start and stop a linux shell command from a c program without blocking current execution

Question

while(variable > 0){
  updatevariable(); //variable gets updated from UDP serevr.
  // i want to execute a shell command here without blocking current execution. 
}

i tried using system() function but it is blocking current execution, i should be able to stop the shell command if the condition doesn't satisfy and shouldn't wait until the shell command finishes execution. (the shell command i'm using is rtl_fm and it doesn't stop execution until we manually stop it). i'm writing this code specifically for linux OS. And i exactly know the time when the variable falls below 0. is there any way to execute shell command for certain period of time?

haven't tried process, threads yet. PS: This is my first question on this platform.

you want [fork-exec](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fork%E2%80%93exec) — pmg, May 02 '20 at 09:21
Thanks. created a child process and used execvp() and i'm able to do stuff exactly as i wanted to. — Vijay Madipally, May 02 '20 at 16:35

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered May 02 '20 at 09:51

you need to create a new process with fork or clone

int clone(int (*fn)(void *), void *stack, int flags, void *arg, ...
             /* pid_t *parent_tid, void *tls, pid_t *child_tid */ );

(if you need more precise control over what pieces of execution context are shared between the calling process 'parent' and the child process. see clone_man_pages then you can send your newly created child to run some other code (without waiting or blocking your current shell). this is done with the exec system calls family exec_family_man_pages

Thanks for the help. solved the problem by using fork and execvp(). — Vijay Madipally, May 02 '20 at 16:37

start and stop a linux shell command from a c program without blocking current execution

1 Answers1