Process.h

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process.h is a C header file which contains function declarations and macros used in working with threads and processes. Most C compilers that target DOS, Windows 3.1x, Win32, OS/2, Novell NetWare or DOS extenders supply this header and the library functions in their C library. Neither the header file nor most of the functions are defined by either the ANSI/ISO C standard or by POSIX.

History

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Microsoft's version of the file dates back to at least 1985, according to its copyright statement.[1] An early reference to the file was in a post on the net.micro.pc usenet on Oct-26-1986.[2] The compiler used was Microsoft C compiler version 3.0. The Lattice C compiler version 3.30 (Aug-24-1988) did not have such a header file, but offered similar functions. Borland provided the header in their Turbo C compiler version 2.01. The C Ware-Personal C compiler version 1.2c (June 1989) had only the ANSI headers.

Functions

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Name Description Notes
execl, execle, execlp, execlpe load and execute a new child process by placing it in memory previously occupied by the parent process. Parameters are passed individually. DOS,Win,OS/2,POSIX
execv, execve, execvp, execvpe load and execute a new child process by placing it in memory previously occupied by the parent process. Parameters are passed as an array of pointers. DOS,Win,OS/2,POSIX
spawnl, spawnle, spawnlp, spawnlpe load and execute a new child process. Parameters are passed individually. DOS,Win,OS/2
spawnv, spawnve, spawnvp, spawnvpe load and execute a new child process. Parameters are passed as an array of pointers. DOS,Win,OS/2
beginthread, beginthreadNT creates a new thread of execution within the current process. Win,OS/2
endthread terminates a thread created by beginthread. Win,OS/2
getpid returns the process identifier. DOS,Win,OS/2
cexit restore interrupt vectors altered by the startup code. DOS,Win,OS/2

Constants

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Name Description Notes OS
_P_WAIT Suspends parent process until the child process has finished executing. synchronous spawn. MS-DOS,Win32,OS/2
_P_NOWAIT, _P_NOWAITO Continues to execute calling process concurrently with new process. asynchronous spawn. Win32,OS/2
_P_OVERLAY Overlays parent process with child, which destroys the parent. has the same effect as the exec* functions. MS-DOS,Win32,OS/2
_P_DETACH The child is run in background without access to the console or keyboard. Calls to _cwait upon the new process will fail. Asynchronous spawn. Win32,OS/2
_WAIT_CHILD used as cwait action. Obsolete on Win32. MS-DOS,OS/2
_WAIT_GRANDCHILD used as cwait action. Obsolete on Win32. MS-DOS,OS/2

Implementations

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Given the fact there is no standard on which to base the implementation, the functions declared by process.h differ, depending on the compiler in use. Below is a list of compilers which provide process.h.

Differences

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Another aspect that might vary is the combined length of exec* and spawn* parameters.

  • Delorie DJGPP: does not have such a limit.[15]
  • Digital Mars: the maximum is 128 bytes; nothing is stated about the ending '\0' character.
  • Microsoft cl: the argument list for the new process must not exceed 1024 bytes.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Copyright 1985–1989, Microsoft Corporation", in QuickC version 2.00 process.h file
  2. ^ Is my floppy diskette formated?[permanent dead link], groups-beta.google.com
  3. ^ Delorie.com
  4. ^ DJGPP process.h, delorie.com
  5. ^ Openwatcom.org Archived 2015-03-17 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ OpenWatcom clib Archived 2006-10-11 at the Wayback Machine, openwatcom.org
  7. ^ DigitalMars.com
  8. ^ Digital Mars process.h, digitalmars.com
  9. ^ MinGW.org
  10. ^ "MSDN.Microsoft.com". Archived from the original on 2007-07-07. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
  11. ^ "Borland.com". Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
  12. ^ C version 2.01[permanent dead link], dn.codegear.com
  13. ^ CS.Virginia.edu
  14. ^ QNX.com
  15. ^ DJGPP spawn*, delorie.com
  16. ^ Microsoft MSDN, msdn.microsoft.com
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