DEVCTL_PROCESS_RUNNING(9)

💅 DEVCTL_PROCESS_RUNNING(9) 💅

okay so this is a page from the Kernel Developer's Manual — yes, the kernel devs have a manual too, and yes it's iconic. The function is literally called devctl_process_running, and no cap, it does exactly what it says on the tin. 🫶

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✨ NAME ✨

devctl_process_running — returns true when devctl has a consumer process running 💖

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🎀 SYNOPSIS 🎀

#include <sys/devctl.h>

bool
devctl_process_running(void);

so first you gotta #include <sys/devctl.h> bestie, and then the function takes no arguments — it's a total low-maintenance queen, void era. It hands you back a bool. periodt. ✨

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🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

The devctl_process_running call returns true when a process has the devctl device open for reading, and false otherwise. That's it. That's the whole vibe check. 🦋

So like, when it comes back true, you can go ahead and assume the default devd(8) (or something similar) is running. main character energy, honestly. 👑

Here's why this slaps: some subsystems will send a message and let userland do something before proceeding with a default action — but only if there's a timeout. And this call? It lets those subsystems just do the default action right away when no process is running. No waiting around for a bestie who's never gonna text back. 💀 Not me being dramatic, it's just efficient. 🔥

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👑 SEE ALSO 👑

• devd(8)

go give that one a read too, iykyk 🧚

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⭐ AUTHORS ⭐

This manual page was written by M. Warner Losh — absolute icon, we stan 💜

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and that's the whole page bestie, mwah 💅🌈

sign-off time: this gem came from Debian, dated September 22, 2020, and it's living in the DEVCTL_PROCESS_RUNNING(9) section of the Kernel Developer's Manual. slay. 🎀🍓