if you don't call exit(), the compiler will insert it.
try running under 'strace' and you'll see the exit().
ANDY wrote:
>
> hey all !
>
> I am a little confused about process creation and termination.
> I think I'll just provide example code to stress my question.
>
> ------------------------------------------
> int main(){
>
> int child_pid;
>
> if( (child_pid = fork()) == -1 )
> perror("cannot fork\n");
>
> else if(child_pid){ /* parent */
> if(wait(NULL) == -1)
> perror("can't wait\n");
> printf("parent\n");
> }
>
> else{ /* child */
>
> printf("child process\n");
> /* exit(0); */
> }
>
> }
> ----------------------------------------------------
> I guess my questions were:
> 1. why doesn't " the exit(0) statement ( that is commented ) "
> make any difference ?
>
> If I understand it right. A process will terminate by the call
> to exit(status) system call. And status will be
> passed to the parent via the wait() syscall with an argument that is not
> NULL. which leads to my other question
>
> 2.can a newly created process( in my program is the child )
> be terminated if there is no more instruction to execute which in my case
> the else block statement only has one printf statement ?
> eg: else{ printf("foo\n"); }
>
> 3.Does it also imply that a newly created process can be terminated
> WITHOUT calling exit() or catching some other "terminating" signals
> from the kernel ?
>
> thanks folks
>
> --truly deeply curious
> Andy ------
--
Christoph Bugel [EMAIL PROTECTED]
