Managing Linux Shell Processes

How to manage stuff you start in a shell.

The Problem

You start a long-running process and your terminal is locked. Or you accidentally close a terminal and lose your running program. Understanding process management solves these problems.

Key Commands

jobs - List Background Jobs

Shows all jobs running in the current shell session:

jobs

bg - Send to Background

Resume a stopped job in the background:

bg %1

fg - Bring to Foreground

Bring a background job to the foreground:

fg %1

Ctrl+Z - Suspend a Process

Pauses the current foreground process and returns you to the shell.

& - Start in Background

Run a command in the background from the start:

long_running_command &

Practical Workflow

1. Start a process normally
2. Realize you need the terminal back
3. Press Ctrl+Z to suspend it
4. Type bg to continue it in the background
5. Use jobs to check its status
6. Use fg when you need to interact with it again

Handling Locked Terminals

If your terminal appears frozen:

• The process might be waiting for input


• Try Ctrl+C to interrupt


• Try Ctrl+Z to suspend


• Check jobs to see what's running

Job Control Basics

• %1, %2, etc. refer to job numbers from jobs output


• %% or %+ refers to the current job


• %- refers to the previous job

Understanding process management is crucial for efficient Linux terminal usage, allowing you to multitask and control running applications effectively.

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