xref: /csrg-svn/usr.bin/nice/nice.1 (revision 43083)
1*43083Scael.\" Copyright (c) 1980, 1990 The Regents of the University of California.
2*43083Scael.\" All rights reserved.
319230Smckusick.\"
4*43083Scael.\" %sccs.include.redist.man%
519230Smckusick.\"
6*43083Scael.\"     @(#)nice.1	6.4 (Berkeley) 06/11/90
7*43083Scael.\"
8*43083Scael.Dd
9*43083Scael.Dt NICE 1
10*43083Scael.Os BSD 4
11*43083Scael.Sh NAME
12*43083Scael.Nm nice
13*43083Scael.Nd execute a command at a low scheduling priority
14*43083Scael.Sh SYNOPSIS
15*43083Scael.Nm nice
16*43083Scael.Oo
17*43083Scael.Op Fl Ar number
18*43083Scael.Oo
19*43083Scael.Ar command
20*43083Scael.Op Ar arguments
21*43083Scael.Sh DESCRIPTION
22*43083Scael.Nm Nice
23*43083Scaelruns
24*43083Scael.Ar command
25*43083Scaelat a low priority.
26*43083Scael(Think of low and slow).
27*43083ScaelIf
28*43083Scael.Ar \-number
29*43083Scaelis specified, and if it is greater than or equal
30*43083Scaelto 10 (the default),
31*43083Scael.Nm nice
32*43083Scaelwill execute
33*43083Scael.Ar command
34*43083Scaelat that priority.
35*43083ScaelThe upper bound, or lowest priority that
36*43083Scael.Nm nice
37*43083Scaelwill run a command is 20.
38*43083ScaelThe lower bounds or
39*43083Scaelhigher priorities (integers less than 10)
40*43083Scaelcan only be requested by the super-user.
41*43083ScaelNegative numbers are expressed as
42*43083Scael.Ar \-\-number.
43*43083Scael.Pp
44*43083ScaelThe returned exit status is the exit value from the
45*43083Scaelcommand executed by
46*43083Scael.Nm nice .
47*43083Scael.Sh SEE ALSO
48*43083Scael.Xr csh 1 ,
49*43083Scael.Xr nice 1 ,
50*43083Scael.\" .Xr setpriority 2 ,
51*43083Scael.Xr renice 8
52*43083Scael.Sh HISTORY
53*43083Scael.Nm Nice
54*43083Scaelappeared in Version 6 AT&T UNIX.
55*43083Scael.Sh BUGS
56*43083Scael.Nm Nice
5738088Sbosticis particular to
58*43083Scael.Xr sh  1  .
5919230SmckusickIf you use
60*43083Scael.Xr csh  1  ,
6119230Smckusickthen commands executed with ``&'' are automatically immune to hangup
6219230Smckusicksignals while in the background.
63*43083Scael.Pp
64*43083Scael.Nm Nice
6519230Smckusickis built into
66*43083Scael.Xr csh  1
6719230Smckusickwith a slightly different syntax than described here.  The form
6819230Smckusick``nice +10'' nices to positive nice, and ``nice \-10'' can be used
6919230Smckusickby the super-user to give a process more of the processor.
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