Moving beyond fork() + exec()
A proposal to introduce 'spawn templates' in the Linux kernel aims to optimize the traditional fork() and exec() process-creation model. While the current patch may not be accepted, it highlights ongoing efforts to reduce the overhead of launching repetitive processes.
Why it matters
Improving process creation efficiency is vital for high-performance computing and system-level software optimization.
Since the earliest days of Unix, two of the core process-oriented system calls have been fork() , which creates a child process as a copy of the parent, and exec() , which runs a new program in the place of the current one. In Linux kernels, those system calls are better known as
Technical reporting on kernel development processes.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in