/ 
Proc-Exists-0.08
River stage one • 2 direct dependents • 2 total dependents
/ Proc::Exists

NAME

Proc::Exists - quickly check for process existence

VERSION

This document describes Proc::Exists

SYNOPSIS

 use Proc::Exists qw(pexists);

 my $dead_or_alive       = pexists($pid); 
 my @survivors           = pexists(@pid_list); 
 my $nsurvivors          = pexists(@pid_list); 
 my $at_least_one_lived  = pexists(@pid_list, {any => 1});
 my $all_pids_lived      = pexists(@pid_list, {all => 1});

FUNCTIONS

pexists( @pids, [ $args_hashref ] )

Supported arguments are 'any' and 'all'. See details above.

DESCRIPTION

A simple and fast module for checking whether a process exists or not, regardless of whether it is a child of this process or has the same owner.

On POSIX systems, this is implemented by sending a 0 (test) signal to the pid of the process to check and examining the result and errno.

DEPENDENCIES

* a POSIX-y OS or win32
* Test::More if you want to run 'make test'

INCOMPATIBILITIES

There is no pure perl implementation under Windows. However, with Strawberry Perl http://strawberryperl.com/, this should be less of an issue.

Any other OS without a POSIX emulation layer will probably be completely non-functional (unless it implements kill()).

It's possible that if you don't have a C compiler, and you're not running an obscure UNIX-y OS (read: not linux, *BSD, solaris, or Mac OS X), you might not pass make test. This is because in pure-perl mode, we rely on string representation of errno in $!, which differs from OS to OS. If you find yourself on such a system, run perl -le 'kill 0, 1; print $!' and please send me the output at <ski-cpan@allafrica.com> with Proc::Exists in the subject line. Meanwhile you can patch your own source by adding your string to pp_pexists in lib/Proc/Exists.pm.

BUGS AND LIMITATIONS

Please report any bugs or feature requests through the web interface at http://rt.cpan.org.

AUTHOR

Brian Szymanski <ski-cpan@allafrica.com>

LICENCE AND COPYRIGHT

Copyright (c) 2008, Brian Szymanski <ski-cpan@allafrica.com>. All rights reserved.

This module is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself. See perlartistic.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY

BECAUSE THIS SOFTWARE IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE SOFTWARE, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE SOFTWARE "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE SOFTWARE PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR, OR CORRECTION.

IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY MODIFY AND/OR REDISTRIBUTE THE SOFTWARE AS PERMITTED BY THE ABOVE LICENCE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE SOFTWARE TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER SOFTWARE), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.