Re: [PATCH] Add timeout utility

[Pádraig Brady]

Bo Borgerson wrote:
> Pádraig Brady <address@hidden> wrote:
>> Subject: [PATCH] Add new program: timeout
> 
> Great idea for a tool!

Not my idea TBH:
http://mail.linux.ie/pipermail/ilug/2006-November/thread.html#90654

> Have you considered an alternate run-mode where it could operate as a
> filter and timeout on 'inactivity' of the pipeline?
> 
> For example:
> 
> $ sort -m inputs/* | timeout --inactivity 1m program_prone_to_stalling
> 
> Where timeout would open a pipe and dup2 the read end to child's
> STDIN_FILENO before exec'ing.

How would `timeout` determine when
`program_prone_to_stalling` issues read()s ?

cheers,
Pádraig.