process.h is a C header file which contains function declarations and macros used in working with threads and processes. Most C compilers that target DOS, Windows 3.1x, Win32, OS/2, Novell NetWare or DOS extenders supply this header and the library functions in their C library. Neither the header file nor most of the functions are defined by either the ANSI/ISO C standard or by POSIX.
Microsoft's version of the file dates back to at least 1985, according to its copyright statement.[1] An early reference to the file was in a post on the net.micro.pc usenet on Oct-26-1986.[2] The compiler used was Microsoft C compiler version 3.0.The Lattice C compiler version 3.30 (Aug-24-1988) did not have such a header file, but offered similar functions.Borland provided the header in their Turbo C compiler version 2.01.The C Ware-Personal C compiler version 1.2c (June 1989) had only the ANSI headers.
| Name | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
[[exec (operating system)|execl, execle, execlp, execlpe]] | load and execute a new child process by placing it in memory previously occupied by the parent process. Parameters are passed individually. | DOS,Win,OS/2,POSIX |
[[exec (operating system)|execv, execve, execvp, execvpe]] | load and execute a new child process by placing it in memory previously occupied by the parent process. Parameters are passed as an array of pointers. | DOS,Win,OS/2,POSIX |
[[spawn (computing)|spawnl, spawnle, spawnlp, spawnlpe]] | load and execute a new child process. Parameters are passed individually. | DOS,Win,OS/2 |
[[spawn (computing)|spawnv, spawnve, spawnvp, spawnvpe]] | load and execute a new child process. Parameters are passed as an array of pointers. | DOS,Win,OS/2 |
[[beginthread|beginthread, beginthreadNT]] | creates a new thread of execution within the current process. | Win,OS/2 |
[[endthread|endthread]] | terminates a thread created by beginthread. | Win,OS/2 |
[[getpid|getpid]] | returns the process identifier. | DOS,Win,OS/2 |
[[cexit|cexit]] | restore interrupt vectors altered by the startup code. | DOS,Win,OS/2 |
| Name | Description | Notes | OS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
_P_WAIT | Suspends parent process until the child process has finished executing. | synchronous spawn. | MS-DOS,Win32,OS/2 | |
_P_NOWAIT, _P_NOWAITO | Continues to execute calling process concurrently with new process. | asynchronous spawn. | Win32,OS/2 | |
_P_OVERLAY | Overlays parent process with child, which destroys the parent. | has the same effect as the exec* functions. | MS-DOS,Win32,OS/2 | |
_P_DETACH | The child is run in background without access to the console or keyboard. | Calls to _cwait upon the new process will fail. Asynchronous spawn. | Win32,OS/2 | |
_WAIT_CHILD | used as cwait action. | Obsolete on Win32. | MS-DOS,OS/2 | |
_WAIT_GRANDCHILD | used as cwait action. | Obsolete on Win32. | MS-DOS,OS/2 |
Given the fact there is no standard on which to base the implementation, the functions declared by process.h differ, depending on the compiler in use. Below is a list of compilers which provide process.h.
Another aspect that might vary is the combined length of exec* and spawn* parameters.