system.process
The process module allows querying various properties about the current process, as well as creating, modifying, and searching other processes.
getpid(): number
Returns the process ID of the current process.
Arguments
This function does not take any arguments.
Return Values
The process ID of the current process
getppid(): number
Returns the process ID of the parent process, if available.
Arguments
This function does not take any arguments.
Return Values
The process ID of the parent process, if available
getuser(): string
Returns the username the process is running under.
Arguments
This function does not take any arguments.
Return Values
The username the process is running under
setuser(user: string)
Sets the user of the current process. This can only be run by root.
Arguments
user: The user to switch to
Return Values
This function does not return anything.
clock(): number
Returns the amount of time this process has executed. This may not be entirely accurate due to a lack of precision in the system clock.
Arguments
This function does not take any arguments.
Return Values
The amount of time this process has executed
getenv(): table
Returns the environment table for the current process.
Arguments
This function does not take any arguments.
Return Values
The environment table for the current process
getname(): string
Returns the name of the current process.
Arguments
This function does not take any arguments.
Return Values
The name of the current process
getcwd(): string
Returns the working directory of the current process.
Arguments
This function does not take any arguments.
Return Values
The working directory of the current process
chdir(dir: string)
Sets the working directory of the current process.
Arguments
dir: The new working directory, which must be absolute and existent.
Return Values
This function does not return anything.
fork(func: function, name: string, ...: any): number
Creates a new process running the specified function with arguments.
Arguments
func: The function to run in the new process. This will be the main function of the first thread, and will have its environment set to the new process’s environment.name: ? The name of the new process....: Any arguments to pass to the function.
Return Values
The PID of the new process.
forkbg(func: function, name: string, ...: any): number
Creates a new process running the specified function with arguments. This process will be placed in the background, meaning it has no stdin/out.
Arguments
func: The function to run in the new process. This will be the main function of the first thread, and will have its environment set to the new process’s environment.name: ? The name of the new process....: Any arguments to pass to the function.
Return Values
The PID of the new process.
exec(path: string, ...: any)
Replaces the current process with the contents of the specified file. This function does not return - it can only throw an error.
Arguments
path: The path to the file to execute....: Any arguments to pass to the file.
Return Values
This function does not return anything.
execp(command: string, ...: any)
Replaces the current process with the contents of the specified file or command, searching the PATH environment variable if necessary. This function does not return - it can only throw an error.
Arguments
command: The command or file to execute....: Any arguments to pass to the file.
Return Values
This function does not return anything.
start(path: string, ...: any): number
Starts a new process from the specified path.
Arguments
path: The path to the file to execute....: Any arguments to pass to the file.
Return Values
The PID of the new process.
startbg(path: string, ...: any): number
Starts a new process from the specified path. This process will be placed in the background, meaning it has no stdin/out.
Arguments
path: The path to the file to execute....: Any arguments to pass to the file.
Return Values
The PID of the new process.
run(path: string, ...: any): true, any / false, string
Runs a program from the specified path in a new process, waiting until it completes.
Arguments
path: The command or file to execute...: Any arguments to pass to the file
Return Values
This function may return the following values:
- When the process succeeded
- The return value from the process
Or:
- When the process errored
- The error message from the process
newthread(func: function, ...: any): number
Creates a new thread running the specified function with arguments. Threads in the same process share the same environment, event queue, and other properties.
Arguments
func: The function to start...: Any arguments to pass to the function
Return Values
The ID of the new thread
exit(code: number)
Ends the current process immediately, stopping all threads and sending the specified return value to the parent. This function does not return.
Arguments
code: ? The value to return.
Return Values
This function does not return anything.
getplist(): table
Returns a list of all valid PIDs.
Arguments
This function does not take any arguments.
Return Values
A list of all valid PIDs
getpinfo(pid: number): {id=number,name=string,user=string,parent?=number,dir=string,stdin?=number,stdout?=number,stderr?=number,cputime=number,systime=number,threads={[number]={id=number,name=string,status=string}}}|nil
Returns a table with various information about the specified process.
Arguments
pid: The process ID to query.
Return Values
The process information, or nil if the process doesn’t exist.
nice(level: number, pid: number?)
Sets the niceness level of the specified process, or the current one if left unspecified. Nice values cause the process to run longer with a lower number (requires root), or shorter with a higher number. Values range from -20 to 20.
Arguments
level: The nice level to set topid: The process ID to modify (must be root or same user) (optional)
Return Values
This function does not return anything.