Get number of running processes

[chris.tice]

Hi,

I am looking for an easy way to find the total number of running
processes on a given machine in a C program. Currently I am doing
this:

system("ps -e | wc -l > count.txt");

then reading the number back into the program from the text file. I
was wondering if there was a function call that would do this (ie. int
count = get_process_count()) rather than perform this hackish
workaround.

Thanks for any help!
- Chris

 

[Vladimir Oka]

(e-mail address removed) opined:

Hi,

I am looking for an easy way to find the total number of running
processes on a given machine in a C program. Currently I am doing
this:

system("ps -e | wc -l > count.txt");

then reading the number back into the program from the text file. I
was wondering if there was a function call that would do this (ie.
int count = get_process_count()) rather than perform this hackish
workaround.

In standard C no, there isn't. Your implementation, or some system
specific library may well provide one. You seem to be running a *nixy
system, so comp.unix.programmer or similar may be the place to ask.

 

[Chris]

Thanks for the redirection.