pid_check.h

    #include <mplib1/pid_check.h>

This header file contains the definitions for two functions which deal with process IDs.

gen_pid_str

    void gen_pid_str( char *buf, pid_t the_pid );

The gen_pid_str function generates an ASCII string based on the supplied program ID. The buffer should be at least PID_STR_LEN bytes long.

NB: Previously, this function would return a string giving the current pid if the parameter passed was (pid_t)0. This is no longer the case. If (pid_t)0 is passed, the string will be 0

is_pid_dead

    extern int is_pid_dead( pid_t the_pid )

The is_pid_dead function tests whether the supplied process is dead. If it is the function returns a non-zero value, otherwise it returns zero.