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author | Roland McGrath <roland@gnu.org> | 1995-02-18 01:27:10 +0000 |
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committer | Roland McGrath <roland@gnu.org> | 1995-02-18 01:27:10 +0000 |
commit | 28f540f45bbacd939bfd07f213bcad2bf730b1bf (patch) | |
tree | 15f07c4c43d635959c6afee96bde71fb1b3614ee /manual/time.texi | |
download | glibc-28f540f45bbacd939bfd07f213bcad2bf730b1bf.tar.gz glibc-28f540f45bbacd939bfd07f213bcad2bf730b1bf.tar.xz glibc-28f540f45bbacd939bfd07f213bcad2bf730b1bf.zip |
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diff --git a/manual/time.texi b/manual/time.texi new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..767c318a42 --- /dev/null +++ b/manual/time.texi @@ -0,0 +1,1574 @@ +@node Date and Time, Non-Local Exits, Arithmetic, Top +@chapter Date and Time + +This chapter describes functions for manipulating dates and times, +including functions for determining what the current time is and +conversion between different time representations. + +The time functions fall into three main categories: + +@itemize @bullet +@item +Functions for measuring elapsed CPU time are discussed in @ref{Processor +Time}. + +@item +Functions for measuring absolute clock or calendar time are discussed in +@ref{Calendar Time}. + +@item +Functions for setting alarms and timers are discussed in @ref{Setting +an Alarm}. +@end itemize + +@menu +* Processor Time:: Measures processor time used by a program. +* Calendar Time:: Manipulation of ``real'' dates and times. +* Setting an Alarm:: Sending a signal after a specified time. +* Sleeping:: Waiting for a period of time. +* Resource Usage:: Measuring various resources used. +* Limits on Resources:: Specifying limits on resource usage. +* Priority:: Reading or setting process run priority. +@end menu + +@node Processor Time +@section Processor Time + +If you're trying to optimize your program or measure its efficiency, it's +very useful to be able to know how much @dfn{processor time} or @dfn{CPU +time} it has used at any given point. Processor time is different from +actual wall clock time because it doesn't include any time spent waiting +for I/O or when some other process is running. Processor time is +represented by the data type @code{clock_t}, and is given as a number of +@dfn{clock ticks} relative to an arbitrary base time marking the beginning +of a single program invocation. +@cindex CPU time +@cindex processor time +@cindex clock ticks +@cindex ticks, clock +@cindex time, elapsed CPU + +@menu +* Basic CPU Time:: The @code{clock} function. +* Detailed CPU Time:: The @code{times} function. +@end menu + +@node Basic CPU Time +@subsection Basic CPU Time Inquiry + +To get the elapsed CPU time used by a process, you can use the +@code{clock} function. This facility is declared in the header file +@file{time.h}. +@pindex time.h + +In typical usage, you call the @code{clock} function at the beginning and +end of the interval you want to time, subtract the values, and then divide +by @code{CLOCKS_PER_SEC} (the number of clock ticks per second), like this: + +@smallexample +@group +#include <time.h> + +clock_t start, end; +double elapsed; + +start = clock(); +@dots{} /* @r{Do the work.} */ +end = clock(); +elapsed = ((double) (end - start)) / CLOCKS_PER_SEC; +@end group +@end smallexample + +Different computers and operating systems vary wildly in how they keep +track of processor time. It's common for the internal processor clock +to have a resolution somewhere between hundredths and millionths of a +second. + +In the GNU system, @code{clock_t} is equivalent to @code{long int} and +@code{CLOCKS_PER_SEC} is an integer value. But in other systems, both +@code{clock_t} and the type of the macro @code{CLOCKS_PER_SEC} can be +either integer or floating-point types. Casting processor time values +to @code{double}, as in the example above, makes sure that operations +such as arithmetic and printing work properly and consistently no matter +what the underlying representation is. + +@comment time.h +@comment ANSI +@deftypevr Macro int CLOCKS_PER_SEC +The value of this macro is the number of clock ticks per second measured +by the @code{clock} function. +@end deftypevr + +@comment time.h +@comment POSIX.1 +@deftypevr Macro int CLK_TCK +This is an obsolete name for @code{CLOCKS_PER_SEC}. +@end deftypevr + +@comment time.h +@comment ANSI +@deftp {Data Type} clock_t +This is the type of the value returned by the @code{clock} function. +Values of type @code{clock_t} are in units of clock ticks. +@end deftp + +@comment time.h +@comment ANSI +@deftypefun clock_t clock (void) +This function returns the elapsed processor time. The base time is +arbitrary but doesn't change within a single process. If the processor +time is not available or cannot be represented, @code{clock} returns the +value @code{(clock_t)(-1)}. +@end deftypefun + + +@node Detailed CPU Time +@subsection Detailed Elapsed CPU Time Inquiry + +The @code{times} function returns more detailed information about +elapsed processor time in a @w{@code{struct tms}} object. You should +include the header file @file{sys/times.h} to use this facility. +@pindex sys/times.h + +@comment sys/times.h +@comment POSIX.1 +@deftp {Data Type} {struct tms} +The @code{tms} structure is used to return information about process +times. It contains at least the following members: + +@table @code +@item clock_t tms_utime +This is the CPU time used in executing the instructions of the calling +process. + +@item clock_t tms_stime +This is the CPU time used by the system on behalf of the calling process. + +@item clock_t tms_cutime +This is the sum of the @code{tms_utime} values and the @code{tms_cutime} +values of all terminated child processes of the calling process, whose +status has been reported to the parent process by @code{wait} or +@code{waitpid}; see @ref{Process Completion}. In other words, it +represents the total CPU time used in executing the instructions of all +the terminated child processes of the calling process, excluding child +processes which have not yet been reported by @code{wait} or +@code{waitpid}. + +@item clock_t tms_cstime +This is similar to @code{tms_cutime}, but represents the total CPU time +used by the system on behalf of all the terminated child processes of the +calling process. +@end table + +All of the times are given in clock ticks. These are absolute values; in a +newly created process, they are all zero. @xref{Creating a Process}. +@end deftp + +@comment sys/times.h +@comment POSIX.1 +@deftypefun clock_t times (struct tms *@var{buffer}) +The @code{times} function stores the processor time information for +the calling process in @var{buffer}. + +The return value is the same as the value of @code{clock()}: the elapsed +real time relative to an arbitrary base. The base is a constant within a +particular process, and typically represents the time since system +start-up. A value of @code{(clock_t)(-1)} is returned to indicate failure. +@end deftypefun + +@strong{Portability Note:} The @code{clock} function described in +@ref{Basic CPU Time}, is specified by the ANSI C standard. The +@code{times} function is a feature of POSIX.1. In the GNU system, the +value returned by the @code{clock} function is equivalent to the sum of +the @code{tms_utime} and @code{tms_stime} fields returned by +@code{times}. + +@node Calendar Time +@section Calendar Time + +This section describes facilities for keeping track of dates and times +according to the Gregorian calendar. +@cindex Gregorian calendar +@cindex time, calendar +@cindex date and time + +There are three representations for date and time information: + +@itemize @bullet +@item +@dfn{Calendar time} (the @code{time_t} data type) is a compact +representation, typically giving the number of seconds elapsed since +some implementation-specific base time. +@cindex calendar time + +@item +There is also a @dfn{high-resolution time} representation (the @code{struct +timeval} data type) that includes fractions of a second. Use this time +representation instead of ordinary calendar time when you need greater +precision. +@cindex high-resolution time + +@item +@dfn{Local time} or @dfn{broken-down time} (the @code{struct +tm} data type) represents the date and time as a set of components +specifying the year, month, and so on, for a specific time zone. +This time representation is usually used in conjunction with formatting +date and time values. +@cindex local time +@cindex broken-down time +@end itemize + +@menu +* Simple Calendar Time:: Facilities for manipulating calendar time. +* High-Resolution Calendar:: A time representation with greater precision. +* Broken-down Time:: Facilities for manipulating local time. +* Formatting Date and Time:: Converting times to strings. +* TZ Variable:: How users specify the time zone. +* Time Zone Functions:: Functions to examine or specify the time zone. +* Time Functions Example:: An example program showing use of some of + the time functions. +@end menu + +@node Simple Calendar Time +@subsection Simple Calendar Time + +This section describes the @code{time_t} data type for representing +calendar time, and the functions which operate on calendar time objects. +These facilities are declared in the header file @file{time.h}. +@pindex time.h + +@cindex epoch +@comment time.h +@comment ANSI +@deftp {Data Type} time_t +This is the data type used to represent calendar time. In the GNU C +library and other POSIX-compliant implementations, @code{time_t} is +equivalent to @code{long int}. When interpreted as an absolute time +value, it represents the number of seconds elapsed since 00:00:00 on +January 1, 1970, Coordinated Universal Time. (This date is sometimes +referred to as the @dfn{epoch}.) + +In other systems, @code{time_t} might be either an integer or +floating-point type. +@end deftp + +@comment time.h +@comment ANSI +@deftypefun double difftime (time_t @var{time1}, time_t @var{time0}) +The @code{difftime} function returns the number of seconds elapsed +between time @var{time1} and time @var{time0}, as a value of type +@code{double}. + +In the GNU system, you can simply subtract @code{time_t} values. But on +other systems, the @code{time_t} data type might use some other encoding +where subtraction doesn't work directly. +@end deftypefun + +@comment time.h +@comment ANSI +@deftypefun time_t time (time_t *@var{result}) +The @code{time} function returns the current time as a value of type +@code{time_t}. If the argument @var{result} is not a null pointer, the +time value is also stored in @code{*@var{result}}. If the calendar +time is not available, the value @w{@code{(time_t)(-1)}} is returned. +@end deftypefun + + +@node High-Resolution Calendar +@subsection High-Resolution Calendar + +The @code{time_t} data type used to represent calendar times has a +resolution of only one second. Some applications need more precision. + +So, the GNU C library also contains functions which are capable of +representing calendar times to a higher resolution than one second. The +functions and the associated data types described in this section are +declared in @file{sys/time.h}. +@pindex sys/time.h + +@comment sys/time.h +@comment BSD +@deftp {Data Type} {struct timeval} +The @code{struct timeval} structure represents a calendar time. It +has the following members: + +@table @code +@item long int tv_sec +This represents the number of seconds since the epoch. It is equivalent +to a normal @code{time_t} value. + +@item long int tv_usec +This is the fractional second value, represented as the number of +microseconds. + +Some times struct timeval values are used for time intervals. Then the +@code{tv_sec} member is the number of seconds in the interval, and +@code{tv_usec} is the number of additional microseconds. +@end table +@end deftp + +@comment sys/time.h +@comment BSD +@deftp {Data Type} {struct timezone} +The @code{struct timezone} structure is used to hold minimal information +about the local time zone. It has the following members: + +@table @code +@item int tz_minuteswest +This is the number of minutes west of GMT. + +@item int tz_dsttime +If nonzero, daylight savings time applies during some part of the year. +@end table + +The @code{struct timezone} type is obsolete and should never be used. +Instead, use the facilities described in @ref{Time Zone Functions}. +@end deftp + +It is often necessary to subtract two values of type @w{@code{struct +timeval}}. Here is the best way to do this. It works even on some +peculiar operating systems where the @code{tv_sec} member has an +unsigned type. + +@smallexample +/* @r{Subtract the `struct timeval' values X and Y,} + @r{storing the result in RESULT.} + @r{Return 1 if the difference is negative, otherwise 0.} */ + +int +timeval_subtract (result, x, y) + struct timeval *result, *x, *y; +@{ + /* @r{Perform the carry for the later subtraction by updating @var{y}.} */ + if (x->tv_usec < y->tv_usec) @{ + int nsec = (y->tv_usec - x->tv_usec) / 1000000 + 1; + y->tv_usec -= 1000000 * nsec; + y->tv_sec += nsec; + @} + if (x->tv_usec - y->tv_usec > 1000000) @{ + int nsec = (y->tv_usec - x->tv_usec) / 1000000; + y->tv_usec += 1000000 * nsec; + y->tv_sec -= nsec; + @} + + /* @r{Compute the time remaining to wait.} + @r{@code{tv_usec} is certainly positive.} */ + result->tv_sec = x->tv_sec - y->tv_sec; + result->tv_usec = x->tv_usec - y->tv_usec; + + /* @r{Return 1 if result is negative.} */ + return x->tv_sec < y->tv_sec; +@} +@end smallexample + +@comment sys/time.h +@comment BSD +@deftypefun int gettimeofday (struct timeval *@var{tp}, struct timezone *@var{tzp}) +The @code{gettimeofday} function returns the current date and time in the +@code{struct timeval} structure indicated by @var{tp}. Information about the +time zone is returned in the structure pointed at @var{tzp}. If the @var{tzp} +argument is a null pointer, time zone information is ignored. + +The return value is @code{0} on success and @code{-1} on failure. The +following @code{errno} error condition is defined for this function: + +@table @code +@item ENOSYS +The operating system does not support getting time zone information, and +@var{tzp} is not a null pointer. The GNU operating system does not +support using @w{@code{struct timezone}} to represent time zone +information; that is an obsolete feature of 4.3 BSD. +Instead, use the facilities described in @ref{Time Zone Functions}. +@end table +@end deftypefun + +@comment sys/time.h +@comment BSD +@deftypefun int settimeofday (const struct timeval *@var{tp}, const struct timezone *@var{tzp}) +The @code{settimeofday} function sets the current date and time +according to the arguments. As for @code{gettimeofday}, time zone +information is ignored if @var{tzp} is a null pointer. + +You must be a privileged user in order to use @code{settimeofday}. + +The return value is @code{0} on success and @code{-1} on failure. The +following @code{errno} error conditions are defined for this function: + +@table @code +@item EPERM +This process cannot set the time because it is not privileged. + +@item ENOSYS +The operating system does not support setting time zone information, and +@var{tzp} is not a null pointer. +@end table +@end deftypefun + +@comment sys/time.h +@comment BSD +@deftypefun int adjtime (const struct timeval *@var{delta}, struct timeval *@var{olddelta}) +This function speeds up or slows down the system clock in order to make +gradual adjustments in the current time. This ensures that the time +reported by the system clock is always monotonically increasing, which +might not happen if you simply set the current time. + +The @var{delta} argument specifies a relative adjustment to be made to +the current time. If negative, the system clock is slowed down for a +while until it has lost this much time. If positive, the system clock +is speeded up for a while. + +If the @var{olddelta} argument is not a null pointer, the @code{adjtime} +function returns information about any previous time adjustment that +has not yet completed. + +This function is typically used to synchronize the clocks of computers +in a local network. You must be a privileged user to use it. +The return value is @code{0} on success and @code{-1} on failure. The +following @code{errno} error condition is defined for this function: + +@table @code +@item EPERM +You do not have privilege to set the time. +@end table +@end deftypefun + +@strong{Portability Note:} The @code{gettimeofday}, @code{settimeofday}, +and @code{adjtime} functions are derived from BSD. + + +@node Broken-down Time +@subsection Broken-down Time +@cindex broken-down time +@cindex calendar time and broken-down time + +Calendar time is represented as a number of seconds. This is convenient +for calculation, but has no resemblance to the way people normally +represent dates and times. By contrast, @dfn{broken-down time} is a binary +representation separated into year, month, day, and so on. Broken down +time values are not useful for calculations, but they are useful for +printing human readable time. + +A broken-down time value is always relative to a choice of local time +zone, and it also indicates which time zone was used. + +The symbols in this section are declared in the header file @file{time.h}. + +@comment time.h +@comment ANSI +@deftp {Data Type} {struct tm} +This is the data type used to represent a broken-down time. The structure +contains at least the following members, which can appear in any order: + +@table @code +@item int tm_sec +This is the number of seconds after the minute, normally in the range +@code{0} to @code{59}. (The actual upper limit is @code{61}, to allow +for ``leap seconds''.) +@cindex leap second + +@item int tm_min +This is the number of minutes after the hour, in the range @code{0} to +@code{59}. + +@item int tm_hour +This is the number of hours past midnight, in the range @code{0} to +@code{23}. + +@item int tm_mday +This is the day of the month, in the range @code{1} to @code{31}. + +@item int tm_mon +This is the number of months since January, in the range @code{0} to +@code{11}. + +@item int tm_year +This is the number of years since @code{1900}. + +@item int tm_wday +This is the number of days since Sunday, in the range @code{0} to @code{6}. + +@item int tm_yday +This is the number of days since January 1, in the range @code{0} to +@code{365}. + +@item int tm_isdst +@cindex Daylight Saving Time +@cindex summer time +This is a flag that indicates whether Daylight Saving Time is (or was, or +will be) in effect at the time described. The value is positive if +Daylight Saving Time is in effect, zero if it is not, and negative if the +information is not available. + +@item long int tm_gmtoff +This field describes the time zone that was used to compute this +broken-down time value; it is the amount you must add to the local time +in that zone to get GMT, in units of seconds. The value is like that of +the variable @code{timezone} (@pxref{Time Zone Functions}). You can +also think of this as the ``number of seconds west'' of GMT. The +@code{tm_gmtoff} field is a GNU library extension. + +@item const char *tm_zone +This field is the three-letter name for the time zone that was used to +compute this broken-down time value. It is a GNU library extension. +@end table +@end deftp + +@comment time.h +@comment ANSI +@deftypefun {struct tm *} localtime (const time_t *@var{time}) +The @code{localtime} function converts the calendar time pointed to by +@var{time} to broken-down time representation, expressed relative to the +user's specified time zone. + +The return value is a pointer to a static broken-down time structure, which +might be overwritten by subsequent calls to any of the date and time +functions. (But no other library function overwrites the contents of this +object.) + +Calling @code{localtime} has one other effect: it sets the variable +@code{tzname} with information about the current time zone. @xref{Time +Zone Functions}. +@end deftypefun + +@comment time.h +@comment ANSI +@deftypefun {struct tm *} gmtime (const time_t *@var{time}) +This function is similar to @code{localtime}, except that the broken-down +time is expressed as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)---that is, as +Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) rather than relative to the local time zone. + +Recall that calendar times are @emph{always} expressed in coordinated +universal time. +@end deftypefun + +@comment time.h +@comment ANSI +@deftypefun time_t mktime (struct tm *@var{brokentime}) +The @code{mktime} function is used to convert a broken-down time structure +to a calendar time representation. It also ``normalizes'' the contents of +the broken-down time structure, by filling in the day of week and day of +year based on the other date and time components. + +The @code{mktime} function ignores the specified contents of the +@code{tm_wday} and @code{tm_yday} members of the broken-down time +structure. It uses the values of the other components to compute the +calendar time; it's permissible for these components to have +unnormalized values outside of their normal ranges. The last thing that +@code{mktime} does is adjust the components of the @var{brokentime} +structure (including the @code{tm_wday} and @code{tm_yday}). + +If the specified broken-down time cannot be represented as a calendar time, +@code{mktime} returns a value of @code{(time_t)(-1)} and does not modify +the contents of @var{brokentime}. + +Calling @code{mktime} also sets the variable @code{tzname} with +information about the current time zone. @xref{Time Zone Functions}. +@end deftypefun + +@node Formatting Date and Time +@subsection Formatting Date and Time + +The functions described in this section format time values as strings. +These functions are declared in the header file @file{time.h}. +@pindex time.h + +@comment time.h +@comment ANSI +@deftypefun {char *} asctime (const struct tm *@var{brokentime}) +The @code{asctime} function converts the broken-down time value that +@var{brokentime} points to into a string in a standard format: + +@smallexample +"Tue May 21 13:46:22 1991\n" +@end smallexample + +The abbreviations for the days of week are: @samp{Sun}, @samp{Mon}, +@samp{Tue}, @samp{Wed}, @samp{Thu}, @samp{Fri}, and @samp{Sat}. + +The abbreviations for the months are: @samp{Jan}, @samp{Feb}, +@samp{Mar}, @samp{Apr}, @samp{May}, @samp{Jun}, @samp{Jul}, @samp{Aug}, +@samp{Sep}, @samp{Oct}, @samp{Nov}, and @samp{Dec}. + +The return value points to a statically allocated string, which might be +overwritten by subsequent calls to any of the date and time functions. +(But no other library function overwrites the contents of this +string.) +@end deftypefun + +@comment time.h +@comment ANSI +@deftypefun {char *} ctime (const time_t *@var{time}) +The @code{ctime} function is similar to @code{asctime}, except that the +time value is specified as a @code{time_t} calendar time value rather +than in broken-down local time format. It is equivalent to + +@smallexample +asctime (localtime (@var{time})) +@end smallexample + +@code{ctime} sets the variable @code{tzname}, because @code{localtime} +does so. @xref{Time Zone Functions}. +@end deftypefun + +@comment time.h +@comment ANSI +@deftypefun size_t strftime (char *@var{s}, size_t @var{size}, const char *@var{template}, const struct tm *@var{brokentime}) +This function is similar to the @code{sprintf} function (@pxref{Formatted +Input}), but the conversion specifications that can appear in the format +template @var{template} are specialized for printing components of the date +and time @var{brokentime} according to the locale currently specified for +time conversion (@pxref{Locales}). + +Ordinary characters appearing in the @var{template} are copied to the +output string @var{s}; this can include multibyte character sequences. +Conversion specifiers are introduced by a @samp{%} character, and are +replaced in the output string as follows: + +@table @code +@item %a +The abbreviated weekday name according to the current locale. + +@item %A +The full weekday name according to the current locale. + +@item %b +The abbreviated month name according to the current locale. + +@item %B +The full month name according to the current locale. + +@item %c +The preferred date and time representation for the current locale. + +@item %d +The day of the month as a decimal number (range @code{01} to @code{31}). + +@item %H +The hour as a decimal number, using a 24-hour clock (range @code{00} to +@code{23}). + +@item %I +The hour as a decimal number, using a 12-hour clock (range @code{01} to +@code{12}). + +@item %j +The day of the year as a decimal number (range @code{001} to @code{366}). + +@item %m +The month as a decimal number (range @code{01} to @code{12}). + +@item %M +The minute as a decimal number. + +@item %p +Either @samp{am} or @samp{pm}, according to the given time value; or the +corresponding strings for the current locale. + +@item %S +The second as a decimal number. + +@item %U +The week number of the current year as a decimal number, starting with +the first Sunday as the first day of the first week. + +@item %W +The week number of the current year as a decimal number, starting with +the first Monday as the first day of the first week. + +@item %w +The day of the week as a decimal number, Sunday being @code{0}. + +@item %x +The preferred date representation for the current locale, but without the +time. + +@item %X +The preferred time representation for the current locale, but with no date. + +@item %y +The year as a decimal number, but without a century (range @code{00} to +@code{99}). + +@item %Y +The year as a decimal number, including the century. + +@item %Z +The time zone or name or abbreviation (empty if the time zone can't be +determined). + +@item %% +A literal @samp{%} character. +@end table + +The @var{size} parameter can be used to specify the maximum number of +characters to be stored in the array @var{s}, including the terminating +null character. If the formatted time requires more than @var{size} +characters, the excess characters are discarded. The return value from +@code{strftime} is the number of characters placed in the array @var{s}, +not including the terminating null character. If the value equals +@var{size}, it means that the array @var{s} was too small; you should +repeat the call, providing a bigger array. + +If @var{s} is a null pointer, @code{strftime} does not actually write +anything, but instead returns the number of characters it would have written. + +For an example of @code{strftime}, see @ref{Time Functions Example}. +@end deftypefun + +@node TZ Variable +@subsection Specifying the Time Zone with @code{TZ} + +In POSIX systems, a user can specify the time zone by means of the +@code{TZ} environment variable. For information about how to set +environment variables, see @ref{Environment Variables}. The functions +for accessing the time zone are declared in @file{time.h}. +@pindex time.h +@cindex time zone + +You should not normally need to set @code{TZ}. If the system is +configured properly, the default timezone will be correct. You might +set @code{TZ} if you are using a computer over the network from a +different timezone, and would like times reported to you in the timezone +that local for you, rather than what is local for the computer. + +In POSIX.1 systems the value of the @code{TZ} variable can be of one of +three formats. With the GNU C library, the most common format is the +last one, which can specify a selection from a large database of time +zone information for many regions of the world. The first two formats +are used to describe the time zone information directly, which is both +more cumbersome and less precise. But the POSIX.1 standard only +specifies the details of the first two formats, so it is good to be +familiar with them in case you come across a POSIX.1 system that doesn't +support a time zone information database. + +The first format is used when there is no Daylight Saving Time (or +summer time) in the local time zone: + +@smallexample +@r{@var{std} @var{offset}} +@end smallexample + +The @var{std} string specifies the name of the time zone. It must be +three or more characters long and must not contain a leading colon or +embedded digits, commas, or plus or minus signs. There is no space +character separating the time zone name from the @var{offset}, so these +restrictions are necessary to parse the specification correctly. + +The @var{offset} specifies the time value one must add to the local time +to get a Coordinated Universal Time value. It has syntax like +[@code{+}|@code{-}]@var{hh}[@code{:}@var{mm}[@code{:}@var{ss}]]. This +is positive if the local time zone is west of the Prime Meridian and +negative if it is east. The hour must be between @code{0} and +@code{24}, and the minute and seconds between @code{0} and @code{59}. + +For example, here is how we would specify Eastern Standard Time, but +without any daylight savings time alternative: + +@smallexample +EST+5 +@end smallexample + +The second format is used when there is Daylight Saving Time: + +@smallexample +@r{@var{std} @var{offset} @var{dst} [@var{offset}]@code{,}@var{start}[@code{/}@var{time}]@code{,}@var{end}[@code{/}@var{time}]} +@end smallexample + +The initial @var{std} and @var{offset} specify the standard time zone, as +described above. The @var{dst} string and @var{offset} specify the name +and offset for the corresponding daylight savings time time zone; if the +@var{offset} is omitted, it defaults to one hour ahead of standard time. + +The remainder of the specification describes when daylight savings time is +in effect. The @var{start} field is when daylight savings time goes into +effect and the @var{end} field is when the change is made back to standard +time. The following formats are recognized for these fields: + +@table @code +@item J@var{n} +This specifies the Julian day, with @var{n} between @code{1} and @code{365}. +February 29 is never counted, even in leap years. + +@item @var{n} +This specifies the Julian day, with @var{n} between @code{0} and @code{365}. +February 29 is counted in leap years. + +@item M@var{m}.@var{w}.@var{d} +This specifies day @var{d} of week @var{w} of month @var{m}. The day +@var{d} must be between @code{0} (Sunday) and @code{6}. The week +@var{w} must be between @code{1} and @code{5}; week @code{1} is the +first week in which day @var{d} occurs, and week @code{5} specifies the +@emph{last} @var{d} day in the month. The month @var{m} should be +between @code{1} and @code{12}. +@end table + +The @var{time} fields specify when, in the local time currently in +effect, the change to the other time occurs. If omitted, the default is +@code{02:00:00}. + +For example, here is how one would specify the Eastern time zone in the +United States, including the appropriate daylight saving time and its dates +of applicability. The normal offset from GMT is 5 hours; since this is +west of the prime meridian, the sign is positive. Summer time begins on +the first Sunday in April at 2:00am, and ends on the last Sunday in October +at 2:00am. + +@smallexample +EST+5EDT,M4.1.0/M10.5.0 +@end smallexample + +The schedule of daylight savings time in any particular jurisdiction has +changed over the years. To be strictly correct, the conversion of dates +and times in the past should be based on the schedule that was in effect +then. However, this format has no facilities to let you specify how the +schedule has changed from year to year. The most you can do is specify +one particular schedule---usually the present day schedule---and this is +used to convert any date, no matter when. For precise time zone +specifications, it is best to use the time zone information database +(see below). + +The third format looks like this: + +@smallexample +:@var{characters} +@end smallexample + +Each operating system interprets this format differently; in the GNU C +library, @var{characters} is the name of a file which describes the time +zone. + +@pindex /etc/localtime +@pindex localtime +If the @code{TZ} environment variable does not have a value, the +operation chooses a time zone by default. In the GNU C library, the +default time zone is like the specification @samp{TZ=:/etc/localtime} +(or @samp{TZ=:/usr/local/etc/localtime}, depending on how GNU C library +was configured; @pxref{Installation}). Other C libraries use their own +rule for choosing the default time zone, so there is little we can say +about them. + +@cindex time zone database +@pindex /share/lib/zoneinfo +@pindex zoneinfo +If @var{characters} begins with a slash, it is an absolute file name; +otherwise the library looks for the file +@w{@file{/share/lib/zoneinfo/@var{characters}}}. The @file{zoneinfo} +directory contains data files describing local time zones in many +different parts of the world. The names represent major cities, with +subdirectories for geographical areas; for example, +@file{America/New_York}, @file{Europe/London}, @file{Asia/Hong_Kong}. +These data files are installed by the system administrator, who also +sets @file{/etc/localtime} to point to the data file for the local time +zone. The GNU C library comes with a large database of time zone +information for most regions of the world, which is maintained by a +community of volunteers and put in the public domain. + +@node Time Zone Functions +@subsection Functions and Variables for Time Zones + +@comment time.h +@comment POSIX.1 +@deftypevar char * tzname [2] +The array @code{tzname} contains two strings, which are the standard +three-letter names of the pair of time zones (standard and daylight +savings) that the user has selected. @code{tzname[0]} is the name of +the standard time zone (for example, @code{"EST"}), and @code{tzname[1]} +is the name for the time zone when daylight savings time is in use (for +example, @code{"EDT"}). These correspond to the @var{std} and @var{dst} +strings (respectively) from the @code{TZ} environment variable. + +The @code{tzname} array is initialized from the @code{TZ} environment +variable whenever @code{tzset}, @code{ctime}, @code{strftime}, +@code{mktime}, or @code{localtime} is called. +@end deftypevar + +@comment time.h +@comment POSIX.1 +@deftypefun void tzset (void) +The @code{tzset} function initializes the @code{tzname} variable from +the value of the @code{TZ} environment variable. It is not usually +necessary for your program to call this function, because it is called +automatically when you use the other time conversion functions that +depend on the time zone. +@end deftypefun + +The following variables are defined for compatibility with System V +Unix. These variables are set by calling @code{localtime}. + +@comment time.h +@comment SVID +@deftypevar {long int} timezone +This contains the difference between GMT and local standard time, in +seconds. For example, in the U.S. Eastern time zone, the value is +@code{5*60*60}. +@end deftypevar + +@comment time.h +@comment SVID +@deftypevar int daylight +This variable has a nonzero value if the standard U.S. daylight savings +time rules apply. +@end deftypevar + +@node Time Functions Example +@subsection Time Functions Example + +Here is an example program showing the use of some of the local time and +calendar time functions. + +@smallexample +@include strftim.c.texi +@end smallexample + +It produces output like this: + +@smallexample +Wed Jul 31 13:02:36 1991 +Today is Wednesday, July 31. +The time is 01:02 PM. +@end smallexample + + +@node Setting an Alarm +@section Setting an Alarm + +The @code{alarm} and @code{setitimer} functions provide a mechanism for a +process to interrupt itself at some future time. They do this by setting a +timer; when the timer expires, the process receives a signal. + +@cindex setting an alarm +@cindex interval timer, setting +@cindex alarms, setting +@cindex timers, setting +Each process has three independent interval timers available: + +@itemize @bullet +@item +A real-time timer that counts clock time. This timer sends a +@code{SIGALRM} signal to the process when it expires. +@cindex real-time timer +@cindex timer, real-time + +@item +A virtual timer that counts CPU time used by the process. This timer +sends a @code{SIGVTALRM} signal to the process when it expires. +@cindex virtual timer +@cindex timer, virtual + +@item +A profiling timer that counts both CPU time used by the process, and CPU +time spent in system calls on behalf of the process. This timer sends a +@code{SIGPROF} signal to the process when it expires. +@cindex profiling timer +@cindex timer, profiling + +This timer is useful for profiling in interpreters. The interval timer +mechanism does not have the fine granularity necessary for profiling +native code. +@c @xref{profil} !!! +@end itemize + +You can only have one timer of each kind set at any given time. If you +set a timer that has not yet expired, that timer is simply reset to the +new value. + +You should establish a handler for the appropriate alarm signal using +@code{signal} or @code{sigaction} before issuing a call to @code{setitimer} +or @code{alarm}. Otherwise, an unusual chain of events could cause the +timer to expire before your program establishes the handler, and in that +case it would be terminated, since that is the default action for the alarm +signals. @xref{Signal Handling}. + +The @code{setitimer} function is the primary means for setting an alarm. +This facility is declared in the header file @file{sys/time.h}. The +@code{alarm} function, declared in @file{unistd.h}, provides a somewhat +simpler interface for setting the real-time timer. +@pindex unistd.h +@pindex sys/time.h + +@comment sys/time.h +@comment BSD +@deftp {Data Type} {struct itimerval} +This structure is used to specify when a timer should expire. It contains +the following members: +@table @code +@item struct timeval it_interval +This is the interval between successive timer interrupts. If zero, the +alarm will only be sent once. + +@item struct timeval it_value +This is the interval to the first timer interrupt. If zero, the alarm is +disabled. +@end table + +The @code{struct timeval} data type is described in @ref{High-Resolution +Calendar}. +@end deftp + +@comment sys/time.h +@comment BSD +@deftypefun int setitimer (int @var{which}, struct itimerval *@var{new}, struct itimerval *@var{old}) +The @code{setitimer} function sets the timer specified by @var{which} +according to @var{new}. The @var{which} argument can have a value of +@code{ITIMER_REAL}, @code{ITIMER_VIRTUAL}, or @code{ITIMER_PROF}. + +If @var{old} is not a null pointer, @code{setitimer} returns information +about any previous unexpired timer of the same kind in the structure it +points to. + +The return value is @code{0} on success and @code{-1} on failure. The +following @code{errno} error conditions are defined for this function: + +@table @code +@item EINVAL +The timer interval was too large. +@end table +@end deftypefun + +@comment sys/time.h +@comment BSD +@deftypefun int getitimer (int @var{which}, struct itimerval *@var{old}) +The @code{getitimer} function stores information about the timer specified +by @var{which} in the structure pointed at by @var{old}. + +The return value and error conditions are the same as for @code{setitimer}. +@end deftypefun + +@comment sys/time.h +@comment BSD +@table @code +@item ITIMER_REAL +@findex ITIMER_REAL +This constant can be used as the @var{which} argument to the +@code{setitimer} and @code{getitimer} functions to specify the real-time +timer. + +@comment sys/time.h +@comment BSD +@item ITIMER_VIRTUAL +@findex ITIMER_VIRTUAL +This constant can be used as the @var{which} argument to the +@code{setitimer} and @code{getitimer} functions to specify the virtual +timer. + +@comment sys/time.h +@comment BSD +@item ITIMER_PROF +@findex ITIMER_PROF +This constant can be used as the @var{which} argument to the +@code{setitimer} and @code{getitimer} functions to specify the profiling +timer. +@end table + +@comment unistd.h +@comment POSIX.1 +@deftypefun {unsigned int} alarm (unsigned int @var{seconds}) +The @code{alarm} function sets the real-time timer to expire in +@var{seconds} seconds. If you want to cancel any existing alarm, you +can do this by calling @code{alarm} with a @var{seconds} argument of +zero. + +The return value indicates how many seconds remain before the previous +alarm would have been sent. If there is no previous alarm, @code{alarm} +returns zero. +@end deftypefun + +The @code{alarm} function could be defined in terms of @code{setitimer} +like this: + +@smallexample +unsigned int +alarm (unsigned int seconds) +@{ + struct itimerval old, new; + new.it_interval.tv_usec = 0; + new.it_interval.tv_sec = 0; + new.it_value.tv_usec = 0; + new.it_value.tv_sec = (long int) seconds; + if (setitimer (ITIMER_REAL, &new, &old) < 0) + return 0; + else + return old.it_value.tv_sec; +@} +@end smallexample + +There is an example showing the use of the @code{alarm} function in +@ref{Handler Returns}. + +If you simply want your process to wait for a given number of seconds, +you should use the @code{sleep} function. @xref{Sleeping}. + +You shouldn't count on the signal arriving precisely when the timer +expires. In a multiprocessing environment there is typically some +amount of delay involved. + +@strong{Portability Note:} The @code{setitimer} and @code{getitimer} +functions are derived from BSD Unix, while the @code{alarm} function is +specified by the POSIX.1 standard. @code{setitimer} is more powerful than +@code{alarm}, but @code{alarm} is more widely used. + +@node Sleeping +@section Sleeping + +The function @code{sleep} gives a simple way to make the program wait +for short periods of time. If your program doesn't use signals (except +to terminate), then you can expect @code{sleep} to wait reliably for +the specified amount of time. Otherwise, @code{sleep} can return sooner +if a signal arrives; if you want to wait for a given period regardless +of signals, use @code{select} (@pxref{Waiting for I/O}) and don't +specify any descriptors to wait for. +@c !!! select can get EINTR; using SA_RESTART makes sleep win too. + +@comment unistd.h +@comment POSIX.1 +@deftypefun {unsigned int} sleep (unsigned int @var{seconds}) +The @code{sleep} function waits for @var{seconds} or until a signal +is delivered, whichever happens first. + +If @code{sleep} function returns because the requested time has +elapsed, it returns a value of zero. If it returns because of delivery +of a signal, its return value is the remaining time in the sleep period. + +The @code{sleep} function is declared in @file{unistd.h}. +@end deftypefun + +Resist the temptation to implement a sleep for a fixed amount of time by +using the return value of @code{sleep}, when nonzero, to call +@code{sleep} again. This will work with a certain amount of accuracy as +long as signals arrive infrequently. But each signal can cause the +eventual wakeup time to be off by an additional second or so. Suppose a +few signals happen to arrive in rapid succession by bad luck---there is +no limit on how much this could shorten or lengthen the wait. + +Instead, compute the time at which the program should stop waiting, and +keep trying to wait until that time. This won't be off by more than a +second. With just a little more work, you can use @code{select} and +make the waiting period quite accurate. (Of course, heavy system load +can cause unavoidable additional delays---unless the machine is +dedicated to one application, there is no way you can avoid this.) + +On some systems, @code{sleep} can do strange things if your program uses +@code{SIGALRM} explicitly. Even if @code{SIGALRM} signals are being +ignored or blocked when @code{sleep} is called, @code{sleep} might +return prematurely on delivery of a @code{SIGALRM} signal. If you have +established a handler for @code{SIGALRM} signals and a @code{SIGALRM} +signal is delivered while the process is sleeping, the action taken +might be just to cause @code{sleep} to return instead of invoking your +handler. And, if @code{sleep} is interrupted by delivery of a signal +whose handler requests an alarm or alters the handling of @code{SIGALRM}, +this handler and @code{sleep} will interfere. + +On the GNU system, it is safe to use @code{sleep} and @code{SIGALRM} in +the same program, because @code{sleep} does not work by means of +@code{SIGALRM}. + +@node Resource Usage +@section Resource Usage + +@pindex sys/resource.h +The function @code{getrusage} and the data type @code{struct rusage} +are used for examining the usage figures of a process. They are declared +in @file{sys/resource.h}. + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@deftypefun int getrusage (int @var{processes}, struct rusage *@var{rusage}) +This function reports the usage totals for processes specified by +@var{processes}, storing the information in @code{*@var{rusage}}. + +In most systems, @var{processes} has only two valid values: + +@table @code +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@item RUSAGE_SELF +Just the current process. + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@item RUSAGE_CHILDREN +All child processes (direct and indirect) that have terminated already. +@end table + +In the GNU system, you can also inquire about a particular child process +by specifying its process ID. + +The return value of @code{getrusage} is zero for success, and @code{-1} +for failure. + +@table @code +@item EINVAL +The argument @var{processes} is not valid. +@end table +@end deftypefun + +One way of getting usage figures for a particular child process is with +the function @code{wait4}, which returns totals for a child when it +terminates. @xref{BSD Wait Functions}. + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@deftp {Data Type} {struct rusage} +This data type records a collection usage amounts for various sorts of +resources. It has the following members, and possibly others: + +@table @code +@item struct timeval ru_utime +Time spent executing user instructions. + +@item struct timeval ru_stime +Time spent in operating system code on behalf of @var{processes}. + +@item long int ru_maxrss +The maximum resident set size used, in kilobytes. That is, the maximum +number of kilobytes that @var{processes} used in real memory simultaneously. + +@item long int ru_ixrss +An integral value expressed in kilobytes times ticks of execution, which +indicates the amount of memory used by text that was shared with other +processes. + +@item long int ru_idrss +An integral value expressed the same way, which is the amount of +unshared memory used in data. + +@item long int ru_isrss +An integral value expressed the same way, which is the amount of +unshared memory used in stack space. + +@item long int ru_minflt +The number of page faults which were serviced without requiring any I/O. + +@item long int ru_majflt +The number of page faults which were serviced by doing I/O. + +@item long int ru_nswap +The number of times @var{processes} was swapped entirely out of main memory. + +@item long int ru_inblock +The number of times the file system had to read from the disk on behalf +of @var{processes}. + +@item long int ru_oublock +The number of times the file system had to write to the disk on behalf +of @var{processes}. + +@item long int ru_msgsnd +Number of IPC messages sent. + +@item long ru_msgrcv +Number of IPC messages received. + +@item long int ru_nsignals +Number of signals received. + +@item long int ru_nvcsw +The number of times @var{processes} voluntarily invoked a context switch +(usually to wait for some service). + +@item long int ru_nivcsw +The number of times an involuntary context switch took place (because +the time slice expired, or another process of higher priority became +runnable). +@end table +@end deftp + +An additional historical function for examining usage figures, +@code{vtimes}, is supported but not documented here. It is declared in +@file{sys/vtimes.h}. + +@node Limits on Resources +@section Limiting Resource Usage +@cindex resource limits +@cindex limits on resource usage +@cindex usage limits + +You can specify limits for the resource usage of a process. When the +process tries to exceed a limit, it may get a signal, or the system call +by which it tried to do so may fail, depending on the limit. Each +process initially inherits its limit values from its parent, but it can +subsequently change them. + +@pindex sys/resource.h +The symbols in this section are defined in @file{sys/resource.h}. + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@deftypefun int getrlimit (int @var{resource}, struct rlimit *@var{rlp}) +Read the current value and the maximum value of resource @var{resource} +and store them in @code{*@var{rlp}}. + +The return value is @code{0} on success and @code{-1} on failure. The +only possible @code{errno} error condition is @code{EFAULT}. +@end deftypefun + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@deftypefun int setrlimit (int @var{resource}, struct rlimit *@var{rlp}) +Store the current value and the maximum value of resource @var{resource} +in @code{*@var{rlp}}. + +The return value is @code{0} on success and @code{-1} on failure. The +following @code{errno} error condition is possible: + +@table @code +@item EPERM +You tried to change the maximum permissible limit value, +but you don't have privileges to do so. +@end table +@end deftypefun + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@deftp {Data Type} {struct rlimit} +This structure is used with @code{getrlimit} to receive limit values, +and with @code{setrlimit} to specify limit values. It has two fields: + +@table @code +@item rlim_cur +The current value of the limit in question. +This is also called the ``soft limit''. +@cindex soft limit + +@item rlim_max +The maximum permissible value of the limit in question. You cannot set +the current value of the limit to a larger number than this maximum. +Only the super user can change the maximum permissible value. +This is also called the ``hard limit''. +@cindex hard limit +@end table + +In @code{getrlimit}, the structure is an output; it receives the current +values. In @code{setrlimit}, it specifies the new values. +@end deftp + +Here is a list of resources that you can specify a limit for. +Those that are sizes are measured in bytes. + +@table @code +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@item RLIMIT_CPU +@vindex RLIMIT_CPU +The maximum amount of cpu time the process can use. If it runs for +longer than this, it gets a signal: @code{SIGXCPU}. The value is +measured in seconds. @xref{Operation Error Signals}. + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@item RLIMIT_FSIZE +@vindex RLIMIT_FSIZE +The maximum size of file the process can create. Trying to write a +larger file causes a signal: @code{SIGXFSZ}. @xref{Operation Error +Signals}. + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@item RLIMIT_DATA +@vindex RLIMIT_DATA +The maximum size of data memory for the process. If the process tries +to allocate data memory beyond this amount, the allocation function +fails. + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@item RLIMIT_STACK +@vindex RLIMIT_STACK +The maximum stack size for the process. If the process tries to extend +its stack past this size, it gets a @code{SIGSEGV} signal. +@xref{Program Error Signals}. + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@item RLIMIT_CORE +@vindex RLIMIT_CORE +The maximum size core file that this process can create. If the process +terminates and would dump a core file larger than this maximum size, +then no core file is created. So setting this limit to zero prevents +core files from ever being created. + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@item RLIMIT_RSS +@vindex RLIMIT_RSS +The maximum amount of physical memory that this process should get. +This parameter is a guide for the system's scheduler and memory +allocator; the system may give the process more memory when there is a +surplus. + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@item RLIMIT_MEMLOCK +The maximum amount of memory that can be locked into physical memory (so +it will never be paged out). + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@item RLIMIT_NPROC +The maximum number of processes that can be created with the same user ID. +If you have reached the limit for your user ID, @code{fork} will fail +with @code{EAGAIN}. @xref{Creating a Process}. + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@item RLIMIT_NOFILE +@vindex RLIMIT_NOFILE +@itemx RLIMIT_OFILE +@vindex RLIMIT_OFILE +The maximum number of files that the process can open. If it tries to +open more files than this, it gets error code @code{EMFILE}. +@xref{Error Codes}. Not all systems support this limit; GNU does, and +4.4 BSD does. + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@item RLIM_NLIMITS +@vindex RLIM_NLIMITS +The number of different resource limits. Any valid @var{resource} +operand must be less than @code{RLIM_NLIMITS}. +@end table + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@defvr Constant int RLIM_INFINITY +This constant stands for a value of ``infinity'' when supplied as +the limit value in @code{setrlimit}. +@end defvr + +@c ??? Someone want to finish these? +Two historical functions for setting resource limits, @code{ulimit} and +@code{vlimit}, are not documented here. The latter is declared in +@file{sys/vlimit.h} and comes from BSD. + +@node Priority +@section Process Priority +@cindex process priority +@cindex priority of a process + +@pindex sys/resource.h +When several processes try to run, their respective priorities determine +what share of the CPU each process gets. This section describes how you +can read and set the priority of a process. All these functions and +macros are declared in @file{sys/resource.h}. + +The range of valid priority values depends on the operating system, but +typically it runs from @code{-20} to @code{20}. A lower priority value +means the process runs more often. These constants describe the range of +priority values: + +@table @code +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@item PRIO_MIN +@vindex PRIO_MIN +The smallest valid priority value. + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@item PRIO_MAX +@vindex PRIO_MAX +The smallest valid priority value. +@end table + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@deftypefun int getpriority (int @var{class}, int @var{id}) +Read the priority of a class of processes; @var{class} and @var{id} +specify which ones (see below). If the processes specified do not all +have the same priority, this returns the smallest value that any of them +has. + +The return value is the priority value on success, and @code{-1} on +failure. The following @code{errno} error condition are possible for +this function: + +@table @code +@item ESRCH +The combination of @var{class} and @var{id} does not match any existing +process. + +@item EINVAL +The value of @var{class} is not valid. +@end table + +When the return value is @code{-1}, it could indicate failure, or it +could be the priority value. The only way to make certain is to set +@code{errno = 0} before calling @code{getpriority}, then use @code{errno +!= 0} afterward as the criterion for failure. +@end deftypefun + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@deftypefun int setpriority (int @var{class}, int @var{id}, int @var{priority}) +Set the priority of a class of processes to @var{priority}; @var{class} +and @var{id} specify which ones (see below). + +The return value is @code{0} on success and @code{-1} on failure. The +following @code{errno} error condition are defined for this function: + +@table @code +@item ESRCH +The combination of @var{class} and @var{id} does not match any existing +process. + +@item EINVAL +The value of @var{class} is not valid. + +@item EPERM +You tried to set the priority of some other user's process, and you +don't have privileges for that. + +@item EACCES +You tried to lower the priority of a process, and you don't have +privileges for that. +@end table +@end deftypefun + +The arguments @var{class} and @var{id} together specify a set of +processes you are interested in. These are the possible values for +@var{class}: + +@table @code +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@item PRIO_PROCESS +@vindex PRIO_PROCESS +Read or set the priority of one process. The argument @var{id} is a +process ID. + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@item PRIO_PGRP +@vindex PRIO_PGRP +Read or set the priority of one process group. The argument @var{id} is +a process group ID. + +@comment sys/resource.h +@comment BSD +@item PRIO_USER +@vindex PRIO_USER +Read or set the priority of one user's processes. The argument @var{id} +is a user ID. +@end table + +If the argument @var{id} is 0, it stands for the current process, +current process group, or the current user, according to @var{class}. + +@c ??? I don't know where we should say this comes from. +@comment Unix +@comment dunno.h +@deftypefun int nice (int @var{increment}) +Increment the priority of the current process by @var{increment}. +The return value is the same as for @code{setpriority}. + +Here is an equivalent definition for @code{nice}: + +@smallexample +int +nice (int increment) +@{ + int old = getpriority (PRIO_PROCESS, 0); + return setpriority (PRIO_PROCESS, 0, old + increment); +@} +@end smallexample +@end deftypefun |