model, `Process.warmup` should be called in the original process before the first fork.

The actual optimizations performed are entirely implementation specific and may change in the future without notice.

On CRuby, `Process.warmup`:

- Performs a major `GC`.

- Compacts the heap.

- Promotes all surviving objects to the old generation.

- Precomputes the coderange of all strings.

- Frees all empty heap pages and increments the allocatable pages counter by the number of pages freed.

- Invoke `malloc_trim` if available to free empty malloc pages.

    static VALUE
    proc_warmup(VALUE _)
    {
        RB_VM_LOCK_ENTER();
        rb_gc_prepare_heap();
        RB_VM_LOCK_LEAVE();
        return Qtrue;
    }