create fake process in Python

Question

I'm currently working on a stub for tests purpose. Using Python I need to create a process with a specific name ("mysoft") and a specific pid ("1234")

My final purpose is to be able to run the command "pgrep mysoft" on a terminal and get the PID I set (1234).

The process doesn't need to do anything, it just need to exists.

I looked at the subprocess module but I think this is not exactly what I need. What do you think ?

I don't think it is possible to set a PID to a process. That is the job of the OS & not the user. — Bharat
– Bharat, Commented Apr 23, 2013 at 14:00
Ok, i get what you mean, thanks. Let's say I just want to create a process running for a long time with the specific name "mysoft" so that the command "pgrep mysoft" will return a pid. How could I do that? — Julien Greard
– Julien Greard, Commented Apr 23, 2013 at 14:06
@JulienGreard - name your python script 'myfile', make it executable and start it with a shebang #!/usr/bin/python (not #!/usr/bin/env python!). Now when you execute it directly it should show up as mysoft in the process table. — mata
– mata, Commented Apr 23, 2013 at 14:32

thavan · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-23 15:15:37Z

To run a process with the name mysoft,

Create a python with the name mysoft without .py extension.
Inside that file create a endless while loop or something like that, in a way that it runs long time. Or put a line like raw_input("enter something"). It will wait until you give the input.
Make the file executable by chmod 775 [filename]
First line of this file should be #!/usr/bin/python. Change this line according to your python path.
Put this file system path. Or add this file path to system path. (eg. /home/[user]/bin/)
Now, type mysoft. It will start.

You need to kill this manually when you want to terminate this process. Setting pid to a process is not possible to my knowledge.

James Scholes · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-23 13:58:30Z

1

You can't create processes with specific PIDs. The PID is assigned by the OS.

answered Apr 23, 2013 at 13:58

James Scholes

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